Welcome to Gaia! ::

Name: Anika Marwick

Nickname: Ani, Annie, Ika (She doesn't really like this one)

Age: 16

Birthday: January 6

Sign: Aquarius

Gemstone: Apatite

Blood Type: A-

Fav. Food: Salmon Sashimi

Hated Food: Durian

School: Crystal Academy

Hobbies:

Water Gardening
Anika spends a lot of time when at home tending to both her outdoor and indoor water gardens. Outdoors one will find a well kept koi pond littered almost artfully with various lilies and lotus plants. If asked Anika will show a bit of chagrin at her parents' choice of backyard pond, but as it was the least expensive of the options available to her she tolerates it. Indoors, however, is a completely different story. Dominating her study is a large acrylic modular fishtank. Each different orb is filled with a different set of plants, macro vertebrates and macro invertebrates from various wetland classifications around the world. She takes great pride in her thriving ecosystems and will tell anyone, at length, about them. Because the ecosystems can be very delicate, Anika will usually sneak out to the local pet or fish stores to see what they have and get supplies. Her parents are less than pleased, they would rather her order everything online than go into town, but sometimes a girl just has to go outside once in a while. After haggling with her parents over which club to join, Anika was allowed to join the after school gardening club to better round out her academic records.

Piano
Her parents, in an effort to help 'develop Anika culturally', have made her take up the piano from a young age. Strict rules have her practicing for an hour or more each day. In all honesty, she can't stand playing and finds it to be a meaningless waste of time. In an effort to make it amusing as well as 'enriching', Ani will often be found doing experiments with a fishtank nearby, studying the effects of certain song, notes or chords on the hapless fish or water bug inside. Because the experiments have made what would be a tedious task into something she feels is much more viable, it’s developed into a hobby but only as it pertains to the fish and bugs. At concerts where she lacks this aspect, her boredom is apparent. She still performs at small local concerts or weddings, but because it makes her mother happy more than she enjoys it.

Reading
"Until I feared I would lose it I did not love reading. One does not love breathing."

She reads often and avidly, taking great joy in all works from philosophical to political to fantasy. She does have one great weakness though. Trashy romance novels. Hidden from her parents in a small locked box under her bed is found her newest romance novel, which she only dares to read once they have gone to bed. Her parents would find such drivel appalling. Though they do not lack for money to buy whatever books Anika might want, she does sneak off to the library and will spend a fair amount of time just enjoying the sights and smells of a whole building devoted to literature.

Tai Chi
This slow moving martial art has fascinated Anika for many years, drawn in by the sense of discipline and control exuded by those who practice it. Anika's mother has been known to be a bit...overly dramatic in private and because of such displays, Anika has been worried she might lose control of her own emotions the same way. At the face of relentless and constant begging from their daughter, Anika's parents decided to let her take classes in Tai Chi, thinking perhaps it would teach her the grace and fluidity that a girl with wealth should have. Until recently she had a private tutor at home but realizing the lack of friends would probably be a detriment to her later in life, her parents not only allowed her to take classes in Tai Chi at a local dojo downtown but also gave her a curfew so she could enjoy the town. Just so long as she had her cell phone with her at all times.


Virtues:
Studious
Being the only child of a wealthy family, Ani has grown up with little to worry about and a great excess of time. Most children would run and play, but her parents felt this was "below her" and young ladies should never "horse around". In order to alleviate the ever crushing boredom, she turned to her books. There was so much to learn about how the world worked and what awaited her outside the walls of her home, or even her city. Through tireless study of many different topics, Ani found a natural affinity for science and math. Her parents were less than pleased with her choice of study, which was perhaps a strong factor in her decision to pursue it. Ani works with a more logical and analytical mind than her parents and though her desire to learn leans mostly toward biology and science, it isn't all that she knows well. However, her attention to her studies has left her with...lacking social skills. In spite of this, or perhaps because of it, she has volunteered to tutor other students who are struggling with their math and science courses.

Graceful
Years spent in Tai Chi classes has improved her balance and coordination, and has also made it easier for her to keep a cool head under pressure. Because of the slow and deliberate movements needed for various poses, she has developed better control over her mind and emotions often appearing unflappable even when inside she may be wishing to scream or cry.

Passionate
In all that she does, outside the sphere of public interaction and behaviour, Anika shows a great amount of love and dedication. At school she may seem cold and unwelcoming, but talking with her about school work or a moment at home with her aquarium shows a completely different side to her. She will talk, at great length, about her beloved hobbies and interests, usually revealing far more than anyone else would care to know. Her voice tends to be just a bit higher in pitch and her exuberance is apparent as her speech picks up speed. She speaks of her aquariums as one might speak of a husband or beloved child. If the topic of wetlands, biology or chemistry come up, even in passing, she will explain at great length how and why they are so important; delving into the details that your average person really couldn’t care any less about.

Flaws:
Fastidious
Her attention to detail could be considered a virtue, if it weren't for the fact that she is excessively demanding of others. This can also, and often, be seen as 'bossy'. In school a paper that would normally take a student an hour or two to write takes her six or more and usually far exceeds the teacher's expectations. This can also cause her to be far too critical of those around her that don't go to the same lengths. It also makes her the kind of person who would take a toothbrush or cotton swab to the bathroom tiles to make sure they are as clean as possible.

Socially Inept
A life dedicated to higher learning with over-protective and controlling parents has left Ani unable to understand simple interactions between people such as sarcasm, rhetorical questions, or even certain turns of phrase. She is known to try and give the best answer she can, or go off on a rant, even as others simply stare at her. Ani also fails to recognize subtle body language and will fail to realize when she is making someone uncomfortable. It’s hard for her to understand that not everyone cares about what she has to say, or the things she enjoys. It also escapes her that just because she understands it, doesn’t mean everyone else does too. It will usually take someone telling her point blank “Anika, no one cares. Be quiet.” before she’ll understand that maybe she’s talked a little too much. In regards to seeming cold and unfeeling at school, this is mostly because she doesn't tend to pass notes, chat in class or seem overly interested in other students.

Superiority Complex
She wholly believes herself to be better than the majority, if not all, of her peers. This is hardly true, but according to her scale of measurement (book learning and knowledge), she stands above everyone around her, even her parents. Her belief of this makes it even harder for her to interact with others. She is often known to point out the failings of those around her, whether they want her to or not. Because of this, she rarely has any friends, but that's the way she prefers it. She would rather be alone with her studies than force herself to "dumb down" her speech for the proletariat. Most attempts at interaction are met with quick, concise answers before she returns to whatever she had been doing.


PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Eyes: Silvery/grey

Hair: Excessively long and well maintained coppery hair. Most of her hair hangs freely, down past her knees, but a sizable about is pulled back into a single ponytail at the back of her head.

Face: Oval shape, a slighly upturned nose, light freckling over the bridge of her nose and just under the eyes.

Body: Slim, bookish type.

Clothes:

Feel free to post now!

Oho, good ideas! I was a little worried about the power too, and I like your idea of making it "mushy" around them. *ponders*

Edit:: Ok! updated the bio part, new stuff in bold. The powers were completely reworked.

Yeah i'm planning more in depth later, but her dad is a lawyer and her mom is a psychiatrist.

I was thinking it would be pretty quick as it's single target and the vines are pulling them down?

She had a private tutor (I added it in ^^)

I could certainly make it take longer. She's mostly a 'support' character in combat (think Mercury), so I had thought it would be ok, but I can change it ^^ I always stress over powers cause I never know what would be too OP and tend to gimp myself <.<;

Everything is fixed up, just waiting for a stamp now I think ^^

I'm tweaking the parts you talked about, but in all honesty I have no idea what I'm doing RE: Attacks. I was getting help for those, but I'm really just fumbling in the dark about it. I'm gonna IM you <3

Edit: I tweaked the character bits, new bits are in bold :3