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 Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2017 8:10 pm
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Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2017 8:12 pm
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Southern Moss
It's said that moss always grows on the north side of the tree, but this moss was found clung to the southern facing bark. Curiously, even in its vial, the plant stays ever-south, traveling across the glass as you turn and move it.
Blackberry
The blackberry is an edible fruit produced by many species in the Rubus genus in the Rosaceae family, hybrids among these species within the Rubus subgenus, and hybrids between the Rubus and Idaeobatus subgenera. The taxonomy of the blackberries has historically been confused because of hybridization and apomixis, so that species have often been grouped together and called species aggregates. For example, the entire subgenus Rubus has been called the Rubus fruticosus aggregate, although the species R. fruticosus is considered a synonym of R. plicatus.
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Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2017 8:13 pm
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Name: Holle Theresia Swan.
Pronunciation: HAW-la.
Nickname: Gremlin; by Nina.
Age: <1 year (appears ~15 years old).
Date of Birth: 11/14/17.
Gender: Female.
Orientation: ???
Marital Status: Single.
Occupation: Seasoned adventurer.
Stage: Frei.
Rune: ???
Alignment: Neutral Good.
Likes: ADVENTURE!!!, collecting things, fairy tales, forests, making friends, baking (especially bread).
Dislikes: Chilly weather, thick clothing, remaining indoors, being ignored, chemicals, deep water.
Voice: Hinoka (Fire Emblem).
Text color: Dark violet.
Wide-eyed and intensely curious, Holle looks to the world with a persistent idealism that can be rather jarring if one cannot contain her absurd excitement. To her, life is a beautiful story written just for her; each experience and person a necessity for her fairy tale. She turns mundane trysts into adventures, and revels in sticking her nose into every nook and cranny. Yet, the glitter and stars of her daydreams has blinded her. Though Holle wants to live an enriching, rose-colored life, it will take an arduous effort thanks to her constant detachment from any negativity.
If confronted or blamed, Holle's initial reaction is to separate herself from the person or event while under the predilection she's too pure, too good to have done something wrong. After all, when is the main character ever disliked? Unfortunately, once Holle earns another person's ire, there is always a threat of her relationship with them going south.
This isn't to say Holle is selfish. In actuality, she's known to care intensely and compensate anyone who assists her by inviting (or dragging) them along on her many adventures. She actively wants to get to know others, and barriers serve to be simple gates to the Raevan when her determination to be friends takes hold of her heart. Holle will withdraw her advances if another communicates clearly she is coming on too strong, but should they lash out in anger, her reluctance steps in.
Water: While a staple consumption among all Raevans, Holle can retain larger amounts of water (up to twenty times her weight!) for extended periods of time. However, she rarely absorbs that much, and instead stops until she feels full. Water can be either consumed through the mouth or absorbed through the skin, though she prefers the former.
Sunlight: Sunlight absorption is the most common way for Holle to feed herself, as it is easiest for her to perform photosynthesis while on her daily nature walks. She feels the most full when she consumes water in tandem with sunlight, and she can usually be found doing both at once.
Blackberries: Usually just as a quick pick-me-up, Holle can eat blackberries (though not the ones she grows naturally, that's just gross!). However, it is imperative she eats only organic blackberries. She's sensitive to the use of pesticides, and ingesting even one sprayed fruit can make her ill.
Moss: Like blackberries, moss is a "popcorn" snack Holle can eat on the go just to sate her appetite. However, unlike blackberries, the Raevan is a bit of a glutton with moss, and can be seen hastily chomping down on some until she feels full.
Moss Freckles: Scattered intermittently across the bridge of Holle's nose and her shoulders are patches of moss akin to freckles. If she is healthy and well-hydrated, the freckles appear green, but will brown and fall off in clumps if Holle is ill, dehydrated, or exposed to cold weather for too long.
Brambles and Berries: Blackberries naturally flower and bear fruit on Holle's person between July to August; falling off during the later part of the season when they overripe. While Holle can't control the frequency of how much she grows, she can manipulate the placement of brambles (though only on her person). Settling on one or two vines at most, Holle usually wears them as a fashionable headband, choker, or bracelet.
Wings: Small and brittle, Holle's mossy, wooden wings offer little in the way of movement. It usually takes a few good flaps to propel her forward, and even then, it is akin to an air-filled balloon being pushed by a stray hand. Instead, it is common for her to cling to someone or something grounded to the earth, and be dragged along by them as she points them in a certain direction.
Due South (passive; can become active): Described as a persistent, though unconscious, tug at the base of her neck, Holle always has a general idea which direction south is in. However, if she were to concentrate deeply with a clear mind, she can obtain hazy visions of her southern path as well. These visions always come in small spurts, and she cannot delineate what or how far she sees; though the distance isn't more than half a mile from her position.
Bramble Touch (active): A protective action conjured from her soul, Holle's skin can elicit a prickling sensation to anyone who touches her. The sensation isn't enough to draw blood, and more inclined as a warning for one to keep their distance. Pain normally remains centralized to where skin-to-skin contact was made, but the longer contact remains, the quicker the pain spreads. It ceases upon letting go of Holle.
Forest Communion (passive): The forest is Holle's domain, and her greatest source of comfort. It is were she is at her liveliest, as she seems to draw energy from the plant life that thrive there. Remaining indoors for extended periods of time drains her of her energy, and she can become depressed or flighty if she is separated for longer than a week. Her mood can be improved if she is introduced to a plant indoors, but only by a smidgen.
Strength [16]: Holle is hardly the strongest Raevan physically; she is incredibly sensitive to cold weather and even the weakest of toxins and she barely has the strength to propel herself forward with her wings.
Endurance [24]: However, as a seasoned adventurer, Holle can go hours exploring without feeling faint or exhausted. Her perky attitude itself, with her incessant need to yip and sparkle at everyone, requires enough endurance as it is to maintain.
Intelligence [25]: While not the overall smartest cookie in the Raevan batch, she is the sweetest. Her intelligence is actually isolated to her interests; while she may score unsatisfactorily on a test centered on a certain subject, she excels in topics like storybooks and the names of plants.
Creativity [28]: To Holle, life is a storybook and every moment an element to move the plot forward. No matter how minor a meeting she has with someone, she comes up with a detailed character for them on the fly, as they are an important character in her story.
Friendliness [25]: Holle's first goal with anyone is to immediately become their friend. She revels in being an extroverted soul who enjoys the company of others, but if another returns her advances with reservations, it isn't uncommon for her to withdraw.
Charisma [26]: Holle's has matched her prowess for making friends with actually keeping up with them. She prizes her friendships dearly, and it isn't uncommon for her to pop in on someone just to see how they're doing and possibly drag them on an adventure with her.
Humor [28]: Holle adores putting a smile on person's face, and would go out of the way to do whatever she can to make a person crack those pearly whites. A little of Nina's own humor rubbed off on her, so when it comes to comical moments, both guardian and Raevan share this in good graces.
Magic [27]: While Holle's magic isn't offensive or the most powerful, she finds herself in tune with her powers, and can control them relatively well. Of her powers, her strongest remains to be her emotional communion with nature, to the point it affects her daily functioning.
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Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2017 8:13 pm
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Name: Nina Nicola Swan.
Nickname: One-armed bogwitch, a nickname graciously given to her by her students.
Age: 39.
Date of Birth: 06/21/1978.
Gender: Female.
Orientation: Homoromantic asexual.
Marital Status: Single; Nina contends she is too busy to find a partner, and hasn't considered dating for years since her last relationship.
Occupation: Teacher at a private boarding middle school for non-humans.
Race: Human.
Likes: Bad B movies, magic tricks, pastrami sandwiches, long walks, wintertime, neat stacks of paper.
Dislikes: Planes, snobs, contact lenses, lesson plans, disorder, lukewarm coffee.
Voice: Scarlet (Fire Emblem).
Text color: Teal.
Standing just spry of five feet, zero inches, Nina is anything but an imposing woman physically. Her features can be described as distinctly average, without a blemish or decoration to set her apart from a crowd. Well, despite the fact she only has one arm, but the obviousness of such an attribute doesn't seem to hinder her stride; if a person were to really see the reality of her, and not a plain old idea, one would see she carries herself with a certain boldness. Her posture is ramrod straight, her supposedly unkempt locks are combed in a very particular way (without a strand out of place), and her fashion, though largely plain and unfeminine, was chosen for comfort, not to make a statement. The particularity of Nina's appearance, though as plain as plain can be, can be seen to be a fabricated attempt to "fit in" as if to not draw more attention to herself than warranted.
A deadpan snarker with an acerbic wit, passing interactions with Nina are gentle, friendly musings of, well, nothing. She will always meet a conversation halfway, and seems to revel in the normalcy of small talk. She has developed a bit of a charismatic charm as a result, but instead of swaying with pretty words and attractive offers, she gets by with joking prods and genuine interest in the lives of others.
Matched with her social prowess is the acceptance of awkwardness. Nothing seems to phase Nina, and no matter how controversial a topic, her reaction is typically a curious tilt of the head. She claims working at her school has hardened her to "normal" human problems, to where they aren't in the same league. Then again, she might have a point when one compares dating stresses to the emotional and physical toil of attempting to unstuck a half-lamprey girl from her crush using a spatula.
Despite her questionable claim, there is proof of something bothersome in her personality when it comes to order and control. Though she isn't oppressive about this, Nina does things a certain way and revels in routine like a holy sacrament. She can be rather testy if someone challenges her authority, and any mistakes made attempting to understand said routine results in Nina thinking less of the person or her pushing them away; namely because she is under the predilection they will never get it right.
Born to the worlds of Cynthia-Maria and Malcolm Swan as their only daughter, Nina was coddled by both her parents, but in very different ways. Cynthia-Maria encouraged her independence and exploration, while her father opted for patience and to never sweat the small stuff of life. She carried her parents' life lessons with her like marbles in her pocket, and her individuality shined even as a girl.
However, while such a mindset may work on elementary school playgrounds, her manner lost its track when she entered an all-girls school. Cliques shunned her, confusing her individuality for nonconformity, and while she didn't become a target for bullying, she was reprimanded by teachers alike for her attitude. Nina attempted to rationalize her loner status, justifying it by saying she's a certain flavor of particularity, but it soon reared its ugly head when she was admitted into the hospital. After a car accident that left her with one arm and her mother wheelchair-bound, no one visited her, and solidified a fear she had only but repressed: to be forgotten.
There was only one item that gave her hope in this darkest hour: A single get-well card from another student, Remi Thurston. Once vitriolic acquaintances, this blossomed a warm friendship between them once Nina sought her out after recovery. They remained tight friends even into college, and it was through deep reminiscences with Remi that she decided to become a teacher; unlike the awful ones who shunned her, she wanted to become the "cool mom"-type to those who needed her support. Non-humans were just the topping on the cake, and while she revels in the teaching aspect of her job, not so much the motherly side when it means watching out for every single danger regarding her little gremlins.
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Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2017 8:14 pm
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Originally, Nina still lived with her parents—namely out of a self-imposed filial duty to care for her mother—but soon Cynthia-Maria's nagging became too much for the brunette, and she moved out post-haste after her father retired. Nina still swallows a lump of guilt with how quickly she sprung her choice on her parents, but both of them knew such a day would come eventually, and accepted it as coolly as they could. She now lives in a sizable two-bedroom apartment in downtown Barton Town, far from her parents, but relatively closer to work. Though it costs her remaining arm and a leg to rent, Nina is content with the location, and seems unfettered by the fact it is quite a large domicile for a single, middle-aged woman. She tried to justify her choice of the extra room in case she had a guest over, but soon that reasoning turned to a rationalization since wanting to build a family.
Claiming the master bedroom as her own comes to no surprise when one considers Nina. She's slept in big beds since she lived with her parents, so buying one of her own to put in her room was the first item on her to-do list after situating herself in her new apartment. Besides the king-sized double bed, her room is quite minimalist in design with only the barest essentials. Save for a few photos mounted on the walls and a large statue of, err, something, there aren't any other decorations. Her books and Blu-rays are alphabetized on the one shelf in the room; makeup is sorted evenly into small trays on her vanity; clothes are color-coordinated in her closet; and stacks of paperwork are everywhere. Just like her personality, not an item is out of place in her room, and one can only imagine what the definition of "disarray" is to Nina with her space being so clean.
Though Holle is excited just at the prospect of having her own room, it is unfortunate it isn't "as big as a forest!" as she had wished it was. Even Nina seems a little upset she couldn't give the Raevan something bigger to call her own, but she's remained vehement to not trade rooms despite Holle's pleading. Nevertheless, Holle has certainly turned the room into her own—it is littered with a vast assortment of baubles, trinkets, and things that are of interest, or have been of interest, to her throughout her journey to discover herself. Every surface serves to be something where an item goes, to the point even her bed has knickknacks on it. And when she couldn't fit anymore on her bed, she opted for hanging full baskets down from the ceiling via braided twine. Clogged with these assortment of items is an innumerable amount of books and potted plants, giving the room a very earthy feel. Despite how the state of Holle's room bothers the heck out of the brunette, Nina knows her limits, and lets the Raevan do as she pleases.
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Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2017 8:14 pm
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Cynthia-Maria Nicola Swan || Mother || 63 || [x]
If there is one significant observation one could make upon glancing between Cynthia-Maria and her daughter, it's the lack of inherited beauty. Unlike Nina's Plain Jane looks, Cynthia-Maria is strikingly beautiful, but her eyes betray an opposing coldness to her daughter's welcoming gaze. Straight-laced and authoritative, her entire presence seems to command respect—despite her age—and it comes to no surprise just who Nina inherited the notch in her generally pleasant personality. Before the car accident, Cynthia-Maria was a professional dancer said to be full of talent, but unable to be worked with due to her controlling nature. She rose to stardom only twice in her career, but unceremoniously left the competitive scene to be a trainer at her own studio. It was during one of these classes that Cynthia-Maria ended up meeting, and then marrying, her husband, Malcolm.
She still teaches and trains up-and-coming dancers to this day, and it remains to be one of the only worthwhile items in her retired life besides being a thorn in her daughter's side. Despite her terseness, there are flashes of warmth one could see when it comes to her family—her eyes are full of love when she looks to her husband, and she still calls Nina "duckling" even though the woman is well passed her prime. Cynthia-Maria is just ambivalent when it comes to others she is weary around—in particular, non-humans. The woman has a noticeable fear of anyone or anything capable of magic, and is under the predilection death or harm is certain if she spends too much time in their company. Even though Nina has reminded her time and time again that non-humans and magic using humans are rather civil, Cynthia-Maria hasn't heeded her words. She remains adamant of her opinion, and not a day goes by without her giving Nina gripes regarding her chosen profession. Partly the reason why she moved out, Nina claimed that if she heard, "A child should bury a parent, not the other way around!" one more time, she'd have one of her students deafen her out of spite.
Malcolm Thomas Swan || Father || 61 || [x]
Mild-mannered and personable, Malcolm comes off as a man anyone can tell their troubles to without the fear of judgement or rejection. If anyone is acquainted with Nina, they would know right away Malcolm is her father, and it isn't by looks alone despite the great resemblance between them. The two seem to share the same pleasant aura that just makes for conversation and light joking around. Unlike his wife and daughter, Malcolm sustained the least amount of damage from the car accident, escaping with a small burnt patch on his upper left forearm. However, his arm always seems to be scribbled over with notes and reminders, and is hardly noticeable unless brought up in conversation. He is the exact polar opposite of his wife, but despite this, the two get along swimmingly.
Malcolm met (well, saw) her when he was dragged along by his then-girlfriend to attend one of her studio's couple dance classes. Having reached a sour patch in their relationship, his then-girlfriend thought it would rejuvenate some of the love they had for each other. Unfortunately, during the entire class, Malcolm couldn't take his eyes off Cynthia-Maria. He will admit, with a mild chagrin nowadays, that was the definitive moment he fell out of love completely for her. It would be another two whole months before his then-girlfriend broke up with him, but during that time, he spurred any moment to be with her to attend classes at Cynthia-Maria's studio. From beginner classes to senior citizen tango nights, Malcolm did whatever he could to exchange words with her. Soon small talk turned to conversations over coffee, from walks in the park to smiles over dinner. Cynthia-Maria didn't think she'd get along with anyone, but when she saw how unconditionally Malcolm accepted her everything, something in her turned to love. They married relatively quickly into their relationship, and though this was met with many concerns, the two managed to make it work. He has recently retired from his work as a therapist, and now tends to the care of his wife in the absence of his daughter.
Remi Thurston || Best Friend || 39 || [x]
There are best friends, and then there is Remi Thurston—a self-destructive woman of many vices that somehow manages to make life work. She's rough around the edges, and her laissez-faire lifestyle certainly clashes with Nina's pedantic nature. Nevertheless, she offers Nina something she can't find in anyone else: understanding. Her mother is too much of a headache, and while her father can certainly provide unconditional positive regard, his Rogerian approach to conversations has always annoyed her. Nina just wants someone to talk to, and she didn't have to look farther than Remi. The two didn't start off so buddy-buddy, however. They once were both rivals for the affections of an upperclassman at the all-girls school they both attended: St. Ramona's. They fought tooth and nail for her attention any moment they got, spurring each other with vitriolic sneers and scowls, but soon their feud seemed to fall to the wayside when they found out she already had a boyfriend. Though there was still tension between the two, Remi and Nina warmed up to each other after a moment of shared awkward grief.
Not quite friends yet, Nina shattered any chance of this happening the first time around when she jokingly offered both she and Remi should start dating since they were both gay, but Remi responded in kind with a good deck to the face and a snarl that Nina should never patronize her like that again. This put considerable distance between the two, but when Nina didn't show up to classes and Remi found out she was in the hospital, she felt it was only fair to send her a get-well card as some kind of haphazard apology for the punch. Never did she think this one small gesture would clear a path for a friendship that would become an incredibly important part of her life. Nina continues to remain by her side as an important confidant for her troubles, and likewise, Remi provides the same for her. They stick to the single rule of the reality of oneself outweighing ideas, and are there to draw conclusions for each other, not jump to them.
Noah Lark || Friend || 23 || [x]
Noah and Nina are the unlikeliest of friends—namely because Noah is the son of the man that caused the accident that affected Nina's entire family. However, she isn't one to hold grudges, and learned to let bygones be bygones years ago. She doesn't blame Noah, and while she is reticent to accept the apologies of his father if he ever did, Nina would still respect his courage to do so. Unfortunately, Noah still feels a need to make it up to her under the Lark name, and has become Nina's chauffeur after she declared never to drive again after the death of her friend, Sheldon. The brunette still feels guilty about this—mostly because she feels like she is forcing him to do her bidding, when he has actually pressured her to accept—and is never without an apology when he drops her to work or takes her out to run errands. Even with these impositions, Nina still considers him a good friend, and tries not to let her regrets get in the way of their relationship. Likewise, Noah comes to her for a great number of things as he sees her as a mentor and sister figure. The most prominent is dating advice regarding a certain green-haired Herald, who he is absolutely head-over-heels for, but is too shy to confess to.
Vigo || Pet Cat || 5 || [x]
A chocolate-colored Persian cat Nina considers just a lump of fur, she took him in from a co-worker who couldn't care for him anymore. Once a witch's familiar, he was given up by one of the students of Magnolia Academy to a teacher, and his ownership has exchanged hands among the faculty far too occasionally for comfort. Many of his previous owners were spooked by his mannerisms; many claimed they would never see him walk, he'd simply "ghost" from one place to another, and he'd only eat wet food a minute after midnight. Nina, however, wasn't bothered by Vigo's strangeness, and provided him a permanent home. She's unsure if he is content with her or not, but the pile of dead mice on her bookshelf seems to be a sign of yes.
Sheldon Rustici || Friend (Deceased) || 28 || [x]
Nina went to college with Sheldon, and they were good friends up until he dropped out prematurely to pursue his music career. Contact was limited between them after he left, namely because Nina's attention was absorbed by her then-girlfriend, and Sheldon had hit a depressed slump after being shot down for the umpteenth time by a music company. His drinking, which Nina had saw to be a problem when they were together in college, tripled in severity during this time. Nina and Sheldon rekindled their friendship over the internet years later after Nina began her teaching career. During their first meet-up is when Nina met Grazie and saw how Sheldon turned his life around. He looked healthier and happier, and the fatherly approach he took with the Herald certainly masked the ugly truth that he was still heavily drinking to that day. She wished him the best after they parted ways, but never did she think the next time she'd see him is laying in a coffin.
One late stint of drinking and attempting to drive home caused Sheldon to crash his car and die instantly. Grazie was attending college at the time of his death, and the grief of losing her father caused her to withdraw and never return. Attending his funeral was difficult for Nina as well; it shook her to the core to see him, and she declared never to drive again for fear of her own death. She even tried to take in Grazie out of great concern for her needs, but the Herald refused, and told her to keep her concerns to herself. This was the last time Nina saw and heard from her, but knows she is doing well through their mutual friend, Noah.
Gretchen "Grazie" Rustici || Estranged Friend || 10 || [x]
It's been years since Nina has last heard from Grazie, but she's kept up-to-date on the Herald's well-being by their friend, Noah. The grief of losing her father still eats at her to this day, and she even attends counseling to deal with her deep depression. She refuses to get into contact with Nina as she felt insulted the day of her father's funeral when the brunette offered to adopt her; she thought Nina was trying to gloss over her loss with a quick fix reply, though she had misinterpreted her words at the time. This has been brought to her attention in the current day, but Grazie still refuses to see Nina, despite knowing Noah tells her everything. Nevertheless, she seems content in her current circumstances, and works multiple jobs to make a living for herself and her fellow roommates.
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Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2017 8:15 pm
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Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2017 8:17 pm
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Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2017 8:17 pm
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Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2017 8:17 pm
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