Post by Marian Juliet Remo on Jul 31, 2008 0:42:34 GMT -5
The Player.
Your Name: Faith
Your Age: 22
How Did You Find Out of Gas?: fireflyfans.net
Previous Roles: I've done play-by-post RPing before, with various characters varying in age, sex, and storylines (realistic to fantasy, but mostly realistic), but no canon characters.
Contact Email: faith.rahl@gmail.com
The Core.
Full Name: Marian Juliet Remo
Nickname(s): Jules (by close friends)
Birthday: December 25th
Age: 26
Origin: Londinium
Location: Serenity
Allegiance: Neutral. Feeling the need to break the law back home (burglary for food, for example), and having been in jail a few times when she was young, she does not hold the laws of the Alliance in high regard. But having lived on a core planet (Londinium) and having secretly dreamed of living on Sihnon, the Alliance is something she'd just likely deal with without making too much trouble.
Occupation: Passenger
The Appearance.
Eye Color: hazel
Hair Color: deep brown and straight, down to mid-back, with choppy bangs. Usually puts her hair in a ponytail for functionality.
Height && Weight: 5'8, 125lbs, athletic build.
General Description: Marian, at first glance, is somewhat of a tomboy. She does not wear any makeup, rarely does anything with her hair besides putting it in a low ponytail, and puts on an air of toughness. Her gait is purposeful. But her bright red lips--emphasized by her smooth, light skin--give her a bit of sensuality. Red lips remind Marian of Japanese geishas--women with inner strength, the ability to make men fall to their knees, a sense of power--which were in some of the stories her mother told her. She is not averse to her feminine side--just prefers everyday clothes that are easy to throw on and are comfortable. Her typical getup includes black, slender pants and a white tank top that shows her fit physique. Her footwear of choice are black, semi-pointed heeled boots, comfortable enough to run in (in case the necessity to run from the feds arises) but enough to make her still feel somewhat feminine. Being from the city, and used to cold weather, she can often be seen also wearing a deep crimson (so dark it can look black) trench coat, which is useful in storing pocketed items. Also wears a metal choker with a ruby on it. She is never seen without her choker, as it was given to her by her mom.
The Personality.
Likes && Dislikes: She loves proving that she can do what guys can do--only better and with more womanly flair. Her daily routine consists of working out and playing with her knives. While in her bunk, she uses her free time to read material on the Cortex. Contrary to popular belief, she does on occasion clean up nicely and put on a fitting dress and let her hair down. Of course, it's less about going out to find love and more about distracting men enough to pick their pockets. Despite her obvious use of manipulation to get what she needs, she believes that it is a tool only to be brought out when necessary and against those who deserve it--the rule of the con. She dislikes people who pray on the weak and misfortunate (having been on that side herself), but enjoys messing with "bad men." Women, on the other hand, she does not enjoy conning. She loves efficiency and dislikes anything that slows her down. She dislikes change to her schedule and gets quite anxious when things must shift. She also dislikes getting close to too many people, as they have a tendency to go away. She also has problems with killing, except when utterly necessary (like if she didn't do anything and she'd die).
Interests && Hobbies: From the age of ten, she learned how to be a con artist, dabbling in pick pocketing and the like. She loves to learn new ways to get around the system (Cortex hacking, for example), reading any book she can to improve her "game." In particular, she enjoys reading psychology texts, as they help her "get into other people's minds." When she had enrolled in university, she was set to major in psychology. In her spare time, and away from nosy eyes, she does research on Sihnon and Companion-life. Along with Companions, she researches Earth-that-Was women like geishas, courtesans, and female criminals, but she persists on keeping such research private. Besides her secret literature and research interests, she does go out of her bunk to play chess, chinese checkers, mah-jong, and other strategic intellectual games with others--though, beating them is the most enjoyable aspect. Being a grifter, it is not unusual for her to take out a deck of cards and play card games--often cheating by using slight-of-hand. She also plays the Tall Card game. When she is planetside, off of the ship, she skips off to visit local orphanages, enjoying spending time with the kids, donating money or items. In the future, she hopes to have many kids of her own--a daughter, especially.
Strengths: Her street smarts, combined with the knowledge that she soaks up, gives her an edge when it comes to dealing with the plans-gone-wrong or coming up with plans off the cuff. Her above-average intelligence can be seen in her speech and understanding of various difficult topics. When she worked with her con team, she and Malloy shared the leadership position--him usually picking the target, and her figuring out a plan (and plan B's and C's in case of trouble). Despite not liking change or interruptions to her plans, she is surprisingly good at improvising lies or excuses--for example, when others inquire about her job, how selling knives could get her that many Credits--typically to save herself or her team, but more recently to keep her dayjob secret. Marian is also very stubborn and determined, ready to see a job through no matter what. For better or for worse, she is strong-willed and unwavering. Working alone, she is even more courageous and willing to risk more, due to the very few ties she has in the world. For her job, not having others to look after or fear for their safety, is a bonus. Being detached keeps her head clear and her instincts sharp.
Weaknesses: Marian likes to be the best, number one, and hence is very competitive. The downside is that she will do whatever it takes, despite fatigue, body restrictions, or mental punishment. Sometimes, she forgoes sleep just to keep reading her books or practicing her exercises. Being competitive stems from being stubborn, which does not bode well for those holding the opposing view (even captains and crew members). Despite her fear of getting too close sometimes, she longs for relationships to fill the void of the people that were taken away from her (her parents), and will often run when she feels herself getting attached emotionally. Being anxious if she has nothing productive to do, she does not take enough time to enjoy relaxing or "stopping and smelling the e-roses." She knows that she has her issues--like abandonment issues for one--but she refuses to acknowledge or talk to anyone about anything too deep. For her, that is weakness of character, and she is stubborn in her appearance of being strong, even while, at the same time, cowering inside.
Secrets: Except her con contacts, she is not open about her con status, pretending to sell her ornate knives for a living, although she senses that some of the Serenity crew may be suspicious. She does not talk about her feelings openly, and if any of her (very few) close friends try to pry, she closes up. She's afraid of being alone, being the best with nobody to share a life with, conning others to get by. Marian dreams of settling down on Sihnon, which she believes is the best planet in the 'verse. Perhaps she'd become a Companion (a legitimate job), where she'd have a steady job and clients to see. But this dream will never come to pass (having her record) nor will it fully satisfy her need for loving relationships and a good life, and she needs to figure out what to do with her smarts and talents. Perhaps the crew of Serenity will be enough to keep her steady, stopping her from running this time.
Overall Personality: Overall, Marian is an enjoyable person. During cons, she is focused, her eyes set on the prize. She puts on her game face and changes her outer personality based on her role. When she's not on a job, she doesn't mind talking to others, being a bit sarcastic, showing off her sense of humor. She's friendly but maintains her distance, which sometimes makes her appear cold. However, when she smiles (which does not happen too often), her eyes light up--showing that she is not made of ice on the inside. Though she spends a considerable amount of time in her bunk doing research, her issue of not wanting to be alone gets the better of her. She seeks others' company (directly or indirectly), whether it be other passengers, marks, or simply a busy Cortex café where she can play solitaire. It is a bit confusing to others because, while she loves company, she hates the idea of loss. Marian gets noticeably anxious with people she's become comfortable with (distancing herself physically, being curt, etc.), and this can be the last thing they notice before she takes off. When she is in a competitive mode, she becomes more ruthless and calculating--sometimes disregarding the feelings of others in the moment and later apologizing. Despite being a con, she has a high moral awareness. She lives by the strict Con Codes (which include not doing bodily harm to others, conning innocents, etc.) and human morals. If she helps members of a crew it is not because they're "family" but because it's the "right thing to do." Laws, on the other hand, she believes can be bent--or even broken--for the right reasons.
The Family.
Parents && Siblings: Marian was born in a booming city in Londinium, similar to the New York City of today. She lived a pretty normal childhood, went to a decent school (though it did not challenge her enough). She was definitely a daddy's girl. Her father, Mason Remo, was responsible for her tomboy demeanor and her fighting skills from her father's military training. While she was not as close to her mother, she loved the stories that her mother used to tell her, stories of Companions and fairy tales and stories of Cinderellas becoming princesses. But when her parents were killed (hit by crossfire in a famous Londinium hostage situation) at the age of eight, her dreams fizzled. She did not have any siblings. Her father's family were cold and unloving, and when Mason Remo had moved out as a teen he had never wanted to see them again. Her mother, once from Sihnon, ran away with Mason Remo and made a new life together, determined to make a new family free of problems. This, of course, left Marian an orphan, living a hard life, forcing her into the life of the con.
Character History: At the age of 10, Marian became friends with a group of nearby children from a very poor family. The orphanage was hell for her, so she decided to take her chances living with her new "family." At this time, she started learning about pick pocketing and stealing, but it was mostly petty crimes born of necessity, with no thought or planning. She still went to her same school, but began to hate it all the more because her appearance now made it clear how poor and out-of-luck she was, which made the kids make fun of her. For awhile, things were going well: her new family loved her, and despite the situation, she made sure they all had enough to get by. Marian lived like this for three years. When she was 14, she decided that she wanted to move up in school instead of continuing to be bored and unchallenged. Maybe if she went to college, she could make money the honest way, maybe even enough to get her family to a Core planet. But they didn't understand. Unlike her parents, who had high hopes for her, believed she could do anything she wanted, they believed that this was all she could be, all she'd ever be. Marian felt hurt and betrayed that they had so little faith in her, and wanted to show them that it was possible to improve their situation. She tried flying straight, getting any rough, dirty job she could find, eventually getting a steady paycheck. She kept her Credits in one place, telling them she'd save up and get a better home for them. But one day, she came home to find her account drained and her family gone.
Heartbroken, she did the only thing she could do: go back to school, continue flying straight, working for below minimum wage--but becoming better.
At 18, she met Malloy, who became her first love. Marian had gotten into a very good university, using her intelligence to get a full scholarship. But Malloy was a bad influence: he was a con artist. Malloy and his group of cons, having seen potential in Marian, began to school her in the ways of the Con and Marian delayed her education. Malloy and his group despised the Alliance and simply wanted to be free of a steady 9-5 job, free to make it without a stuffy paycheck. They were a good team, cheating the greedy and malevolent out of their money and possessions. But Marian wanted to improve. She wanted to become the best con in all the 'verse and decided to leave Londinium. She parted amicably with Malloy, though it tore at her heart. Malloy and his crew are among the very few people that Marian currently will consider "close friends." She constantly checks back on them to make sure they are okay, afraid that they too will leave her alone in life again.
Along the way, Marian has developed a reputation with her team. Some good and some bad (landing them in jail), but their presence among the con community is known.
After leaving Londinium, she boarded several different ships to get her across the 'verse, disguised as an antique knife peddler.
The Edge.
Something Unique: She has excellent knife throwing skills, though she claims to have never killed a man as of yet. She is into more "ancient" Earth-that-was combat weapons, like knives and swords, etc. She looks down on guns, feeling that "there is no skill in pointing and shooting."
Role Playing Sample:
Marian felt the cold glass underneath her fingertips, envisioning the smooth, cool texture of a ship. She could feel it as it rumbled, the engines starting up, ready to lift off. Her heart was alive, as if it was trying to leap out of her chest, and she could feel the blood rushing through her veins. She took a deep breath, prepared for lift off.
"10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5..."
"Marian--you ready?" asked the captain. "Say goodbye to Londinium!"
"4, 3, 2, 1..."
She smiled, the roar of the engines filling her ears. This was it.
But when she opened her eyes, all she could see was a ship in the distance. Her clammy hand slipped off the glass. Malloy's apartment overlooked the bustling city--a traffic of hovercars and people wandering around like cattle.
Marian turned around to see Malloy on the couch: he was tapping at his Palm and transferring the Credits they had gotten that day to their team's account.
"Are you ready, Jules?" said Malloy, "We're meeting the guys in 10 minutes to talk about our next plan."
She looked at him almost as if it was for the first time. Things felt different. She and the team had done plenty of jobs, taken plenty of Credits, lived a life of calculated manipulation instead of being one of the herd. But she needed more. Marian believed she was one of the better grifters in Londinium, yet there was a whole 'verse out there she had to prove. And the idea of leaving her friends--the only people she ever felt would always be there for her--was terrifying.
"Malloy..." she started. Marian swallowed the lump in her throat. Yes, she was ready.
Face Claim: Jennifer Garner
Your Name: Faith
Your Age: 22
How Did You Find Out of Gas?: fireflyfans.net
Previous Roles: I've done play-by-post RPing before, with various characters varying in age, sex, and storylines (realistic to fantasy, but mostly realistic), but no canon characters.
Contact Email: faith.rahl@gmail.com
The Core.
Full Name: Marian Juliet Remo
Nickname(s): Jules (by close friends)
Birthday: December 25th
Age: 26
Origin: Londinium
Location: Serenity
Allegiance: Neutral. Feeling the need to break the law back home (burglary for food, for example), and having been in jail a few times when she was young, she does not hold the laws of the Alliance in high regard. But having lived on a core planet (Londinium) and having secretly dreamed of living on Sihnon, the Alliance is something she'd just likely deal with without making too much trouble.
Occupation: Passenger
The Appearance.
Eye Color: hazel
Hair Color: deep brown and straight, down to mid-back, with choppy bangs. Usually puts her hair in a ponytail for functionality.
Height && Weight: 5'8, 125lbs, athletic build.
General Description: Marian, at first glance, is somewhat of a tomboy. She does not wear any makeup, rarely does anything with her hair besides putting it in a low ponytail, and puts on an air of toughness. Her gait is purposeful. But her bright red lips--emphasized by her smooth, light skin--give her a bit of sensuality. Red lips remind Marian of Japanese geishas--women with inner strength, the ability to make men fall to their knees, a sense of power--which were in some of the stories her mother told her. She is not averse to her feminine side--just prefers everyday clothes that are easy to throw on and are comfortable. Her typical getup includes black, slender pants and a white tank top that shows her fit physique. Her footwear of choice are black, semi-pointed heeled boots, comfortable enough to run in (in case the necessity to run from the feds arises) but enough to make her still feel somewhat feminine. Being from the city, and used to cold weather, she can often be seen also wearing a deep crimson (so dark it can look black) trench coat, which is useful in storing pocketed items. Also wears a metal choker with a ruby on it. She is never seen without her choker, as it was given to her by her mom.
The Personality.
Likes && Dislikes: She loves proving that she can do what guys can do--only better and with more womanly flair. Her daily routine consists of working out and playing with her knives. While in her bunk, she uses her free time to read material on the Cortex. Contrary to popular belief, she does on occasion clean up nicely and put on a fitting dress and let her hair down. Of course, it's less about going out to find love and more about distracting men enough to pick their pockets. Despite her obvious use of manipulation to get what she needs, she believes that it is a tool only to be brought out when necessary and against those who deserve it--the rule of the con. She dislikes people who pray on the weak and misfortunate (having been on that side herself), but enjoys messing with "bad men." Women, on the other hand, she does not enjoy conning. She loves efficiency and dislikes anything that slows her down. She dislikes change to her schedule and gets quite anxious when things must shift. She also dislikes getting close to too many people, as they have a tendency to go away. She also has problems with killing, except when utterly necessary (like if she didn't do anything and she'd die).
Interests && Hobbies: From the age of ten, she learned how to be a con artist, dabbling in pick pocketing and the like. She loves to learn new ways to get around the system (Cortex hacking, for example), reading any book she can to improve her "game." In particular, she enjoys reading psychology texts, as they help her "get into other people's minds." When she had enrolled in university, she was set to major in psychology. In her spare time, and away from nosy eyes, she does research on Sihnon and Companion-life. Along with Companions, she researches Earth-that-Was women like geishas, courtesans, and female criminals, but she persists on keeping such research private. Besides her secret literature and research interests, she does go out of her bunk to play chess, chinese checkers, mah-jong, and other strategic intellectual games with others--though, beating them is the most enjoyable aspect. Being a grifter, it is not unusual for her to take out a deck of cards and play card games--often cheating by using slight-of-hand. She also plays the Tall Card game. When she is planetside, off of the ship, she skips off to visit local orphanages, enjoying spending time with the kids, donating money or items. In the future, she hopes to have many kids of her own--a daughter, especially.
Strengths: Her street smarts, combined with the knowledge that she soaks up, gives her an edge when it comes to dealing with the plans-gone-wrong or coming up with plans off the cuff. Her above-average intelligence can be seen in her speech and understanding of various difficult topics. When she worked with her con team, she and Malloy shared the leadership position--him usually picking the target, and her figuring out a plan (and plan B's and C's in case of trouble). Despite not liking change or interruptions to her plans, she is surprisingly good at improvising lies or excuses--for example, when others inquire about her job, how selling knives could get her that many Credits--typically to save herself or her team, but more recently to keep her dayjob secret. Marian is also very stubborn and determined, ready to see a job through no matter what. For better or for worse, she is strong-willed and unwavering. Working alone, she is even more courageous and willing to risk more, due to the very few ties she has in the world. For her job, not having others to look after or fear for their safety, is a bonus. Being detached keeps her head clear and her instincts sharp.
Weaknesses: Marian likes to be the best, number one, and hence is very competitive. The downside is that she will do whatever it takes, despite fatigue, body restrictions, or mental punishment. Sometimes, she forgoes sleep just to keep reading her books or practicing her exercises. Being competitive stems from being stubborn, which does not bode well for those holding the opposing view (even captains and crew members). Despite her fear of getting too close sometimes, she longs for relationships to fill the void of the people that were taken away from her (her parents), and will often run when she feels herself getting attached emotionally. Being anxious if she has nothing productive to do, she does not take enough time to enjoy relaxing or "stopping and smelling the e-roses." She knows that she has her issues--like abandonment issues for one--but she refuses to acknowledge or talk to anyone about anything too deep. For her, that is weakness of character, and she is stubborn in her appearance of being strong, even while, at the same time, cowering inside.
Secrets: Except her con contacts, she is not open about her con status, pretending to sell her ornate knives for a living, although she senses that some of the Serenity crew may be suspicious. She does not talk about her feelings openly, and if any of her (very few) close friends try to pry, she closes up. She's afraid of being alone, being the best with nobody to share a life with, conning others to get by. Marian dreams of settling down on Sihnon, which she believes is the best planet in the 'verse. Perhaps she'd become a Companion (a legitimate job), where she'd have a steady job and clients to see. But this dream will never come to pass (having her record) nor will it fully satisfy her need for loving relationships and a good life, and she needs to figure out what to do with her smarts and talents. Perhaps the crew of Serenity will be enough to keep her steady, stopping her from running this time.
Overall Personality: Overall, Marian is an enjoyable person. During cons, she is focused, her eyes set on the prize. She puts on her game face and changes her outer personality based on her role. When she's not on a job, she doesn't mind talking to others, being a bit sarcastic, showing off her sense of humor. She's friendly but maintains her distance, which sometimes makes her appear cold. However, when she smiles (which does not happen too often), her eyes light up--showing that she is not made of ice on the inside. Though she spends a considerable amount of time in her bunk doing research, her issue of not wanting to be alone gets the better of her. She seeks others' company (directly or indirectly), whether it be other passengers, marks, or simply a busy Cortex café where she can play solitaire. It is a bit confusing to others because, while she loves company, she hates the idea of loss. Marian gets noticeably anxious with people she's become comfortable with (distancing herself physically, being curt, etc.), and this can be the last thing they notice before she takes off. When she is in a competitive mode, she becomes more ruthless and calculating--sometimes disregarding the feelings of others in the moment and later apologizing. Despite being a con, she has a high moral awareness. She lives by the strict Con Codes (which include not doing bodily harm to others, conning innocents, etc.) and human morals. If she helps members of a crew it is not because they're "family" but because it's the "right thing to do." Laws, on the other hand, she believes can be bent--or even broken--for the right reasons.
The Family.
Parents && Siblings: Marian was born in a booming city in Londinium, similar to the New York City of today. She lived a pretty normal childhood, went to a decent school (though it did not challenge her enough). She was definitely a daddy's girl. Her father, Mason Remo, was responsible for her tomboy demeanor and her fighting skills from her father's military training. While she was not as close to her mother, she loved the stories that her mother used to tell her, stories of Companions and fairy tales and stories of Cinderellas becoming princesses. But when her parents were killed (hit by crossfire in a famous Londinium hostage situation) at the age of eight, her dreams fizzled. She did not have any siblings. Her father's family were cold and unloving, and when Mason Remo had moved out as a teen he had never wanted to see them again. Her mother, once from Sihnon, ran away with Mason Remo and made a new life together, determined to make a new family free of problems. This, of course, left Marian an orphan, living a hard life, forcing her into the life of the con.
Character History: At the age of 10, Marian became friends with a group of nearby children from a very poor family. The orphanage was hell for her, so she decided to take her chances living with her new "family." At this time, she started learning about pick pocketing and stealing, but it was mostly petty crimes born of necessity, with no thought or planning. She still went to her same school, but began to hate it all the more because her appearance now made it clear how poor and out-of-luck she was, which made the kids make fun of her. For awhile, things were going well: her new family loved her, and despite the situation, she made sure they all had enough to get by. Marian lived like this for three years. When she was 14, she decided that she wanted to move up in school instead of continuing to be bored and unchallenged. Maybe if she went to college, she could make money the honest way, maybe even enough to get her family to a Core planet. But they didn't understand. Unlike her parents, who had high hopes for her, believed she could do anything she wanted, they believed that this was all she could be, all she'd ever be. Marian felt hurt and betrayed that they had so little faith in her, and wanted to show them that it was possible to improve their situation. She tried flying straight, getting any rough, dirty job she could find, eventually getting a steady paycheck. She kept her Credits in one place, telling them she'd save up and get a better home for them. But one day, she came home to find her account drained and her family gone.
Heartbroken, she did the only thing she could do: go back to school, continue flying straight, working for below minimum wage--but becoming better.
At 18, she met Malloy, who became her first love. Marian had gotten into a very good university, using her intelligence to get a full scholarship. But Malloy was a bad influence: he was a con artist. Malloy and his group of cons, having seen potential in Marian, began to school her in the ways of the Con and Marian delayed her education. Malloy and his group despised the Alliance and simply wanted to be free of a steady 9-5 job, free to make it without a stuffy paycheck. They were a good team, cheating the greedy and malevolent out of their money and possessions. But Marian wanted to improve. She wanted to become the best con in all the 'verse and decided to leave Londinium. She parted amicably with Malloy, though it tore at her heart. Malloy and his crew are among the very few people that Marian currently will consider "close friends." She constantly checks back on them to make sure they are okay, afraid that they too will leave her alone in life again.
Along the way, Marian has developed a reputation with her team. Some good and some bad (landing them in jail), but their presence among the con community is known.
After leaving Londinium, she boarded several different ships to get her across the 'verse, disguised as an antique knife peddler.
The Edge.
Something Unique: She has excellent knife throwing skills, though she claims to have never killed a man as of yet. She is into more "ancient" Earth-that-was combat weapons, like knives and swords, etc. She looks down on guns, feeling that "there is no skill in pointing and shooting."
Role Playing Sample:
Marian felt the cold glass underneath her fingertips, envisioning the smooth, cool texture of a ship. She could feel it as it rumbled, the engines starting up, ready to lift off. Her heart was alive, as if it was trying to leap out of her chest, and she could feel the blood rushing through her veins. She took a deep breath, prepared for lift off.
"10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5..."
"Marian--you ready?" asked the captain. "Say goodbye to Londinium!"
"4, 3, 2, 1..."
She smiled, the roar of the engines filling her ears. This was it.
But when she opened her eyes, all she could see was a ship in the distance. Her clammy hand slipped off the glass. Malloy's apartment overlooked the bustling city--a traffic of hovercars and people wandering around like cattle.
Marian turned around to see Malloy on the couch: he was tapping at his Palm and transferring the Credits they had gotten that day to their team's account.
"Are you ready, Jules?" said Malloy, "We're meeting the guys in 10 minutes to talk about our next plan."
She looked at him almost as if it was for the first time. Things felt different. She and the team had done plenty of jobs, taken plenty of Credits, lived a life of calculated manipulation instead of being one of the herd. But she needed more. Marian believed she was one of the better grifters in Londinium, yet there was a whole 'verse out there she had to prove. And the idea of leaving her friends--the only people she ever felt would always be there for her--was terrifying.
"Malloy..." she started. Marian swallowed the lump in her throat. Yes, she was ready.
Face Claim: Jennifer Garner