[OOC] The Mavericks | Neo-Genesis

[Nemaisare]

Yay for passing! *^5* not so yay for colds... Bleh. *offers chicken noodle soup*

[Tyler]

I'm working until 2:00pm tomorrow and then I have two days off.

Can you believe it?

Two. Whole. Days.

I'd like to get an Evelyn post out during that time if possible. But whatever works best overall is good with me.

[Stein]

Yay for passing! *^5* not so yay for colds... Bleh. *offers chicken noodle soup*

@Nemaisare

Riiiiiiiight?! I'm thinking I'll be better tomorrow, and I'm even a little hopeful that it's really just sinus infection/congestion nonsense. Luckily, I don't feel the grogginess and fuzziness that typically comes along with the cold, so I'm actually about to hammer away at that post as soon as I clear up my nose (bleh)

I'm working until 2:00pm tomorrow and then I have two days off.

Can you believe it?

Two. Whole. Days.

I'd like to get an Evelyn post out during that time if possible. But whatever works best overall is good with me.

@Tyler

Two.HOLE.days???

Clearly you have hit the high life and simply cannot be stopped. Let the world see that flaming pussy!

I will actually try to hammer out that aforementioned post tonight so I can collab with you tomorrow, okay?

Also, to everyone--how would you all feel about a scenario where our characters are in a dungeon type setting and split up from each other?

What I'd want to do is let you all have free range of your areas but just PM each of you things to include in your post (I.E. "In no particular order, some areas to cross in your post are: A large snake pit set in a marble hallway, A decrepit worship area, a zombie mercenary who doubles as pornstar [can be in any room], end it with them going into a 1800's lift that's playing "Careless Whisper").

And I'd probably include a key item for you to find somewhere along the way. And then I'd bring all of us together in the next post or something.

Just a little something I'm tossing about

[Tyler]

[insert generic Stein fabulosity]

@Stein

I'm game for whatever you throw at us, hunty. If there's someone I trust to execute cool shit, it's you.

[Nemaisare]

I'd love to know who had the wherewithal to turn a giant basement into a dungeon... And the time. But we'd get to learn that if our characters get out, right? Right? :P

I'm down.

[Stein]

I'd love to know who had the wherewithal to turn a giant basement into a dungeon... And the time.

@Nemaisare

Okay so, 10,000 points to you for a succinct use of wherewithal and your pussy is on fire right now.

And to answer that question.....

Prolly Mark Zuckerberg

<Snipped quote by Stein>

I'm game for whatever you throw at us, hunty. If there's someone I trust to execute cool shit, it's you.

@Tyler

XoXo, I'll make it fucking phenomenal for y'all.

Like Violet Chachki "Death Becomes Her" phenomenal.

[Stein]

Ello lovelies

I haven't forgotten to post, but I passed out after taking some cold medicine soooo yeah. I've got work today but luckily, with my new schedule, it's only until 6 (as opposed to me getting off at 10) so yas, I'll be home earlier!

XoXo

-Stein

[Nemaisare]

Haha, no worries. Sleep is important to the recovery process, posting... not so much. :P

[Stein]

Haha, no worries. Sleep is important to the recovery process, posting... not so much. :P

@Nemaisare

Bam! There ya go!

I realize I kind of left it up in the air a little bit, so I'll throw an addition to post up in the morning so if you want to throw Andrew into a brawl, you know what the characters can do, etc.

Also @Tyler When you wanna collab hun?

[Nemaisare]

Bam! There ya go!

I realize I kind of left it up in the air a little bit, so I'll throw an addition to post up in the morning so if you want to throw Andrew into a brawl, you know what the characters can do, etc.

Also @Tyler When you wanna collab hun?

@Stein

Loving it! And alright, lol. Andrew is soooo confused right now, it's wonderful. And Miles' enthusiasm for having no idea what's going on is brilliant. :D

[Stein]

<Snipped quote by Stein>

Loving it! And alright, lol. Andrew is soooo confused right now, it's wonderful. And Miles' enthusiasm for having no idea what's going on is brilliant. :D

@Nemaisare

Haha thanks! And yeah, I actually like playing Miles this way, so young and innocent.

And don't worry lol, I promise I'll shed light on everything soon enough!

...............maybe

[Stein]

Oh Good lord I am a mess, I posted that up there without even checking to see if it was edited correctly, my bad Nemi!

[Lord Wraith]

@Stein Was that Glitch contacting Miles and Andrew?

[Stein]

@Stein Was that Glitch contacting Miles and Andrew?

@Lord Wraith

Nope! Though I knew you would think so

Tbh, it really doesn't have to be a female voice, I just figured a female voice would sound a slightly less ominous than a random male one.

[Lord Wraith]

Dang it lol I thought for sure Glitch was going to get the gang together.

[Stein]

Honeychild, I've got so much in store for us. You don't even know.

[Tyler]

Yaaaaaasssss! Shoot me a PM with the first bit of a collab when you're ready, Stein. We'll work that way since it'll likely be difficult to match our schedules up.

[Stein]

Okay!

I'm off work and I'm hopping on this ish now!

[Lord Wraith]

Posting my CS here, it's got a few things left to edit but I'm welcome to critiques especially from Stein haha.

Joseph Thoreau

T H O R E A U

---

^{"Mother had a saying, something about how sometimes a favourable outcome requires a few ill-advised actions."}

^{J O S E P H E D W A R D T H O R E A U ◼ 0 2 / 0 8 / 1 9 9 4 ( 2 2 ) ◼ M A L E ◼ H E T E R O S E X U A L}

▼ A P P E A R A N C E:

---

^{"Yeah I know, I don't look like a Thoreau."}

//STATS:

◼ HEIGHT | 5'-10"
◼ WEIGHT | 164 lbs
◼ BUILD | Athletic
◼ EYE COLOUR | Deep blue outer iris with an inner ice blue iris
◼ HAIR COLOUR | Dark brown with hints of ruddy auburn
◼ ETHNICITY | Caucasian

//DESCRIPTION:

Joseph has a slender frame that is covered in compacted muscle built up from years of exercising and toning his body. His torso and legs are built like someone who regularly competes in marathons and free running competitions while his arms and shoulders are built more like that of a boxer mixed with a martial artist. Joseph prides himself on being more balanced in his physique and as such has kept his flexibility and somewhat slender frame despite his well chiseled biceps and abdominal. Joseph is especially known for his keen piercing blue eyes. Deep blue with flecks of icy blue strewn throughout, Joseph's eyes are known for being able to look right through someone as though he is staring into their soul. Joseph has deep brown hair with strands of gold and auburn acting as natural highlights, these are most visible in bright light where as in dim and barely lit places, Joseph's hair can seem to be almost black. He keeps his hair anywhere from a short to medium length, often grooming it into various ways.

Joseph's general attire ranges from long sleeve mock tees to hoodies usually. Always paired with straight leg or boot-cut, dark-wash jeans. In collaboration with these, Joseph prefers to wear semi loose fitting tops in an effort to hide his more chiseled physique so as not to draw too much attention to himself. To that end he often will wear a t-shirt paired with a hoodie and jacket, or a long-sleeved shirt adorned with a hood and a jacket. Depending on the weather though Joseph may wear just a t-shirt, or a rolled up long sleeved mock tee. His outfit is almost always complimented with a leather jacket.​

▼ B I O G R A P H Y:

---

^{"Words don't define us, actions do."}

During the height of the Mavericks' career Joseph's grandfather, Forrest Emerson Thoreau was a officer with the Larissa Lilith Police Department, often providing support to the Mavericks themselves. Proud to call himself an ally to the Mavericks, Forrest often told a young Joseph tales of the daring heroics the vigilantes had once brought to Larissa and its surrounding areas. However, Joseph's father, Silas Edward Thoreau didn't see eye to eye with his own father and while Forrest had been aiding the Mavericks, Silas had been away at Harvard earning his law degree and developing a deep rooted seed of hatred against those who took the law into their own hands. Upon Silas' return to Larissa, the ambitious young lawyer set his eyes on the gross abuse of the law he considered the Mavericks to be. Appealing to the local district attorney, it was Silas who instigated the city's zero tolerance policy towards vigilantes and ultimately caused the Mavericks to vanish from history. Due in part to his contribution to the city's new anti-vigilante stance, Silas became a valued asset with numerous law firms trying to recruit the young hotshot. Having his pick of the crop, Silas settled in with Campbell and Reid quickly rising to partner over three short years. Eyed by the District Attorney's office, Silas was scouted to take over the position of state prosecutor. Settling into his new career with ease, Silas eventually met and impregnated a young woman by the name of Samantha Russells. Desperate to keep the bastard child out of public headlines, Silas married Samantha in a private civil ceremony. Nine months later, Joseph Edward Thoreau was born to his loving mother and career driven father.

Growing up distant from his father, Joseph spent most of his time with his mother and grandfather. His mother provided the love and care every growing boy needed while Forrest filled the void left by Silas and taught Joseph many numerous life skills. Drawing upon his years of experience as a former police officer, Forrest taught Joseph to listen to the beat of the city, to hear its voice and learn its rhythms. Due to the teachings of his grandfather, Joseph grew to a strong set of street-smarts, taught to remain constantly aware of his surroundings and how to read those within them.

But Joseph found he had trouble connecting to the city, especially on its crowded streets. Constantly overwhelmed, he found the only time he could clearly hear the rhythm of the city was from high above the street. Looking down on the world, Joseph learned how to pick apart the details and eventually found his groove. The city became his playground and Joseph would sneak out of the house to play among the roof tops. It was from this height that the corruption growing in Larissa first became clear to Joseph, he could see the city was sick and that the illness was only spreading. It was here that the idea to follow in his grandfather's footsteps was laid in Joseph's head, within him a fire had lit and the flames of passion ignited a need to help the people of Larissa, a need he wouldn't act on until quite a few years later.

Originally traversing them by climbing fire escape after fire escape before eventually growing bold enough to jump from roof to roof. From there Joseph's skills only continued to expand as Joseph learned to move more efficiently from place to place, learning the city from a whole new angle. At least he would have until his mother, Samantha caught Joseph sneaking in through a window one dark Larissa night. Never before had the boy seen his mother so scared as she checked him over for any sign of injury, acting as though he had been out re-enacting the stories of the Mavericks. Making him swear to never use the roof tops again, Joseph was literally grounded from that point on. But he learned to adapt, find new ways to hear the city as he moved through the crowded streets and eventually behind the wheel as his grandfather taught him how to drive and he succeeded in gaining his driver's license.

Despite never being the brightest in his class, Joseph never struggled through school. Maintaining above average grades and achieving honors upon graduation, Joseph had a wide selection of post-secondary institutions to choose from along with several sizable scholarships. However money had never been a concern for the Thoreau's thanks to Joseph's distant father. Deciding to take inspiration from his grandfather, Joseph turned his back on the numerous high brow institutions that had sent him accepted letters before deciding to pursue his education at the local community college. Enrolling for EMT certification, Joseph completed course after course until finding a career with the Larissa General Hospital as a paramedic. Never had Joseph felt so much pride as the day his grandfather shook his hand to congratulate the young man upon his first assignment. Silas however was disgusted with Joseph's career choices, his attitude towards Joseph causing friction between both Joseph and himself as well as Samantha and he. Combined with his constant distant behavior, Silas' negative attitude towards Joseph was the straw that broke the camel's back and Samantha and Silas divorced.

Having moved out during his time at college, the split did little to upset Joseph's living arrangements. His mother however relocated from the Olympus district to a country home in the more rural district of Mount Nysa. Making time to visit his mother over the weeks that followed, Joseph was rather confused by how little the divorce seemed to bother her. Silas on the other hand was working hard to keep the divorce out of his public image least it reflect poorly upon him.

On the night of the blackout, Joseph was awoken from his slumber in order to respond to an evacuation order at the Michaels' Nuclear Facility. Arriving at the scene just as the explosion rocked the area, Joseph's ambulance was rendered completely powerless. Nonetheless, Joseph wasn't deterred as he rushed the scene helping the wounded to safety until other first responders arrived. Working to clear the scene, Joseph worked into overtime, eventually being relieved after nearly eighteen long hours.

▼ A B I L I T I E S / S K I L L S:

---

^{"Time to level the playing field."}

//ABILITIES:

▼ ABILITY AUGMENTATION

◼ STAGE 01 | Joseph possesses the ability to enhance the abilities of other gifted individuals. By laying his hands on another who possesses extraordinary abilities, Joseph can increase the potency of their abilities beyond what they are currently capable of. This increase only lasts as long as Joseph remains in contact with the ability's host and its effects almost immediately dissipate as soon as Joseph lets go. At this stage, Joseph can only boost the abilities of another in one aspect meaning if he increased the range of an attack, he could not increase its potency.

◼ STAGE 02 | As Joseph's powers continue to grow, his abilities are further able to increase those of another. The next growth in his powers allows Joseph to amplify all aspects of another's abilities. This means he increases the range, potency, duration and any other necessary aspects of the ability in question. Furthermore Joseph no longer requires physical contact with those he's familiar with. Joseph is able to form empathetic links with those who he's close to allowing him to amplify their abilities while they're nearby. However as with his early abilities, the effects are only temporary, wearing off an hour or so after Joseph terminates the link.

◼ STAGE 03 | At Joseph's peak, he is able to evolve the abilities of others to their fullest potential. This could lead to any number of outcomes and may even hurt the host as their powers become too unstable to control or contain. This effect can last for upwards of a day depending on Joseph's bond with the host, those he has an empathetic connection with will find themselves empowered longer than another gifted individual who Joseph has just encountered. That said, Joseph's ability no longer requires physical contact and can operate solely on a field of effect although he can choose his targets. Physically touching another increases the duration of the evolution and its potency. While the field of effect can amplify abilities and with sustained effect can evolve the host, physical touch from Joseph accelerates the process, making evolution almost instant.

◼ ABILITY NEGATION

◼ STAGE 01 | Joseph's secondary ability is the ability to negate the abilities of another gifted individual. When in physical contact with another, Joseph can choose whether to enhance or negate their abilities. Instinctively his body will always go with negate out of self preservation meaning that if Joseph were touched or assaulted while asleep or unconscious, his body will negate the abilities of his assailant. The negation of the host abilities only is sustained so long as the host is in physical contact with Joseph. Once physical contact is terminated, their abilities are returned within seconds.

◼ STAGE 02 | As Joseph's ability grows, he'll be able to emit a small blast which can temporarily stun and negate the abilities of another. This blast will only negate abilities for several minutes, acting like a small taser blast. Repeated blasts will build up the duration of the negation but only to the extent of three hours. After this the host will recover unless Joseph incurs another attack upon them. Physical contact with Joseph has increased potency now, immediately rendering a gifted individual powerless for several hours.

◼ STAGE 03 | At Joseph's peak potency, his ability will be able to be projected in a field of effect, capable of rendering all gifted individuals in a set radius powerless. Furthermore, his offensive abilities will increase from a simple blast, to a prolonged beam or a wider-spread attack capable of targeting multiple foes. At this stage he is able to render most gifted individuals powerless for several days and may even be capable of stripping another of their abilities completely if prolonged physical contact is held.

//SKILLS:

◼ MEDICAL TRAINING | As an EMT, Joseph is able to treat numerous injuries and ailment in the field. In addition to this, Joseph can sustain the life of a person, postponing death in the events of life threatening injuries until they can reach proper treatment. Notably, Joseph's skills are hinged on having the proper supplies although he can be pragmatic and use whatever is at hand when necessary.

◼ PARKOUR | Although rusty, Joseph taught himself how to parkour during his youth before being stopped by his mother. His body still remembers the movements and he has since stayed in good physical condition both for personal interest and due to his chosen career.

◼ DRIVING | Although Joseph isn't by any means a stunt driver, he is capable of driving most vehicles, including large vehicles such as ambulances. Even with such a large vehicle, Joseph is able to steer it an a manner that would be considered agile, capable of weaving in and out of traffic nearly as efficiently as the average motorcycle driver.

◼ SELF DEFENSE | In a city as dangerous as Larissa, one knows better than to work on the streets without some sort of defense training. While attending college, Joseph attended several self defense classes in anticipation of picking up patients in Larrissa's seedier areas.

//LIMITATIONS:

Joseph's most notable limitation is the lack of effect on himself, he can neither enhance nor negate his own abilities. Likewise he can not use both of his abilities at the same, Joseph has to choose whether to enhance or negate constantly, he can't lay a hand on an ally to enhance while firing a negation blast at a foe. Furthermore, the effects of his abilities are not permanent, except in an extreme case when regarding his negation ability.

Range of effect is also a major limitation, as even at his fullest potential, Joseph only has a maximum area effect of a twenty five foot radius. His abilities are most effective with physical contact which combined with his lack of physical enhancement requires Joseph to constantly be pragmatic enough to get close to a foe.

//WEAKNESSES:

Joseph has no physical enhancements of his own, meaning he's vulnerable to every conventional form of harm. His abilities can be interrupted by a strike to his nervous system such as electrical shock from a tazer. A sustained electrical field, even at a harmless voltage would interrupt Joseph's abilities enough to render them useless.

▼ M O T I V A T I O N / O B J E C T I V E:

---

^{"The city is hurting, it's time someone helped her."}

Ever since he was young, Joseph has felt a desire to help others. This need was only further honed by his grandfather who was a retired member of the Larissa-Lilith Police Department. As an officer who had served during the Golden Age of the Mavericks, Forrest believed in heroes and Joseph inherited this belief but Larissa was long past the age of heroes and crime was beginning to resurface without any opposition. Taking to the streets as a member of Larissa's paramedics, Joseph decided to help in the best way he could by tending to those hurt in the rapidly growing crime wave.

▼ N O T E S:

---

^{"It's the people waiting for me at home that keep me going each and every day."}

//SUPPORTING CAST:

▼ ALLIES

◼ BERGERON, MILES | TBD

◼ PLATEADO, ARTURO | TBD

◼ PRINCE, EVELYN | TBD

◼ WILLIAMS, ANDREW | TBD

▼ FRIENDS

◼ THOREAU, SILAS | Joseph's father and Larissa's current District Attorney.

◼ THOREAU, FORREST | Joseph's grandfather and father figure. Forrest and Joseph have a bond that Silas is incredibly jealous of both due to his distance from his father and the attention stolen from his son.

◼ THOREAU, SAMANTHA (neé RUSSELLS) | Joseph's mother and one time lover to the billionaire Charles Micheals. Samantha had previously been involved in a whirlwind romance with the billionaire before being scorned and sent into the arms of Silas Thoreau. Finding herself with child, Samantha and Thoreau married giving birth to their son Joseph.

◼ TBD | Test

▼ ENEMIES

◼ N/A | TBD

//STOMPING GROUNDS

◼ SOUTH BEACH | Owning a condominium in the South Beach District of Larissa, Joseph spends most of his off time on the beach, catching a few waves and mingling among the night time parties.

//PARAPHERNALIA

◼ N/A | TBD

[Stein]

| NAME(S): |

Evelyn Alice Prince

| NICKNAME(S): |

Eve (used more often than her given name)

| ALIAS(ES): |

Oracle (previously: The East Beach Oracle)

| D.O.B.: |

06/20/1997

| AGE: |

19

| SEX: |

Female

| SEXUALITY: |

Heterosexual

| APPEARANCE: |

Eve is short, standing at a rather unimposing 5ft; her body is slender and lean. She has hazel eyes that seem to be lit from within; bright and full of knowledge, but with a dark shadow lurking in her pupils that betrays the horrors she has witnessed. Her skin is rather pale, and her complexion is emphasised by the shade of scarlet she routinely dyes her hair with stolen product. Her presence in the room is one of timid alertness; she seems somewhat anxious and highly aware of her surroundings, as though ready to scarper at any sign of threat. She is almost never seen without a red blindfold that conceals her eyes. She often hides beneath an oversized hoodie and ripped, baggy jeans, both damaged through wear. She frequently wears woollen fingerless gloves, which are frayed and riddled with loose threads that she habitually pulls at.

| ABILITIES/SKILLS: |

Eve is a true psychic, born with great clairvoyant power that allows her mind to sense things ordinary people cannot. Her primary gift (though she wouldn’t call it that herself) comes in the form of precognitive visions, which offer her a glimpse into the future. The information they present her with ranges from mundane slices of life to disastrous events and death. She has little control over these visions at all, and they often strike her without warning. She is most prone to her visions when she is asleep, though her power can manifest at any time. Her visions can also be retrocognitive, allowing her to view events from the past, though this requires a degree of focus and concentration. Eve can also ‘trigger’ a vision by looking directly into the eyes of another, at which point she will see into their future; though she still has no control over what she sees. She is also unable to tell how far into the future the events she witnesses are happening, and depending on the situation the visions she receives can often be vague and lack context, making them difficult to interpret.

On a similar level, Eve also possesses the gift of psychometry, and is able to delve into the past and future of any object she touches. The visions she experiences via psychometry are subject to the same limitations she has through her precognitive abilities.

Eve has never been telepathic, but she does possess a degree of psychic empathy which has resulted in her passively being more attuned to emotions. This works more to her disadvantage than anything else, as it forces her to feel the emotions of her visions with extreme severity; making visions of traumatic or painful events effect her on a deep emotional level. Perhaps as a response to this, Eve has developed a phobia of eye contact, for fear of what she might see and feel. As a result, she avoids eye contact at all costs, and can most often be seen wearing a blindfold.

This does not hinder her, as Eve is also a highly adept clairvoyant; she is able to ‘see’ without the use of her eyes. This ability has become second nature to her and is infact bolstered and strengthened by her imposed blindness: Eve has found that when she cuts off her sense of sight, her psychic abilities become much more sensitive. With greater concentration and focus, Eve is able to project her consciousness elsewhere, and use her clairvoyance to view locations remotely. She is somewhat limited in this practice, as she has to have visited the place she wishes to view.

Whilst her powers being stronger when she is blindfolded, she is also more prone to involuntarily visions in this state. This can be quite the distraction as well as potentially being extremely traumatic, depending on the nature of the vision. Eve also has no abilities that protect her from other psychics, and so opening her psychic consciousness up by covering her eyes also leaves her more vulnerable to telepaths and other psychics. Her powers in themselves are also highly taxing on her mind and body as well as effecting her on a deeply emotional level: when subjecting herself to a particularly strong vision, her eyes have been known to bleed. Exerting her psychic gifts too recklessly can cause her to faint or even become comatose.

Eve is currently unaware of the following powers and will discover them IC:

Following the nuclear explosion, Eve’s psychic consciousness has opened up even further. Whilst she still does not possess telepathy, she has developed a sense that makes her keenly aware of other people on a psychic level. She doesn’t gain any information from this sense in terms of identity or thoughts, but she is able to use it to locate individuals if she is familiar with how they ‘feel’ to her. Initially this power will have no ‘off switch’, which is very overwhelming for Eve, particularly in large crowds, however over time it is likely that she will gain some control over it.

Eve has also developed telekinetic traits, allowing her to move objects with her mind. She is currently limited to small objects and light furnishings, though with practice her talents would no doubt grow. This would allow her greater telekinetic strength, as well as the potential to create telekinetic barriers to protect herself from harm. But she can never learn to fly. Ever. Because Hillan hates me.

| BACKSTORY: |

The air is cold. Harsh, spiteful rain hits skin like icy daggers. The woman sits in an alley. Screaming. Swearing. A man leans over her. Screaming. Swearing. Push, push, push. She squeezes his hand. Her knuckles are white. Push.

A baby emerges. Head first into the cold world. A car speeds past, splashing the three with dirty puddle water. The baby cries. The woman yells. She swears. Don’t start that shit already. I don’t want that shit. The kid keeps screaming. Confused, lost. Torn from peaceful darkness. Thrust into a cruel new landscape. The crying continues. The woman looks at the man. The fuck are they gonna do? This ain’t what neither of ‘em wanted. They never wanted this shit. The look in their eyes is telling. Nothing is said but they already know. A decision made in silence.

He helps her to her feet. She’s still in pain from the birth. But they have to get away. Away from the screams. Away from anyone who might see them. Away from anyone who might know what they’ve done.

They stop a few paces away. He’s impatient. The fuck’s the matter? She looks back over her shoulder. Then at him. What is it?

A girl. Now hurry the fuck up. We ain’t got time for this. She obliges.

A girl. Her back against the cold, wet concrete. Through rain-filled eyes she can only see sky through the mountainous grey structures that tower over her. It is near black. Moving quickly with the wind. Rolling. Thunderous.

A girl. Alone in Larissa.

---

It came as quite a shock to a young Evelyn when she learned that the other girls at the orphanage didn't remember being born. She quickly learned that some of the things she said made people uncomfortable. Of course, the other girls would tease and ignore her in equal measures, but the real clue had been delivered when Evelyn told her story to the kindly matron who'd afforded them all a chance at life; Miss Marie's eyes had doubled in size the day Evelyn had described the conditions of her birth.

"Now, child. We'll have no more of this nonsense under my roof." she commanded, with an uncharacteristic sternness. Evelyn apologised with sincerity. She didn't know precisely what she had done wrong, but it was clear to her that perhaps she ought to keep these stories to herself.

"And don't worry, Miss Marie," Evelyn said sweetly. "My new mommy is coming tomorrow."

Miss Marie smiled with sympathy; the girl had been in her care for the better part of six years. Not once had any visitor to the orphanage expressed an interest in adopting the odd little girl, and as sweet as she was, Miss Marie didn't anticipate that changing any time soon. But then tomorrow came.

---

The room smelled stale. The wallpaper peeled. Yellow beneath. Yellow above, stained from cigarette smoke. Damp. Dim, little light. But some filtered in through a tattered red curtain in the doorway. Voices beyond. Men.

I tell ya, Delboy. I ain't in the mood for no jokes.

Not at all. Not a joke. Genuine.

The curtain pulled back. The light floods in. Bright. Man steps in. Moustache. He is Del.

Another man. Don't know him. Del smiles. Man is unimpressed.

That's her?

That's her. The Amazing East Beach Oracle.

No Del. I can't. Too tired. Hungry. Head hurts. Can't. Sorry. I'm sorry.

Man is angry. Del is angry. Grabs my wrist. Tight. I yelp.

Listen here you little shit. I gave you everythin' you got. You ain't stayin' here for free. Now give the man what he came for.

I oblige. Man sits. I look into his eyes. Filled with greed. Jealousy. In a truck. Driving too fast. Horns blare. Tyres screech. Blackness. Nothing.

---

Amelia Prince was a young widow, and she had known from the second she had seen little Evelyn that they would be so happy together. In times like this, when Evie would awaken in the middle of the night, tormented by nightmares of a moustached man, many adoptive parents would question their decision. But to Amelia, this is what motherhood was truly about. This was what she signed up for: the love she had for Evelyn surprised her at times, but it was inescapable. In moments like this, every fibre of her being wished to comfort and console her daughter.

"You know, Evey," she hushed, stroking Evelyn's head. "You are such a brave little girl. Nothing ever scares you, except for this man. And that's fantastic, Evey. Do you know why?" she asked. Her tone was soothing and full of compassion. Evelyn looked up from where she had been burrowed in her mother's nightgown.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because this man - this Del - he doesn't really exist. So if you're only scared of a man in your dreams, just think of what you can do. What you can overcome. One day, when you're older, you won't dream of Del anymore. And then you won't be scared of anything at all." Evelyn smiled meekly, and her mother wiped a tear from her eye. "So just remember that, sweetheart. Del can't hurt you. Del isn't real."

But Amelia was wrong.

---

Hot summers day. Park. Smell the grass. Children laughing. Mom pushing me on the swing. Higher, mommy, higher. I wanna go higher. Mom laughs. She pretends to push me higher. No mommy. Wanna go higher! No sweetheart. Don't want you to get hurt.

I jump off the swing. Mom gasps. But I land on the grass. I'm fine. I laugh. She looks at me. Stern. I laugh more. She breaks. Joins in. We laugh. Laughing.

Hide and seek. Mom tells me not to leave the park. But nowhere good to hide. So I go just outside the gate. Peering through the bushes. Watching her look for me. She can't find me. I laugh. She starts calling my name. I stay quiet. She starts to get worried. Keeps calling my name. But I don't reply. Why not? She is upset. Why am I quiet?

Hand over my mouth. I am kicking, panicking. Trying to scream. No good.

I look up. See his face. See his moustached face. Feel the colour drain from my face. See the panic on mom's face. Feel the panic on my face. See the grin on his face. Dragged away. Into a van. Doors slam shut. Blackness.

---

It had been ten years since Del kidnapped Evelyn, and still she was haunted by crystal clear recollections of that horrific day. It was a side-effect of her abilities, she had reasoned. As she grew up, Evelyn had learned that she was more different to other kids than she had first imagined. She could see the future. And the past. She had learned that she was some sort of psychic.

Del had learned, too.

As an extension of the other heinous acts he demanded of her, Evelyn had been turned into some sort of sideshow attraction. Based in Del's seedy base of operations for his various schemes, businessmen and pampered housewives from across the city would pay Del's extortionate fees. In return, they would have their future foretold by 'The Amazing East Beach Oracle'. Half the time, the things Evelyn saw would be too tragic to reveal. Del would get angry at her then, and if she'd disappointed a male client, Del would force her to satisfy him in other ways. All in return for living under his squalid roof, eating the meagre diet he provided her in return for her services.

But what else did she have? She'd escaped once, and returned to her mother's house to find it abandoned. Then she'd had no other option to return to Del, who was unsurprisingly furious. It was live here, or live on the streets. And she knew better than to even attempt to live on the streets of Larissa... She wouldn't last a week, especially in these parts. Still, sometimes she wondered whether that might be the preferable option.

The decision was made for her the day Del was arrested. She had nowhere to live, nothing to eat and no money to rectify the situation. Without Del's charismatic salesmanship, the enterprise of the East Beach Oracle was nothing. Not that she wanted to ever use her powers in that way again. A decade of doing so had exposed her to so much emotional agony, so much trauma, that she never wanted to use them again. She took to wearing a blindfold, determined to never look someone in the eyes again. Of course, that didn't stop the visions from spontaneously taking over her conscious; forcing unsolicited information into her skull.

She got by for a while, mainly by stealing things. Life with Del had taught her to be very sneaky indeed. Her goal was to find her mother and reconnect. Explain what had happened. Go back to a normal life. But she could do none of that until she harnessed some sort of control over the supposed 'gift' she'd been cursed with. She had to regain possession of her mind and thoughts, before she could ever consider letting someone else into her life.

However, when a nuclear explosion in a nearby district invoked a deeper level of psychic ability within her being, she knew that controlling the beast that was her mind was not about to get any easier...

| MOTIVATION/OBJECTIVE: |

Eve is driven by an obsessive need for control that her powers deny her; the issue is only exacerbated when her abilities grow. She is struggling to cope with the overwhelming nature of her gifts, and is currently looking for any possible way to help her take back her mind and command her powers, rather than the other way around. Having lived under Delboy for so many years, she's also feeling very alone and exposed, and is desperate for a sense of safety in numbers.

| SUPPORTING CAST: |

Miss Marie Delaware - elderly matron of an orphanage that took Evelyn in. She named Evelyn, as well as raising until she was six. Presumed dead.

Amelia Prince - adopted Evelyn and loved her as though she had birthed her. She was said to be emotionally broken when Evelyn was kidnapped. Current whereabouts unknown.

Del 'Delboy' Richmond - local conman who kidnapped Evelyn aged nine. Discovered her psychic talents and exploited her for financial game. Their relationship swiftly evolved into one of abuse. Delboy was recently incarcerated, leaving Evelyn homeless. Currently incarcerated.

| REFERENCE POST(S): |

See: Raja.

| NOTES: |

Just a friendly reminder that this is a character-driven RP; please treat it as such and throw some interaction in Eve's direction.

@Tyler

So, I never gave this official work-up and I suppose I should do that, huh.

So anywhore, still accepted. Duh.

Now that I've read the CS again, I like and a lot of the potential she has.

On the note of her powers: with her last ability, I'd feel more comfortable if she developed that a little later. You're giving her a lot to work against and this ability doesn't seem to enhance her much at this stage. Would you consider making this something she gets a little later down the line (still early on, but not right now)? If you'll do that, I can even work it into a plot aspect.....the wheels are already turning.

(Also, she and Miles will get along so well. Well....Miles gets along with almost anyone really)

I like the backstory but it does leave her a lot to deal with? Are you comfortable with all you've kinda put into place?