Welcome to Gaia! ::

(Heck ye I'm entering for both)

Name: No-Name. She technically, genuinely lacks one, so this is what is 'assigned'.

Nickname: Beast, Creature, hey you, freak, ETC. Really, anything. She's more aware of when you address her than what you call her.

Hobbies:

Collecting - No-Name has taken to collecting small baubles and items in her time since youmafying, and using them to decorate herself accordingly. What she collects however varies dependant upon her whims and desires, leaving some objects unwearable. When she roams outside of the Rift, she often collects shiny trinkets and baubles, but may also steal people for herself to keep as pets. She feels little emotional attachment to her possessions beyond that they are hers, and hers alone, regardless of if they're living or not, and it often pleases her greatly to have some new pet seduced by her siren-0like singing.

Singing - No-Name has sung as long as she has known. From soft songs to sharp songs, folk music to chants and opera, No-Name gladly belts it out, or whispers, depending on how the song calls for her voice. Her voice itself is a point of pride for the youma, allowing her to claim things that may otherwise be difficult to claim, such as starseeds, shinies, or, well, her pets.

Hunting - Many youma require hunting to procure starseeds to devour, and No-Name is no exception. However, this centauride takes it a step further - and hunts for the fear and the sport. When not collecting, or singing, she is railing to find things to kill and destroy within her fingers, seeking to eliminate anything not of use to her, from people to animals to items. Her favorite prey will lead her on a hunt, making it far more entertaining for her to seek and destroy anything she can, simply for her own devices.

Virtues:

Cunning
...Clever girl.

NoNasme is a rather cunning creature. She knows the tricks to get what she likes, and the experience to work at new plans on the fly. She bides her time, plans, and prepares however long she must, and then she uses it to her full advantage in the endeavors she picks up on. She can usually be seen using this to lure people to her when hunting for them, and she is rather creative and thinking on the fly doing so as needed, be it prey or any other creatures.

Expressive
Look into my face would I lie to you?

NoName is very adept at showing emotion. She smiles as appropriate, frowns - she can even cry on a dime as if they were real tears. Visually, she can express any emotion convincingly and believeably, and to great effect, making her an effective actress as the situation requires.

Soft Spoken
Whisper softly in my ear, tell me things you want to hear.
No-name has a very soft, quiet voice and speaks to people using it expressly. Her skills with weaving a velvet tapestry of tongues is significantly good as well - she doesn't use harsh wods, doesn't speak abruptly or sharply, and maintains a sweetness that is difficult to pinpoint as anything but simply a part of her, making most things she says sound like a smashing idea. Her soft way of speaking ensures she attracts more flies with honey, to draw people to her.

Respectful of Superiours
Hail to the King, baby.

No-name acknowledges her place in the Negaverse, and while most are not safe, she will readily and dutifully obey a General, General Sovereign, or even a bonded officer without complaint, treating them quiet well - minding to check her animal nature and to mind pleases, thank yous, and polite requests. She's awarte she's a creature and she knows her place, and this lot in life is satisfying to her.

Flaws:

Bestial
She's a maneater.

As civilized as No-Name acts, she is still an animal, and a wild one at that. No-Name functions with instinct in mind, and will behave often as a feral animal on the hunt, or when unsupervised - more cate and primal beast that the human she may once have been. In this respect, she is, for lack of a better term, a wild animal more than a human, and she will behave and often react as such.

Possessive
Mine, mine, mine!

No-Name is possessive. Barring her superiour, everything she finds pretty, attractive, or otherwise catches her fancy is hers, and if someone were to challenge it, she will kill the opposition ruthlessly. She doesn't differenciate between man or thing in this nature and once she claims something, she claims it permanently - and if she can't kill what is taking her treasures, she will destroy the treasure itself to make the point if she can't have what is hers, nobody can.

Finicky
It is to be, just so.

No-name is picky about her shinies, her prey, and her sleeping space in the Rift. Everything must suit her just so and if even one thing is wrong she will destroy it without thought. She has preferences and she has tastes but over all she sticks to her ways and expects that the lieutenants that are often claimed will be informed of how she likes things [iu]or they might not like consequences. When things do not fit her exact tastes, she will simply dispose of whatever it is that does not suit her - including people, starseeds, nesting material, and shiny baubles. It has to be JUST RIGHT, after all.

False Presentation
Did you think I felt for you? Hardly.

No-name feels nearly no emotion. She can express emotion as if she feels therm, but it's a farce to lure in prey and keep it ensnarled, and once captured away or killed she drops all forms of expression become nothing more than the behaviour of a cold, selfish wild animal - that being her tyrue nature. To that extent those whom think she may be a helpless half youma - or recent victim of youmafication - may be unpleasantly surprised to find an ages-old monster instead, usually when it's too late.

Abilities -- Your youma will have two unique abilities in addition to a slew of general youma boosts. A youma may recover in the Rift even after being dusted (unless dusted by a fourth stage character), may don a civilian glamour for a few hours in special situations (this takes a lot of energy); this youma should be assumed to have the same physical boosts as a Negaverse Captain! They would not be able to teleport or have weapons, though; their body is the weapon! A Youma's special abilities may be:

Physical Ability:

Speed No-Name has a rather useful physical talent for running. Her natural, physical advantage as a hooved youma is speed, and she is capable of a quarter mile 'death charge' with a speed of 40MPH (compared to a human 15-28MPH). She cannot sustain this sprint as a gallop, and thus will usually slow to a galloping speed around 25MPH due to her large bone mass and muscle mass.

Magical Ability:
Siren's Song: No-Name, when hunting, may employ her own voice as a magical attack. When she uses magic, she sings in a language that the three random targets may understand as a beckoning song to her. Those outside of the effect will only heard wordless song and will not be drawn to her, while those affected will be drawn to her side promptly, without questioning. This magic allows her to lure in prey, and may last for one minute, and is useable twice a day, ith a minute cooldown. This magic can only affect second stage powered characters or below, and civilians. 3rd stage powereds and higher will be immune.



History:

The most vulnerable are the ones most alone.

There was a half-feral street urchin living in the woods outside of Destiny City once. She hid so well; will she was news in the tabloids, called myth for being in the Enquirer and Globe - after all, whom left chilren so alone as to be feral? - she was there in relative peace, curious of the civilized, normal humans, if but afraid. Then there were the ones that brought something the others didn't. Food.

The Lieutenant meant well enough. The corrupting and winning over of anyone, in the boy's mind, was a benefit to the Negaverse, and he worked with her daily, bringing food, and teaching her language slowly - a near imp[ossible task until he made a connection, found a way to convey meaning, and the feral, diurty child was soon his companion when he saught refuge in the wood. The war pressed on and they grew, from young teens to adults. For her, it was a fascinating time - her friend taught her everything he could, In excvhange she was a listener, a companion as his family turned away as he grew more and more distant. When he was ordered to take a starseed, he brought it to show her, to cry in her shoulder, and she comforted him as best she could, with soft, shy words, and gently caresses indicating companionship and loyalty. When he needed escape, she waited, showing her hidden places, and often dressing him in crowns of flowers and treasures. When he became a newly minted general, he came to her with pride, a pride she didn't understand, but shared as an innocent pup might, dancing by his side into the night.

That night was her first Starseed. He corrupted her that night, bringing her into the 'family', into the service of Metallia as his own compaion and his family member, and she rewarded him by showing skill in collecting energy, in bringing him starseeds - starseeds they sat and shared and consumed together, and for a time, they were successful.

It was a happiness not meant to last. Time, and starseeds, warped them. They were slowly becoming monsters - beasts - youma or at least half, and the General had accumilated enemies in his climb for power to claim his place, and leaning on the friend he had made. One day, he did not come for her toi patrol, with no gifts of starseeds, and so the now-half youma moved to seek him, seeking other agents. Her ears had changed, flora of her wood began curling and sproutig around her as her golden eyes shone a brilliant glow, and at first, few knew what to make of the odd lieutenant.

But not his enemies. They knew he had a companion, the feral-girl the General had befriended, had 'civilized' foir fur years, and now they brought a plan to fruition.

And they lied to the trusting girl. They promised to help find him, bringing Starseed after Startseed as they claimed to kill those affiliated with his disappearance. And naively, she accepted the starseeds, readily consuming them to the amusement of his enemies. It became a game to them, to see how many she would eat, to see what would happen, and it was an eventual trip into the Rift itself one day in a goal to seek Starseeds, to see what might happen with a large supply when she heard them, snickering and mocking her behind her back, calling her a dumb animal -0 lesser for her half youma nature, and how she would never fgind her friend no matter where she looked, and in outrage and pain, she attacked. The strike was as decisive as a feral dog, or cat, or any creature of her wood, the woman screaming her sorrow and rage as she stole their very starseeds, crushing them in her teeth as she watched them die before her, with little more feeling han a predator as she wept blindly, finishing with the agent whom first decieved her, and she fell, laying on the ground helplessly.

There was always a threshold, one her companion had never once allowed her to cross, but one she was prompted to cross by merit of the lies fed her, and stepping over it in the murders left her lying on the ground, bones and body shifting and changing as she lay, shivering in misery before chaos seized her starseed fully.

A Starseed can only take so much before it could shatter, and the pain in her chest was making her numb to all else as she crawled to try escaping it, to flee the ag0ony before finding a body long-deceased, the form of the one she called friend.

Her General.

It was her last vision before her starseed shattered. Most would say it was purely the doing of chaos, but some - those whom had known the bond - may claim it destroyed her to see him killed - dead in the Rift.

The creature born of her starseed's shattering rose slowly on hooven leg, ears flicking, horns shining as she tossed her soft light hair, expression unfeeling, stripped of pain and grief as she moved, stepping over the body slowly as she moved forward, instinct drawing her towards the Riuft - towards home.

Name: Lucretia Fiore

Nickname: Lucy, Lu

Age: 26

Birthday: August 13

Sign: Leo

Gemstone: Peridot

Blood Type: Type A Negative

Fav. Food: Veggie burgers. She’s not a vegetarian or anything, but doesn’t mean she can’t devour veggie burgers. Besides. Less disgusting grease.

Hated Food: Anything with too much grease — fast food, most burgers, lots of pizza… if she can see it dripping off on her plate or her food is more shiny than the plate, there’s a problem in her book.

School: Graduated from Crystal Academy and Sovergein Heights Prep, Lucretia lasted three years at Destiny City University in a Fashion Design major, with a Marketing second major, before she dropped out.
xxxxxxOccupation: For the last four years of her human life, Lucretia worked as an assistant of an editor for a high end fashion magazine. She has since taken on a rather successful fashion blog where she reviews new trends, posts DIY videos, does makeup tutorials… really anything she can think of to occupy herself with. It’s made her a decent wage, and she can take necessary photos in the brief span of her glamour.

Hobbies:

{Retail Therapy} . . .
xxxxxxxOk, so that’s a bit harder to do when you’ve only got about three measly hours to look, y’know, human. So Lucretia has entirely adopted the habit of five-finger-discounts, or maybe online shopping if she’s feeling like being charitable to the stores. Very much the woman who grew up with the sense of having a specific wardrobe for each season, she’s also the sort whom gets an almost drug-like high to just acquiring new… whatever. Clothing, makeup, shoes, electronics, movies, curtains… Anything she can get her hands on and add to her home, her wardrobe, whatever. So long as it’s something new that she can use, knowing she just bought it—regardless of possible discounts—just makes her feel so freaking good. Since her merge with a youma, it’s become less about the actual objects she’s acquiring, and more about the simple thrill of the actual material gain. Not that she has any objection to having such beautiful clothes in her wardrobe to wear whenever, of course. And with lighting like what she’s got all the time? Please, she has to make sure her makeup is always on point.

{Blogging} . . .
xxxxxxxPart hobby, part profession now that she can’t keep a physical public face like she would prefer. Lucretia used to cling to social media sites like Tumblr, Instagram, and of course Facebook. Since her merge however, and the sort of um… regrettable consequences of it, she’s mostly kept her contact with the public restricted to these mediums. And a blog she started up on Weebly, but that’s actually done well enough due to her other marketing to warrant her own domain. Mostly, Lucretia—whom mostly goes by the name of NeonGalLuc online now, her only crackshot to her half-youma status—keeps her blogging about fashion and makeup. Critiquing current trends, making predictions for what will be upcoming in the changing seasons, reviews of various products, outfit photos, DIY tutorials and videos for how to modify clothing, and oodles of makeup tutorials… she keeps it fun for herself, and most certainly gets a giant kick any time she sees someone complementing her photos. Never mind now and then she gets small companies asking her to review their stuff… how can a girl say no to free stuff?

{Movie Enthusiast} . . .
xxxxxxxIt's not a magazine you'll usually find her curled up with—she's too prone to criticizing how they handled shoots, page layouts, and mope about her old life—but instead, a movie. Lucretia adores flicks of all types and eras, though she's got a pretty big soft spot for black and white silent films. Period flicks also get her heart aflutter, if only to see handsome gentlemen sweeping gorgeous women off their dainty feet. Gone With the Wind, Pride and Prejudice... they're all movies she'll cling to the rest of her life if she has anything to say about it. But she's also got a huge love for modern chick flicks. Legally Blonde was her damn mantra growing up, ok. Romantic comedies give her hope for life, even if she mostly relates to horror flicks these days. She's gotten incredibly good at handling gore flicks, and in fact has a tendency to laugh outright at them these days... largely critiquing that that's not how blood splatters like that but ok Hollywood. If you're ok with constant lights while a movie's on, inviting Lucretia to watch any sort of film is likely going to result in her smothering you with shopping trip treasures—the best part of a film to her is, odd though it might seem given her dislike of being told she's wrong about something, discussing a movie after it's finished with someone else. The good, the bad, the ugly, the techniques used... Anyone willing to humor her will have a very appreciative Lucretia on their side for at least a day or two.


Virtues:

{Charismatic} . . .
xxxxxxxGirl knows how to walk the walk, talk the talk, and put all those illuminating smiles to work. When it comes to mingling and dealing, Lucretia paid special attention during her school years among the fellow rich and business savvy, and thus far she certainly thinks it's paid in spades. A pretty face and chipper voice can do wonders when you add in batting lashes, tinkling laughter, and of course a wit as sharp as your manicure. Lucretia subscribes to the idea that while honey gets you more flies, you've also got to use that honey to make them stick around and attract the bigger prey. She can be friendly as you please, full of complements and air kisses. It's all about impressions, and she does what she can to try and give others nothing but a positive view of her. Not that she'll hold back her commentary if she feels they're picking a fight, she'll just try to make sure her silver tongue's dripping as much poisoned honey as possible to (ideally) keep any spectators on her side.

{Innovative} . . .
xxxxxxxIf you want someone with an eye for detail and out of the box sort of ideas, drag Lucretia along for the ride. Years studying marketing and fashion design didn't only go to her eye for clothes, pallets, and makeup. She's always been someone who's favored creativity and abstract design, something that flows perfectly with how she handles situations. Running into any problem, social or non, her mind's quick to set around figuring out the best way for her to end up on top in the situation. If it means breaking some rules of logic and going outside the box, she's all over it. Big bonus points if she can add some flare into whatever the solution is. She definitely has a tendency towards flashy, bright, and extravagant, but she considers that a pro rather than a con. After all, if you want to do something right, why not make it as big and loud as possible~?

{Organized} . . .
xxxxxxxEverything has its place, and every place has its time. Or something like that. Don't ask her to quote anything for you, but if you want to know where any object is, how you rank in her social hierarchy, or an actual hierarchy, Lucretia's got all that stuff under mental lock and key. That eye for detail all but required her to form an early dependency on organization, both of her thoughts and her surroundings. A bit of a neat freak, she finds cleaning her spaces to be especially gratifying. Mainly so she knows how much room she has to add in new acquisitions, and what she can throw away that was literally from last season. It's this organizational mind that helps her spot trends and patterns, and enables her to think outside the box to try and find her solutions to whatever problems life throws at her. She might not be able to perfectly quote information out like a stupid bird to you, but you can bet she'll have all the proper and actually necessary information ready for you in a pretty package. Figuratively, or literally. She's damn good at reports and keeping tabs on the world around her--she wasn't a big shot's assistant for nothing, you know.


Flaws:

{Egocentric} . . .
xxxxxxxTo Lucretia, no boat has more holes, is at more risk of sinking, or is in any way worse off (or better, depends on her mood) than her own boat. Doesn't matter if someone else really does have it worse than her, she'll deny it to the end of her days while she mopes or whines about her perceived tragic life, or horrific hardships. Attempts at giving her a reality check are ill-advised. If you’re not here for the Lucy Pity Party, she will either do her damnedest to make you part of her supportive group—and thereby join her pity party—or she will do her damnedest to expel you from the area. Usually this includes tears (which she claims are totally not crocodile tears, good god) to potential kicking and screaming. Attempts to call her out as childish are met with offense. Criticism towards Lucretia is always met with offense, to be fair. The idea that she could be wrong about a subject flabbergasts her. About the only time she doesn’t throw a fit is when someone she actually respects in the field gives her “constructive feedback.” Which really only amounts to anyone Lucretia acknowledges could give her an edge in the field or subject at hand if she could pick their brain for her own motives.

{Ambitious} . . .
xxxxxxxIt's not always a bad thing to shoot for the stars, but in Lucretia's case she'll steamroll over anyone it takes to get to her goals. No one is as deserving as her, no one is as smart as her, and certainly no one is as beautiful as her. Though she knows the use of networking and making valuable allies, as they're usually key to gaining and securing anything of actual worth, the idea of throwing friends under the bus doesn't really phase her much. Oh she'll pout, she'll cry, and she'll say she's so sorry.... but at the end of the day, the girl has one person she cares for most. Moment someone's got a greater worth to her as a casualty or scapegoat, she might morn whatever relationship she's lost, or maybe drag her feet a bit on whatever plan she feels she needs to go through to get what she wants. But in the end? Either she's the top b***h, or there's a problem. And Lucretia prides herself on a woman that solves all her problems.

{Insincere} . . .
xxxxxxxAll her smiles, all her laughs, all her friendly antics and sweet honey.... yeah it's all a lie. Sure she might mean it now and then to people she actually feels are worth her time--or maybe, miracle, actual friends--but overall? If Lucretia is paying attention to you, you've got something she wants. She's business minded to the max, and if she's willing to go out of her way for someone it's only to suit her own goals one way or another. Sure, you could just be someone to fit her 'I need to socialize' bill, and have no other worth her plans than that. Or you could have some status she wants access to. It's difficult to say what's her aim when she's mingling, and something anyone who goes around her should be wary of. Oh she'll deny it till she's blue, and those crocodile tears will fall fat and fast. But the girl's an actress with big dreams, and believes the only way to get ahead in the world is to be willing to climb over the heads, shoulders, and broken bodies of anyone who serves her better as steps. It's nothing personal, hun. It's just business.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Negaverse Alias: Lieutenant Carnotite

Challenge: “The closer you get to the light, the larger your shadow becomes.” / “This lighting isn’t doing you any favors, darling.”

Abilities

Physical :: Third Eye Not-So-Blind [Electrical flow vision]
xxxxxCarnotite's third eye has a slightly different vision of the world around her. Due to her connection with electricity since her merge with the youma, Carnotite has found herself in possession of an eye that is capable of seeing electrical pulses and charges around her. Live power lines look like string lights, people look like bright wire forms in dull silhouettes, the list goes on. Though her vision is restricted to the range of her normal eyesight--in distance, and of course obstacles like solid surfaces--she does have a sense for where electrical lines are below the ground and in walls. It makes using electrical objects kinda a pain--one one hand, she can see the actual screen with her normal eyes, but she's got to try and remember to shut her third eye or this weird... double layer appears showing the electrical charge and... ugh. Powers, what annoyances.

Magical :: Electric Presence [Electrocution]
xxxxxA joke shock buzzing handshake from Carnotite is the least of your worries when you make physical contact with her. Though Carnotite does run a bit on the warm side naturally now, all that extra juice running through her systems can be far too easily condensed into her hands, feet... really anywhere across her body. Focusing this electrical charge at any point on her body, she can deliver a wallop of a shock to another body, even through clothing--hers, or theirs. The shock itself is comparable to a strong shock from static electricity--strong enough to make you jump and hurt the region for a while, but nothing to cause remote permanent damage. Carnotite requires 60 seconds to recollect her energy to use this charge again, and is capable of doing this three times a day.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

History:

show spoilerhide spoiler

"I always wanted to live in my own spotlight."

She could laugh about it now of course. Her metal glazed hands wrapped around the power lines, glowing eyes surveying her newfound kingdom. A crown sat upon her glistening locks, each perfect curl accented by the golden glow. A crown of lights, even if they were just bulbs. They were her crown. How'd that song go? Hell yeah I'm a ******** princess.

Accurate was accurate.

She was no rags to riches. Lucretia Fiore never knew the concept of hunger, or thirst, or loneliness. The cold never bothered her anyways because it never existed. She snapped her fingers, and people would bend over backwards to fulfill her every whim. Helped that her parents had so much money, so much push and pull in their multimillion companies, world wide attention. Her father's clothing lines were always featured in the top magazines, while her mother's record company was herald for enlisting some of the best up and coming artists in numerous countries. And dear, sweet young Lucretia was the heir to it all. It was so tragic how her mother couldn't have other children. Lucretia herself had been the product of numerous attempts at fertility treatments.

She was a miracle baby, and oh did she know it.

Growing up with the best of the best, she always strove to be the best. Of course she wanted to prove she was her parents' darling daughter, the perfect union of both their powerful worlds. Her mother's poise and precision, her father's tenacity and eye for beauty. It was the name Fiore that caught eyes and made her friends. It was her parents' influence and opulence that gained her flattering attention and kisses behind the bleachers. And Lucretia knew it.

And she never was above abusing it.

She watched as her friends from Crystal struck out on their own, intent on making their own names away from their parents', earning their own keep. Lucretia just scoffed at the idea, laughing merrily at their stupidity. It was a fool who threw away silver platters after all. She'd used her father's name and business contacts to begin wedging her way into the fashion industry. When her mother was away for work, it wasn't uncommon for the young Lucretia to join her father as his partner for business dinners even as young as fourteen. Dressed impeccably, sweet tempered and bell-like laughter, it didn't take her long to begin collecting names and spreading word she was interested in the industry. Of course, she wasn't just a pretty face, gorgeous as it was. On the advice of a ghost of a woman, still carrying the airs of an era long passed yet nonetheless breathtaking for her beauty and grace despite the wrinkles and feeble bones, Lucretia began to bring with her gold leaf engraved leather sketchbooks. The pages were filled with designs and concepts for anything from accessories to match collections from other designers, to collection concepts of her own.

She giggled at the complements, blushed and batted the air bashfully where necessary. And she made her waves. Used her father's coattails to hook herself on her family's name.

College was less a time for learning, and more a time for showing off. The cutest eye candy boys on her arm back in high school were quickly replaced with the hottest models her father's company worked with. Tabloids raved about the young heiress and her partying, and she always made sure to have her hair, makeup, and outfits perfect for their snapshots. The gossip swirled when she dropped out of college to become the newest, and youngest, personal assistant of the editor of one of the top fashion magazines. Her father certainly didn't ask any questions, and at parties Lucretia was always coyly pointing out she'd met the editor first at some of her father's business dinners. The news went crazy when she was making plans to get married to one of the top rising modeling stars, their passion plastered on magazines across the nation and more racy photos scattered across social networks. Her name became all the bigger when she dropped him at the altar when a source gave her proof of behavior she found inexcusable.

It wasn't the Brazilian model on the side that irked her, in fact she expected it. Her father's top earners were frequent visitors to his penthouse apartment she'd sometimes crash at when she didn't feel like going back home, and she knew most of her mother's trips were to see her boyfriend. It was the bad investments Lucretia's husband-to-be had made that was the source of their falling out. She'd made it clear her minimum requirement for his bank account and portfolio numbers.

In diamonds and vintage lace, Lucretia walked from the high end church to a penthouse suit her father owned. The man she met between the sheets gave her an offer she couldn't refuse. A little pain, a little poison, and she could have the stars. He knew her well. It wasn't the idea of defeating alien invaders that would do anything for her, wasn't the idea of being a hero or finding some missing family. Belonging didn't mean a dime to her. A little sacrifice, and she could have power. Real power. More than just money and sway, she could turn her ambitions into a monopoly if she played her cards right. Aligned herself with the right people. Did what she did best--use the right people for her own gain.

He knew her so perfectly well. It was a shame he wasn't looking for something longer term.

Lucretia let him slide his hand into her chest, let him fill her soul--her starseed, he called it--full of pain, and poison, and agony. A little loss, a little disruption to her perfect world, and when she opened her eyes, she was a better her. Miracle though that was, she stood as Carnotite, perfectly tailored uniform and beautiful accent yellow. She was the light in the darkness, she felt. The glistening gem. There was no rough for her. She was a gem that existed out of spite for the natural world.

It was her ex-fiance's starseed that was the first she'd taken, followed by the idiot advisor that convinced him to invest in those horrific stocks. Ruined her happy wedding into economic bliss, her plans for a beautiful family and a fat alimony and child support check if he turned out to be a failure as her devoted husband.

The years went on, and Lucretia was happy with her balance between work and her new enterprise. She was the apple of her boss' eye, and her time spent among the Negaverse was spent learning, problem solving, and making such perfect use of how easily a pretty face could get past people's guards. Now and then she'd take a few trophies from around her kills, wearing the pilfered jewelry or garments from their wardrobe with gleaming pride. This was her place, she was so happy to say. Rule the earth, take out anyone in her way... it was easy, no?

But she was frustrated. That promotion wasn't coming her way. She pouted, she complained, she whined, and oh did she b***h. Yet nothing worked. Nothing got her her way. Carnotite was stuck, a lieutenant. Following orders for someone else's game. And it ate at her like acid.

Perhaps that's what lead the apple of her eye to her?

That gleaming light.

That golden girl.

Oh the promises on her glistening lips, the future reflected in her neon lights and burning gaze. Carnotite wanted that beauty, that perfection. She was growing older. She had the money to fight it, but images of that withered woman, once an angel of the photographs, haunted her. Made her blood run cold, wake up in a cold sweat and cry about the eventuality of life. Yet this angel, this true divinity, offered her a beautiful answer. Her solution. Lucretia couldn't have begged a better fate from the stars. She held open her arms, bared her soul, and welcomed the electrical wonder into her.

The pain, the poison. It hurt. God did it hurt. Worse than when she'd awakened as Carnotite, worse than the night terrors of reality. She was burning, melting, blown apart and reforming into something else. Someone else. Perfection, beauty, passion and fashion and fun and everything she'd ever labeled herself as. Personified.

She wore her crown of lights and her eyes glistened with the lights of a beautiful future. Carnotite had lost a great deal, oh yes. But she'd gained. Oh, oh did she gain in its wake. She closed her eyes in rapture as she felt the electricity flow through her from the exposed power lines, smiling to the starlit heavens. She was brighter than any star. She was more precious than any soul. They could all be extinguished for her kingdom.

She was the ******** princess, after all. Carnotite snapped her fingers, and the lights of the neighborhood flicked off at her command, the broken power lines sparking at her feet, the applause of a crowd and her public.

Name: Iolanthe

Nickname: Briar Rose, Lanthe

Hobbies:
Star Charts: A left over from a far off memory, Iolanthe spends much of the time she is in and out of the Rift gazing skyward. When in the Rift, she reads the glittering of the crystals as though they’re constellations (she has a large book of them she references sometimes, since Rift stars don't move which, ironically, makes reading them more difficult). She often gives predictions of fates without prompting, or desire on the person in question, based on what she sees. These predictions are very true, though Mars is in retrograde… Perhaps you should not go after that senshi you’re looking for tonight. She does tend to turn to reading the stars if an officer as let her out of the Rift and left her own devices. Surely with the stars so bright tonight, she’ll stun the enemy into submission. It does actually come in as a handy little talent of hers: she almost always knows where north is, and can use the position of constellations to help find her way when traveling long distances.

Crystal Botany: While there’s not much in the ways of plants in the Rift, Iolanthe is incredibly curious about merging plants and crystals together. She clearly has control over her own roses, why shouldn’t she be able to control those in the Rift, and improve upon them. It’s not a fast moving process, nor very fruitful, but she has all the time in the world now. She keeps a small garden near her den with crystals and plants from her trips to the city. The plants don’t necessarily last long in the stony underground of the Rift, but progress is progress! She’s hoping that with the addition of star seeds, she may be able to create crystalline plants that grow in the dark.

Virtues:
Coy: She’s a sweet talker, when she speaks something other than star readings. Iolanthe possesses a soft and melodic voice, one that she knows how to use like a lawyer. She knows just what to say, at just the right moment, and in the right inflection. She’s not above flirting with you - though know she’s wants nothing except your starseed - and circling you like a hawk with a little smile on her face. It’s a very effective tool to use in conjunction with her glamour or from the shadows and trees to lure her prey into a false sense of security. Beware the rose for it’s thorns, after all.

Watchful: Given her own way, Iolanthe would be more of a watcher than an actual combatant. She is very observant, able to look on a scene and pick out minute little details about it. Many years (or so she thinks) of stargazing and mapping fates based on their positions has given her a good eyes for it. She prefers to wait, as well, and watch her prey, before making a move. She knows her vulnerability outside of the Rift, and has a good sense of self preservation. Lanthe isn’t going to move on a situation unless she’s got a pretty good idea of what’s going on, or her officer orders her to. If it’s the later, it’s usually after she’s reported back to them in the first place. Of course, keeping her attention on what’s going on is difficult sometimes, but a good prodding and promise of some good mulch for her garden and star seeds will generally keep her on task. Generally.

Flaws:
Absent Minded: Iolanthe, for all her youma aggressiveness, is rather… Ah Jupiter is shining tonight… absent minded and easily distracted. Left to her own devices, she’d much rather get lost among the bright specks of the sky, or roam until she could find an open field. They say it’s a lingering remnant of her former life, one they’ve been unable to snuff out yet. Iolanthe will often simply find some uninteresting and wander off, unless directed to continue fighting by an officer. She ends up requiring a level of direction and attention akin to an adventurous dog because of this.

Savage: When Iolanthe is focused on an enemy, she does not hold back. Her thorns are far sharper than seen at first glance, and she will not hesitate to do all she can to inflict pain on you. There is an air of grace to her movements that only adds to the destructive force behind her attacks. She may prance about, but those legs of hers can pack a wallop. Lanthe will torture, she will tempt, she would play with her prey until it either dies or vanishes from her sight. She possesses that ingrained aggressiveness that comes with being a beast of darkness, and will very much use it to her advantage. No holding back for this one, especially when riled up.

Abilities --

1) Physical: Quiet Hooves - Iolanthe possesses a level of grace one would not expect from the centaur youma. She is capable of walking incredibly quietly for her size and weight, her hooves never making a sound on most surfaces. This is done through very careful foot placements and gently putting her hooves down. This breaks down when she’s at a full gallop or trying to trot, for she moves too fast to accurately step without making sound.

2) Magical: Crystal Petals - Iolanthe pulls one of her roses off of her body and concentrates it, making it glow green like her eyes. The rose floats off her hand, and begins to break apart. She then blows on the separated petals, which crystallize and fly at her opponent. The petals are fairly sharp and will cut clothing and skin cleaning. These petals can travel up to 10 yards in a straight line in front of her. Once they reach the end of the 10 yards, or 20 seconds from the time she plucks the rose from herself elapses, the petals disintegrate into nothing. She can use this ability twice per battle, and each rose breaks into 15 petals.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

History:

Not everyone who succumbs to darkness is forced. Some choose the path of their own volition, sound of mind and body. Others still are drawn to it like moths to a flame, and devour it hungry for more.

Once, Iolanthe was one who chose the darkness willingly.

Her life was quiet, average, mundane. Her town was small, quiet, mundane. Everyone knew everyone else’s business, every Thanksgiving there was a giant festival, and every winter holiday season found the biggest fir tree the town could afford dressed up in the town square. The diner had been there since her parents were born, remodeled a few times to keep up with the modernization of appliances. If you wanted good books, you went to the used bookstore on the corner with the cats in the window. The same bus system for school ran for her entire childhood life, in the same order and on the same time table. You could be sure the sheriff would drive down the main thoroughfare at noon and six pm, and the speed traps never changed from month to month.

How she hated it.

She wanted nothing more than to burn the whole town to the ground and leave it’s ruins. To have something unexpected happen one day, and to be pulled away from the small town she’d never get out of. She began to map the stars and involve herself in mysticism with the thought that perhaps she could inflict change in her own little way. She would be the outlier, the odd one out of the small town. She’d offer tarot and star chart readings for a small fee, tell love sick teens their fate with crushes, and maybe, just maybe, something would happen.

One day, the charts told her change was coming. So she waited, and waited. She was nothing if not patient; one could not simply glance at the stars and know their secrets. Time and dedication were needed to fully understand them. Even then, only the heavens knew the entirety of their hidden ways. If she could wait hours for a constellation to rise, she could wait for a sign.

Months passed before a sign of that change came. Slowly, so slowly that only one who paid attention to the on goings of the town would notice, people started to disappear. First one of the school teachers, then a gardener. No bodies were found, and while the town ‘mourned’ them, they hardly noticed their loss. Others followed slowly, too forgettable to remember even their titles. Dark monsters lurked in the corners of the buildings, flashing sharp teeth and sharper claws. The stars spoke to her about a shadow and a dark cloud covering the town, and this was the sign she needed.

Iolanthe found the culprit of the kidnappings among the old rose garden on the north side of town. For someone who’d single-handedly orchestrated the disappearances of at least eight towns people, he was unassuming. A dark military outfit and dark hair with a quiet voice. His eyes stood out, maroon that glowed in the moonlight, but he was just as forgettable as the rest of the town.

He tempted her with power, power to change the fate written in the stars and to leave town. The stars told her this was her path. He sang songs of his people’s glory and guided her into the dark. Eager to join his cause and abandon the mundane, she opened her soul to him and let him slide one gloved hand inside.

He must have been too eager at the time, to finally have someone willing at his fingertips, she reasoned at the time. (In reality, he was simply an upstart who thought himself more powerful than he was.) He poured Chaos into her, and continued to pour more and more even as her star seed reached it’s limit. The reckless control of it backlashed and she collapsed into a writhing mess among the rose bushes. There was so much pain, so much darkness, and so much more pain.

Then there was nothing but clarity and silence.

As she stood among the bushes that curled around her torso and hips, she turned her gaze skyward. The stars were bright tonight, she mused, and Venus looked to be rising. A good evening for a rebirth. She turned her eyes to the officer who’d corrupted her so fully she was no longer human, and plucked a rose from the bush to place in her hair.

“Venus is rising, master. I do believe we should be going.” The centaur youma then simply turned and wandered through an opening in the bushes without a sound.