Welcome to Gaia! ::

Here is the original quest survey I submitted for Diane, along with Sabin's fantastic first image of her! I love it... it's absolutely exactly how I pictured her.




I. The Character Physically
What is the character’s stature and build? Dee is ‘frumpy.’ She’s definitely not thin, but she’s not overweight.
How old is she? She turned 25 on November 30th.
Describe her posture. She has decent posture…but most of the time she’s bent, searching tide-pools, beaches, and the forest floor for neat critters.
Is she in good shape or out of condition? She has a bit of extra padding around her midsection, but over the past few years—due to her sometimes-strenuous trips-- she’s lost weight and has begun showing more definition in her arms and legs.
How is her health? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities? Dee needs to wears glasses and suffers from moderate depression, but otherwise she’s quite healthy.
Is she physically active or sedentary? A fast or slow mover? Sedentary when studying/reading…otherwise she’s up and about with a curious and determined air.
Is she clumsy, awkward, or graceful? Awkward, almost stereotypically-nerdish.
Does she move in straight or curved lines? Is she physically tight or fluid? She usually wavers, zig-zagging as she searches. Even when not on the hunt, she’s a wanderer.
Is the character good looking, pretty, beautiful, average, plain, ugly, disfigured? Dee is average. She’s not unattractive, but she’s no hot tamale, either.
Is the character aware of herself physically? Her looks? Oh yes, and she’s not happy about it. Much of her depression comes from her self-esteem issues.
Describe her complexion and skin. Dark, clear, light, marked? She is Caucasian and has few blemishes with well-tanned skin from her travels.
Describe her hair, coloring, styling. Is it taken care of? Dee has dark brown hair, but started going grey when she turned 18. She is currently ‘salt and peppered,’ with most of the grey collected around her temples. She is not concerned with her hair style, and keeps it cut short for practical reasons.
How is her usual dexterity? Does she have good hands: Can she do things? Is she a worker? She’s not terribly dextrous (except for her hands and slender fingers), but she’s strong and sure enough to climb rocks and trees (with a harness.) She has moderate survival skills, and is fairly good at working with her hands. She has never had a job with much physical labor.
Is she physically tense or relaxed, nervous, controlled? When in her element (outdoors poking around,) she’s relaxed and composed. In just about every other situation she’s tense, and often stutters. She seems to ‘fight’ herself.
What are her chief tension centers? Her jaw and hands. She often sets her jaw, grinds her teeth, and makes fists when uncomfortable.
What part of her body would you notice first? Her hands, if you were close enough. She has graceful fingers. Her hair also attracts attention.
Describe her basic gravity factor. Is there a downward pull or buoyant? Definitely a downward-pull.

II. The Character’s Clothes
How many clothes does this character have? Not many. Her wardrobe is simple and utilitarian.
What items are in her wardrobe? Numerous khaki shorts, denim jeans, tank-tops, hiking boots, messenger’s bags, utility vests, etc.
What are her favorite items of clothing? Her vests and boots. She rarely spends much money on clothes, but often spurges on high-quality examples of her favorites.
What colors are the clothes? Is there a wide range? Bright or dull? Earth-tones, not dull but definitely not attention-grabbing.
Are the clothes old or new? Most are new, she goes through shorts and tops quickly but likes to take care of her vests and footwear.
Were they bought or homemade, hand-me-downs or expensive? Most store-bought, price varies from medium to expensive.
What is one of her favorite items to wear? See above. Her vests and boots.
Do her clothes fit well? Oh yes. They’re designed to fit well.
Is she comfortable in what she wears or does she “fight” her clothes? She buys what she buys *because* they’re comfortable.
Is she confident about the way she dresses or uneasy? Confident...unless she's forced to 'dress up', in which case she's a nervous wreck.
Does she care for her clothes? Keep them up to date and neat? Is she worried about how they look? She only cares for her favorites…all else is dispensible.
Does she have to dress a certain way because of her job or position? If so, do her usual clothes fit her real, basic personality? She dresses in utilitarian clothes because they’re the best for what she does. They’re the only clothes that survive being dirtied and washed many times over.
Does she dress according to a self-image of herself? Is this self-image conscious or unconscious? At what age was this self-image set? They make her feel more like the research scientist she wishes she was. She does a lot of shopping at outdoor supply and climbing stores. She knew from a young age after watching National Geographic specials that that’s what she wanted to look like.

III. The Character’s Voice
Does she speak in a high or low pitch? When might she be higher than usual? When lower? She has a low-pitched voice which often raises when she’s excited or lowers when she’s mumbling to herself while studying.
Is she a loud or a soft talker? Soft talker.
Is there a wide range in the voice’s volume, pitch, and/or quality, or is the voice pretty consistent and even? Usually consistent and unremarkable.
Is there good resonance to the voice? Is the voice throaty, chesty, heady, nasal? Dee has a slightly nasal and husky edge to her voice.
Is there tension in the voice? Anxiety? Emotion? Often there’s a wistful air when she’s ‘working’, otherwise there’s often tension—especially in social situations.
Is there an accent? Anything unusual in pronunciation? Emphasis? Phrasing? Nothing out of the ordinary, save that she’s fond of throwing around scientific terms whenever possible.
Is it a trained voice or just natural? Natural, though she often tries to give her voice a more ‘professional’ edge.
Does the character “try” to speak well or just “how it comes out?” Only when she’s trying to impress someone does she ‘speak well.’
Is the speech clear or muddy? Does she mumble? Is she distinct? See above. She usually talks only to herself, but can change to a completely different air when she’s trying to sound official.
Is the voice comforting or irritating? Reassuring or disturbing? Usually a bit disturbing, if only because of her single-mindedness. In good company, her voice relaxes into something much more comfortable.
Is she self-conscious when she speaks to others? How large a group could she speak to before she became unconscious? She has a fear of public speaking… it’s one of the many reasons she never did well in University. If she's speaking to more than a handful of people her stuttering becomes almost incapacitating.

IV. The Character’s Mind
Is the character smart, dumb, naive? She’s quite smart, but also a little bit naïve.
Does she think quickly? Slowly? Is she quick-witted? Dull? If she’s ‘on’, she’s quite quick, otherwise she can seem slow-witted, even though she’s anything but.
What kind of education has she had? She has a Bachelors of Science degree, but it took many years and she acquired it just barely.
In what area of subjects does the character have knowledge or expertise? She has knowledge in taxonomy, zoology, animal behavior, and pathobiology, but expertise in nothing. (She likes to THINK she does.)
Is the character impulsive or deliberate in reaching conclusions? Is he logical, rational, or emotional? While she should be logical, much of her conclusions are knee-jerk and emotional.
Does she think out things before she speaks or can she “think on her feet” as she is speaking? She does everything in her power to avoid confrontation, but when forced to speak to more than a few people, she’s awkward and often stutters. She’s terrible at ‘making stuff up on the fly.’
Does she have contemplative times? What does she think about when alone? She’s contemplative just about all the time… thinking about bio-science and what she could do to get people to take her seriously.
Is she an idealist? A pragmatist? A dreamer? An idea man? An action man? She’s definitely a dreamer, and an idealist.
Is her life motivated chiefly by abstract ideals or practical rewards? It’s hard for her to be practical, since that would mean accepting the fact that’s she doesn’t have the dedication or skill to be a ‘real’ scientist. She’s motivated by the pursuit of adventure in the form of ‘bio-tourism’, and loves going on trips that take her off the beaten path. (Though if anyone actually calls her a ‘tourist’, she gets very agitated.)

V. The Character’s Emotions and Personality
Is she an introvert or an extrovert? Introverted, except in the very rare instances where she’s able to impress someone with her knowledge of weird wildlife.
Does she get along well people? Does she have charm? Are people attracted to her? Does she like people? She has enough social skills to *usually* get her where she needs to go, but beyond that she shies away from human contact, much preferring the company of non-human creatures.
Does she have many friends? Any close friends? None. She has many acquaintances, but most people usually find her too ‘distant.’
Is she hot-blooded or cool headed? Usually cool-headed, unless someone calls her on her façade or refers to her as a tourist or armchair biologist.
Does she have a narrow or wide range of emotions? Do they show? She’s just as complex and emotive as any other given person, but she hides it well and reserves it for her beloved ‘specimens.’
Does she indulge in emotional peaks, outbursts, or valleys? Often? Only rarely does she indulge in outbursts, but lately she has had an increase of emotional ‘valleys.’
Would you say she is basically sensitive or callused? She is an overly-sensitive person, but attempts to appear thick-skinned and ‘tough’...and usually succeeds.
Is she suspicious, cautious, trusting, or naïve about new people or situations? She’s often suspicious and on the defensive at first, but if someone shows similar interests to hers she becomes much more trusting.
Is she an aggressive or reactive person? Reactive, unless she feels severely slighted.
In a danger or emergency situation would she go to it or run away from it? She doesn’t consider herself the ‘hero-type’ and would usually run. Though, if she felt she could honestly make a difference, she would try to help… emergencies are practically the only instance where she’s absolutely realistic.
Is the character basically nervous or calm? Usually somewhere in-between, and prone to variation.
Does the character have a sense of humor? Does she appreciate jokes? Can she see humor in unfunny situations? Can she laugh at herself? She has a fantastic sense of humor, but it borders on the dry side… unless the joke’s on her, in which case she becomes surly and almost petulant.
Can she tell a funny story or joke? Do others find her amusing? In the rare cases where she opens up to others, she can be quite funny…
Is she a practical joker? What is her opinion of tricks or jokes played on other people? Is his humor ever cruel? She doesn’t find practical jokes amusing, probably because she’s been the punchline more than once. Cruelty infuriates her.
Under what conditions could she be harmful or mean or cruel to another person? Though she’s had her fantasies, she would have to be at the end of her rope to be willingly cruel to another person…
Is she a loving person? Is she full of love and giving or rather bound and tight in this area? Is she capable of relating to others in a loving way? Is she capable of relating to one specific person in a romantic way? She considers herself unloveable and asexual. Her love history has been a short one, and has negatively influenced her self-image.
Is she loved by any other people? In what way? Not that she knows of. She’s very good at burning bridges, and if anyone DOES love her (romantically), she’s oblivious.
Is she romantically in love now? With Whom? Is this a happy, rewarding or frustrating situation for her? No, and it’d take a lot for her to start dating again. If the ‘right person’ were to ever come along, she may not even know unless they made the first move.

VI. The Character’s Wealth, Power, Influence
Does this person have much money? Does it provide position or respect from others for him? She’s quite wealthy. Dee’s grandmother left her with a healthy trust-fund, and her parents were successful investors… though they were always quiet about where exactly they got their money. She'll use it within reason to get what she wants, but she doesn't tend to abuse it.
Is she generous or selfish with his money and possessions? She’s sometimes TOO generous, and it has attracted negative attention in the past (she’s been mugged three times.) The only things she’s super-protective of are her nautilus shell necklace and book collection (and her latest acquisition: a seaplane.)
Is the character socially prominent? Is he prominent from wealth, position, or office, family history, ability or accomplishment? Not at all… though her family is locally well-known. She’s tried to become more prominent in the scientific community, but was summarily laughed at.
Does the character rate high in the “pecking order” with his household? Town? Area? Nation? World? Her parents are ‘distant,’ but hold her in high regard. Her hometown (Pesquen, Washington…where she still resides) is a small community, and is aware of her attempts (and failures) at being a famous scientist. Because of this, she keeps a low profile.
Does this person wield much clout? No, though she wishes she did.
Can she command others to do her bidding, by word or by manipulation? No… unless it's with cash.
How does she get his wishes or why? She usually lets money do the talking, but she's not proud of it
To whom is she subservient? Is this submission willing or unavoidable? She hates to admit it, but there are several biologists and researchers that she deeply respects and would do anything for, even though several of them utterly humiliated her. It’s the closest she’s come to a ‘crush’ in recent years.

VII. The Character’s Activities
How does the character spend his time? Hiking, traveling, boating. She’s also in the process of getting her private pilot’s license.
What does her daily routine consist of? At home she’s usually up early enough to listen to the ‘dawn chorus’ of birds. She’ll tend to her usual toilet, breakfast, and then perhaps a short walk. Before lunch she’ll study or research on the internet, and afterwards perhaps a short nap. Many days she’ll drive to a nearby park or nature reserve. When she’s traveling, her schedule is even less structured.
What is her profession or work? She is technically ‘self-employed’, but is actually unemployed. As stated aboved, she fancies herself a scientist, but the closest she comes is taking people on guided nature and birding tours near her Washington coast home.
What things does she really like to do? Outdoors activities are her favorite, as well as collecting books, shells, and aquariums. Lately she has become more interested in aviation--particularly float-planes and seaplanes. She has recently purchased a vintage Grumman 'Goose', but still doesn't have the license to fly it herself. She has finished ground-school and logged a number of flying hours, but has yet to take her flight exams.
What things does she hate to do? She abhors appointments.. doctors, tax counselors, therapy, etc. She grudgingly goes---most of the time.
Does she play games? What kind? She’ll occasionally poke around with PC puzzle games, but for the most part gaming doesn’t interest her. (Occasionally she'll join in a card game, and has proved to have a decent 'poker face.')
Does she like to eat and drink? How important to him are food and drink? At home she has expensive tastes—good sushi, thai, and steak—but when she’s traveling she likes to experiment with odd local cuisine. She loves good beer and good wine, and sometimes indulges in liquor, preferring sweet after-dinner drinks.
How important is sex to her? What sexual activities does she partake in? Anything unusual? She hasn’t had sex in four years. She hates the idea of a ‘one-night stand’ almost as much as dating…so her prospects aren’t looking good.
Is her attitude towards sex healthy or disturbing to her? Is sex a rewarding, enriching area of this person’s life or is it frightening, anxious, or frustrating? Is sex a positive or negative factor in her life? She’s never relayed the details of her last sexual encounter with anyone. For the past four years she’s had a string of crushes and unrequited loves, but she’s not willing to act on them. She has to settle for pleasuring herself, even though it leaves her feeling rather empty…

VIII. The Character’s Favorite Things
Colors? Earth-tones, iridescence, blues
Food? Thai, sushi, local cuisine, Japanese, German
Drinks? Micro-brewed beer, good wine
Smells? Fresh early-morning air, bread baking
Time of day? Early in the day, dusk, and late at night
Season of year? Spring
Books? Various biology tomes
Kinds of literature? Poetry, dry humor
Authors? Numerous
Places to visit? Indonesia, Costa Rica, Australia
Kinds of music? Classical, world music
Musical instruments? Percussion, mountain dulcimers
Composers? Bach, Beethoven, native musicians
Metals: gold and bronze, though she’s also fond of gemstones and shells
Building materials: stone and hardwood
Fabrics: denim, tough khaki
Pieces of furniture? Comfy reading chairs, hammocks
Plants? Bromeliads, cacti, palms
Flowers? Orchids, pansies
Trees? Many hardwoods, particularly maple
Birds? Wood warblers and psittacines (parrots)
Animals? oceanic invertebrates, hyenas, civets, various herps (vipers, monitor lizards)
Miscellaneous? Her favorite cars are Land Rovers and old-school Jeeps

IX. The Character’s Fears
What things frighten her? Being unknown, unremarkable, and unimportant. She’s also mildly claustrophobic, which is frustrating since she would absolutely LOVE to go spelunking.
Is she motivated by fear? Oh yes. It’s one of the biggest motivating factors in her life.
To what extent is she motivated: never, occasionally, usually, constantly? Always… by her interests and the desire to ‘be somebody.’
What would this character think were the three most terrible things that could happen to her? Being crippled and unable to travel, losing her freedom, dying as an unknown.
What would she think were the three most wonderful things that could happen to her? Standing out in some way pertaining to biology/science, inspiring someone else to learn and travel, having people take her seriously as much as possible.

X. The Character’s Religion
What are her specific religious beliefs? Does she belong to a specific sect or creed? She’s an atheist.
How important is religion to her? For the most part, she considers religion superfluous and superstitious, and admires instead the brute honesty of nature.
Is she pious, devout? She’s an outspoken opponent of religion, but doesn’t tend to advertise the fact unless pushed. She tries not to be preachy…unless it’s a rare case where she gets on a roll…
How does religion motivate her actions or affect them? She likes to show that nature and evolution is beautiful and wondrous enough without having to believe that some supernatural force created it.


And the last two questions:

What kind of underwear does the character wear? Tighty-whities! Utilitarian, just like the rest of her wardrobe.
What is the one thing the character doesn't want anyone else to know? She hates herself. She’s poured so much effort into puffing herself up that she doesn’t want to admit her shortcomings and move on. She wants to change--to start over--but doesn’t know how.

Opinions

Dr. Sabin Duvert: I admire him. He's a smooth-talking, manipulative, insane b*****d, but I still admire him. If I had half the brains he did, I wouldn't be in this mess in the first place.

Victor: My first 'changed' islander. A sweet fellow with a fearsome--yet utterly amazing--exterior...sorry for tackling you, Vic. Thanks for the info.

Billy (a.k.a. The Lake Monster): You're a b*****d, too... but I can't help but like you. Hope to enjoy another drink with you soon, and thanks for the info as well...even if it was a bit *too* much. Bring your 'squeezebox' next time!

Newt: An interesting, if hellishly shy, fellow. Poor thing must have gotten seriously smacked around at some point in his life. Despite his predation on some of 'my' birds, I like him.

Thom: Impressive and frightening. I observed him at a bad time, but I get the feeling he's not such a scary guy given the right circumstances.

Awen: Considerate and sweet girl. Her alterations are quite stunning, but I feel bad for her reduced mobility.

Jordan: He's... interesting, but thinking about him is somewhat depressing. It's clear he's a smart guy, but he talks as if Moreau is the cat's meow. Maybe it's just the loyal canine part of him? I'd like to talk to him again when he's feeling more independent and on less of a mission.

Richard: I feel awful for this guy. He's going through tougher changes, imho, than anyone I've met so far. I hope things will calm down soon so we can have a good chat under a less, uh, awkward precedent.

Tommy: A sweetheart... I felt bad for getting cross with him at one point, but I sincerely hope he gets to fly again soon.

Ambrose: Another nice guy and damn good drinkin' buddy. No wonder I couldn't find a decent man back home... Feral Labs is apparently turning them all into animals.

Reserved!

Reserved!

Reserved!

Reserved!

Reserved!