Character you have created: Araceli Holguín y Muguruza (Or, simply Araceli Holguín in
Yanqui naming conventions)
Alias: N/A. Araceli embraces being superpowered as part of her rocker life, and makes no attempt at hiding that she has powers.
Speech Color: CyanCharacter Alignment: Walking the Line. This is less straddling the line of good and evil, and more straddling the line between good and "who gives a shit". Araceli makes no pretenses about using her powers in any sort of traditional way: she had plans for her life in music before developing her powers, and Araceli has no intentions of changing them now. She's quite happy about having powers; she has after all incorporated them fully into her public persona, but she is completely unwilling to become a superhero just because she has them.
Identity: Known (see Alias)
Character Personality: Araceli is bold, brash, and pompous. She envisions herself as the next big rock star, and Araceli makes sure that everyone knows it. If the center of attention isn't on her, Araceli will make sure that it will be by the end of the interaction. A slight hedonistic streak permeates through her character; nearly every choice she makes is based on how much fun she'll have doing it. Araceli is very adventurous, and is always willing to do new and exciting things despite any risks.
Araceli is always worried about putting on the best show possible. Whether it is a concert, or in a fight, it is better to fail spectacularly than to succeed in a boring, stiffed way. This desire to be creative can help her out in a pinch, by finding unexpected solutions to a problem, but can in other ways grab defeat out of the jaws of victory. But, it's ok if not every idea works out; there's always a grander, stupider idea to try out the next day.
However, despite this extroverted, easygoing personality, Araceli is noticeably adverse to getting deeply personal in her relationships. While she wants everyone to like her, and will go great lengths to get on everyone's good side (or, at the very least, those she respect's good side), Araceli is very quick to erect walls and distance herself if she feels the relationship is getting too close. She equally clams up if someone pries too closely into her history, getting outright hostile if they persist.
Uniform/costume: Perhaps Araceli's most immediately defining feature is her hair: dyed a bright electric blue, it is kept long, down to the beginning of her back, but is kept mostly unkempt, beyond the cursory combing for maintenance. Bright, emerald green eyes compliment her hair, which contrasts with her light olive skin that betrays her mestizo heritage.
Araceli is almost never seen without her trademark leather jacket, which is adorned with numerous patches related to the music scene of her native Monterrey, along with the general counterculture of the city. A typical outfit may include a baggy, tattered dress with a frayed hemline, combined with combat boots. Ever since discovering her powers, Araceli has taken to wearing both yellow and blue, as she believes they compliment her electricity-based powers.
Araceli also carries around with her an electric guitar, her instrument of choice. It is a black Fender Jaguar, with a custom paintjob involving yellow streaks all over the body to evoke lightning bolts. Araceli refers to it affectionately as "El Reyo", and considers it to be an extension of herself. Araceli is not shy to practice or play it in practice; it's a great way to bounce ideas in her mind when it comes to songwriting.
Origin Info/Details: Publicly, Araceli Holguín y Muguruza would tell you that she was born in Monterrey, Neuvo Leon, Mexico, to a "well off" family. Any sort of prying into her family history would meet with her clamming up, but she might mention that she had a younger brother named Enrique, and that the two used to be pretty close, but they haven't talked in a few years. She would eagerly tell you about the garage band she formed in high school, the Axolomeh, that Araceli will eagerly tell you were going to become the next biggest band had things worked out better. She'll bittery recount how her parents sent her north, to a private school in America, when her powers manifested, breaking apart her friend circle and leaving her isolated. She absolutely hated the place, but she didn't let it keep her down, and she continued to try to record music and play shows, this time more focused on a solo career. Upon graduating, she moved out west, to Pacific Point, where she claims the hottest music scene north of the border is at.
Of course, the truth is a lot more complicated than what she would let on. Araceli's father was in fact the owner of a minor steel plant in what is the industrial heartbed of Mexico. Araceli was always embarrassed by her family's wealth, particularly compared to the financial situation of her friends throughout grade school. However, it gave Araceli the opportunity to experiment with her hobbies, and her family quickly realized a natural talent for music. Although initially pushed to pursue more classical instruments like the piano, it was evidently clear that she was the best at, and preferred, the guitar, which her parents eventually acquiesced to.
Monterrey, along with being the industrial capital of the nation, is also considered to be the capital of the underground rock scene as well. As Araceli continued to devote herself into playing music, it was only logical that she attempted to join in on the foray herself. After initially finding it difficult to join in a pre-existing band due to her young age and, to a lesser extent, some latent sexism against female guitarists, she decided it would simply be easier to form her own band. Drawing from her close friends in her class, Araceli named the band "the Axolomeh", an archaic plural rendering of the
Axolotl. Like many garage bands, the Axolomeh started off as a cover band, specifically emulating 90s alt-metal bands such as Alice in Chains or Rage Against the Machine, but, as their exposure grew, Araceli would begin writing her own songs, mostly penned in Spanish, and focusing on themes of social justice and teenage rebellion. Although she would often write the lyrics, she at the time passed on actually singing herself, given that she didn't necessarily have the best vocal range herself.
Exactly how and why Araceli's powers manifested is a mystery even to her, but given the spontaneous nature of its development, it is most likely she is some kind of mutant. One day, when she was idly snapping a beat while thinking of a composition, she noticed that sparks were literally flying from her fingers. At first, it seemed as if she was generating electricity, but closer examination revealed that parts of her fingertips were missing everytime she generated the sparks: Araceli was actually turning
herself into electricity! She immediately went off to show off to her family, who were all amazed by the newfound power of their daughter/sister. Enrique, who was always a bit of a superhero nerd, encouraged her to not waste her talent, and try to be a superhero. Araceli laughed it off: being powered was cool as hell, but damn if she wanted to spend her life hiding behind a mask.
Unlike how she would recount the story, there was actually a significant time gap between discovering her powers and her parents sending her off to America, almost an entire year even. At the start, no one had any intention of leaving Monterrey, let alone Mexico, and Araceli continued to try to hit it big in the indie scene. Almost immediately after discovering her powers, Araceli started using her powers as a means to show off, at school, and most importantly, at gigs. Irrespective of her quality, a superpowered teenage guitar player instantly put the media attention on herself and her band, due to the sheer novelty factor. One of the coolest tricks she discovered at this time was being able to move through electric current, if she electrified her entire body. This looked like estensially electric-themed teleportation to her audience, and she incorporated it into her acts as a further means to show off.
Araceli was starting to attract a lot of attention, both good and bad. Particularly on the negative side, however, was the attention of the cartels. While superheroes in Mexico aren't necessarily an uncommon sight, being completely open with their secret identity definitely was, and Araceli's powers, family wealth, and outspoken messages themed on political reform within her orgional compositions all painted a massive target on her back. While just a harmless teenager now, it was believed Araceli, in ten to twenty years, could become a massive threat to their continued hold on power. She had to be taken out, and soon.
They struck after Araceli finished a set in a nightclub, as they were packing up. Waiting until the crowd had all but dissipated, a few enforcers walked into the nightclub, guns in hand, and open fired at everyone inside. Among the casualties was most of the Axolomeh, with only herself and the bassist Margarita surviving. Araceli, completely over her head, used her powers to simply run away, using the city's power network as a quick means of getaway. Enrique was also present and was injured in the firefight, but was able to recover, but never fully forgave his sister for simply running away without showing any sort of resistance. The members of the hit were able to successfully escape before the police arrived, and to this day remain at large.
Suddenly with the cartel's attention squarely at their feet, Araceli's father was stuck. They failed at killing his daughter, and they would likely try again. Perhaps next time, they'd attack them in their home. He needed to fix this, before his family was hurt even worse. After paying a significant cash bribe, however, a deal was set in place: the cartel would all pretend nothing happened, and leave them alone, if Araceli left the country, and if he started paying protection money. It was a hard choice for him, but he felt like there wasn't a better option left.
That, and not simply because Araceli developed powers, is why they sent her to a private school in New Hampshire. St. Ravus, a prestigious school devoted to superpowered individuals, offered to give Araceli a full ride given the unique circumstances, and her parents readily took the charity. Araceli didn't want to go, and argued extensively against it, but was overruled. She would finish her last two years of high school in America, and that was final.
Those two years have passed, and after graduating, Araceli heavily debated returning to Mexico right then and there. She didn't consider America her home, and frankly her music career, now focused on being a solo act after being too heart broken to form an actual band again, has stalled out here. However, when her parents were horrified by the proposition. They offered to pay for her daily expenses if need be, as long as she stayed in America and away from them. Dejected that her own family wouldn't associate with her, she decided instead to head out west, to Pacific Point. The West Coast was always where the soul of American music was, and Pacific Point in particular was the greatest hotspot right now. Maybe this is what she needs in order to finally break out, and be the star she was destined to be...
Hero Type: Energy- Electricity
Power Level: A
Powers: Araceli has the ability to manipulate her physiology in order to turn herself (and anything she is holding) into pure electricity. At the present, this mostly manifests in an ability to subsume herself into an electric current and travel it at its current speed, an act Araceli likes to describe as
riding the lightning. While being able to move at near-relativistic speeds is extremely useful for locomotion, it is limited in the sense that she must be within close distance to the exposed current to make the jump, requires a certain degree of voltage to work, and can only travel as far as the circuit goes.
Araceli, under stress, can try to maintain this form while staying relatively motionless (when you can move at near-relativistic speeds, everything else seems motionless). However, given a lack of training on this department, it remains very unstable, and she does not know the true capabilities of her elemental form. One thing she has discovered is that she can also partially transform herself, leaving most of her body intact. Araceli mostly uses it as a cool effect when shredding her guitar, turning the tips of her fingers into static electricity as she plays an impressive solo. Theoretically, it could have potential combat applications, such as to throw electrified punches or even attempt to shock people at range, but she hasn't nearly experimented as much in that direction.
Attributes:Height: 5'1''
Weight: 114 lbs
Strength Level: Normal Human
Speed/Reaction Timing Level: 100+ MPH (when transformed)
Endurance at MAXIMUM Effort: Normal Human
Agility: 20X Human level (when transformed)
Intelligence: Average
Fighting Skill: Untrained
Resources: Average
Weaknesses: Araceli's biggest weakness, by far, is her complete unwillingness to train herself. Her powers have many theoretical applications that could push her easily into a B or even C level hero, but she doesn't actually care to explore those possibilities. She is far more focused in trying to show off with her powers, to be as flashy as possible, and to put on a good show. In that aspect, she's very proficient with her powers, but it does not make her into an effective fighter at this point and time.
In a more physical sense, Araceli's powers are very physically draining on her body. While transmutating portions of her body isn't that stressing on her relatively speaking, the main advantage of her ability, to jump through currents, involves a full body transformation, and maintaining that form can tax her body significantly. It's even harder to maintain it when standing still, as electricity naturally is energetic and constantly moving. To make matters worse, as previously stated, when you can move at near-relativistic speeds via current,
everything else is practically standing still in comparison. In effect, just maintaining her elemental form outside of her ability to jump through current, while more than possible, will exhaust her quickly.
Supporting Characters: Miguel Holguín and Josefina Muguruza: Araceli's parents, lower-end wealthy, involved in the steel industry. Very much love their daughter, but their relationship has been strained since the incident with the cartel. Currently in Monterrey.
Enrique Holguín: Araceli's younger and only brother. A superhero nerd, who wishes he had the powers in the family instead of his sister. Blames Araceli's hedonism and refusal to take responsibility for her powers for the family's current predicament, and wants nothing to do with her. In his junior year of high school, and also in Monterrey.
Margarita Salamanca: The ex-bassist of the Axolomeh, and the only other surviving member other than Araceli. Where Araceli doubled down on hedonism after the incident, Margarita instead embraced political radicalism, wanting revenge on the people who killed her friends. Tried to remain in touch with Araceli, not blaming her for running away (they were both young and stupid at the time), but naturally drifted apart as they had different priorities in life. Whereabouts currently unknown to Araceli, but she hazards a guess she ended up going to Chiapas to link up with the EZLN.
Heidi Ackermann: A fellow international student in St. Ravus, hailing from Lichtenstein. Although the two were massively different in general demeanor and their outlook on powers (Heidi considered her powers, which involved her literally being able to permanently burn away positive emotions as a fuel source to give herself flying brick-esque abilities, a massive curse on herself, and wished she was "normal"), the two girls bonded over their hatred of the place and what it stood for. Neither wanted to be heroes, and refused the call to become so after graduating. After graduating, Heidi returned back to Lichtenstein, but the two remain in touch, and are likely each other's closest friends.
Do you know how to post pictures on RPG boards?: No, the image of Araceli I posted in here was embedded with magic. :^)
Sample Post:Jerry Brown International Airport
Pacific Point, California, USAFuck, fuck, fuckIt wasn't hard to make out Araceli Holguín in the crowd of people waiting for their baggage to come out of the conveyor belt. With her brightly dyed hair and patched over leather jacket, she certainly stood out like a sore thumb among all the suits and tourists that were huddled around her. It only served to exaggerate the twitching of her hands, the impatient tapping of her foot, and the occasional but audible sigh as she waited around.
However, it was not like Araceli was without most of her luggage at this point. In fact, she had most of her suitcases and bags with her, casted away at her side. Yet, it seemed the presence of her luggage did nothing to calm her down, as if none of what she currently had with her mattered. All she could do was impatiently stare at the incoming luggage, watching as they started to gently pour out.
After what seemed like a tense eternity, Araceli's emerald eyes perked up as a guitar case slowly poked out of the covering blinds. The black case was covered in flair; the most prominent sticker being a giant Mexican flag, but also having thunderbolts, rain clouds, names of cities all across northern Mexico, and even a few cartoon depictions of an Axolotl. As soon as it was in arm's reach, the blue haired woman hurriedly ripped it from the conveyor belt, not allowing a second to spare.
With the enthusiasm of a child opening a present on Christmas, Araceli flipped open the notches on her case, and inspected the contents within. Inside was her most prized possession, a black Fender Jaguar. Painted with yellow streaks all over the body, mimicking lightning, Araceli could only wistfully sigh as a rush of memories intruded into her mind. El Reyo had served her admirably for years, and she wouldn't want any other instrument at her side. Araceli allowed herself to gently strum the strings, and, for the first time since she arrived at Pacific Point, she smiled.
"Mommy, look at her!"
Araceli perked up at the voice of a young boy excitingly trying to get the attention of his mother. Turning around, the boy couldn't be a day older than six, and he was energetically pointing forward as his mother was desperately trying to drag him along.
Energetically pointing straight at Araceli, that is.
"Come on Tommy, don't be rude to strangers," the mother practically pleaded to her child, doing anything she could to nudge her son along.
"But she has BLUE HAIR!" Tommy indignantly protested, as if this fact was the most upsetting observation he has ever had in his short life.
Araceli smirked as the boy continued to draw attention to her. Other people might have been mortified at being thrusted into the center of attention like this, but Araceli found it more amusing than anything else. She didn't dye her hair for people to not notice it, after all. Plus, it wasn't nearly the coolest thing about her, as she wanted to show Tommy.
"And you will too", Araceli said, barely suppressing her laughter,
"if you eat too much blue raspberry candy. That's what I did, and it stained my hair"Araceli smile grew wider as she could faintly hear the mother uttering expletives over the situation. Tommy completely broke free of his mother's grasp, and rushed towards Araceli.
"Really?" the boy asked, his voice dripping with excitement and wonder, too young to tell that the blue haired women was being completely facetious.
"Yeah..." Araceli initially affirmed, before pausing to add more dramatic effect to her next statement.
"Unless," she continued,
"it was my powers that caused it. I can't remember".
The boy's eyes perked up, as he practically screamed, "YOU HAVE SUPERPOWERS?!"
Suddenly, a lot more than just Tommy and his mother were staring at Araceli. She got the attention she was looking for.
"It depends," she waffled, before snapping her finger. Her right index finger started to emit electrical sparks, as she turned the tip of it into pure electrical energy. She could easily control it so that the sparks harmlessly fizzled into the air, making sure that she didn't accidentally shock anyone around her.
"Would you consider this a power?There was a chorus of gasps as Araceli just casually unleashed her powers inside of a crowded airport. Although it was obvious that there no foul play involved, it was probably not the smartest decision on Araceli's part, especially if some security guard took it as a possible threat. Araceli made sure to stop the discharge quickly after showing off, just in case people do start reading it the wrong way.
"That's enough," Tommy's mother barked as she once again grabbed Tommy's arm, who was completely mesmerized by the blue haired woman.
"I'm sorry for the rudeness of my son, but we need to get going now,
ma'am". It was obvious the mother was getting just as cross with her as she was with her son.
Araceli sheepishly grinned though, unfazed by the mother's hostility.
"Not a problem, but I understand. Have a nice day."Turning to the rest of the crowd, Araceli jokingly bowed to them,
"And thank you! I'll be here all night!" 
—
