Post by catharina on Aug 8, 2008 21:53:35 GMT -5
ABOUT YOU;;*[/color]
Name; Meg
Age; 17
Location; Call me paranoid, but I'd rather not say...
Time Zone; Eastern Standard
YOUR CHARACTER;;*
Name;[/b] Catharina Antonie Aikema[/size]
Age;[/b] 16[/size]
Year;[/b] Sixth[/size]
House; Hufflepuff
Blood;[/b] Muggleborn[/size]
Parents;[/b] Her father is Augustus Aikema, and her mother is Lea Aikema.[/size]
Wand;[/b] Nine inches, holly, unicorn hair[/size]
Patronus;[/b] She has some difficulty forming it, but when it's clear it is a pigeon.[/size]
Boggart;[/b] Her parents rejecting her[/size]
Animagus;[/b] Doesn't have one.[/size]
Alliance;[/b] Neutral, mainly because she's too timid to really take sides in any conflict. She would likely side with the 'good' if a choice became necessary.[/size]
Pets;[/b] A bi-colored black and white tomcat named Quidam.[/size]
History;[/b] Catharina Antonie Aikema was born to Augustus and Lea Aikema. The two moved from their home in the Netherlands into London shortly after the birth of their daughter, where Augustus took a variety of jobs in order to support his family. Once Catharina reached five years of age, Lea went to work as well, hiring a nanny to take care of the girl when she and Augustus were both working.
Although both of her parents were Dutch, Catharina was raised speaking English, learning only a few Dutch phrases. Still, the heavy accents of her parents transferred over to her. It is most noticeable when she comes back to the school after holidays with her parents, but fades slightly by the end of the school year.
It was around this time that Catharina began to exhibit two strange talents. One was her flexibility, which eventually translated into her favorite activity--aerial silks and contortions. In aerial silks, she hangs from two long pieces of fabric and performs acrobatics in the air, held up only by her grip on the fabric or by wrapping it around herself. She also began to learn contortions, twisting her body in impossible shapes and stretching her flexibility as far as she could.
Another strange thing her parents noticed was even more unusual. Strange things, seemingly unexplainable, would happen around her. These happenings mostly went ignored, as the Aikemas couldn't think of any solutions to this problem, and Catharina began to grow self-conscious of herself, worried that she was a freak of some sort. No one was sure whether to regard the news that she was, in fact, a witch with relief or horror. On the one hand, there was finally an explanation for these things, a way to control them, and others with the same problem. On the other hand--a witch? Suddenly, Augustus and Lea were looking at their daughter with new eyes, worried over what they had created and wondering whether they could truly have the same relationship with her again.
She continues to stretch and train when she gets the chance, stretching when she finds the space and time alone, and performing aerial silks when she returns home. Although the tensions with her parents have mostly eased, she still finds herself awkward when attempting to talk to them about the school and magic.[/size]
Appearance;[/b] When people attempt to describe Catharina's appearance, the words "innocent" and "young" often come up. "Tiny" is oft-used as well, and for good reason--she stands at only four feet, eleven inches tall, and her training keeps her slim and in shape. "Delicate" is fairly common as well; at first glance, she gives off the appearance of fragility, as if she could be broken in half with little effort. However, the muscles gained from years of hard work become apparent upon closer inspection.
Partially due to her tiny stature, and partially due to her face, Catharina is often mistaken for much younger than she actually is. Her face is wide open and innocent--at any time of the day, one can almost watch Catharina's thought process move across her face. Her most prominent features are her eyes, large and deep brown. Contributing to her youthful appearance are her teeth--like a young child's, they are somewhat crooked and uneven. However, she doesn't seem to mind that much, constantly flashing a toothy grin at anyone and everyone. Her skin is pale and she uses little makeup, if any at all--she simply can't be bothered with the hassle of applying it every morning. Her hair, in contrast, is a deep, dark brunette. She wears it long and straight, only tying it back for training or when it is starting to annoy her for one reason or another.
She doesn't have any piercings, not even in her ears, once again because she simply couldn't be bothered with it. However, she does have a single tattoo, a simple design on her left hip that is rarely seen by any. It shows two long red ribbons hanging straight down, with the black silhouette of a girl hanging from them, one hand gripping each of the ribbons. Her feet are twined in the ribbons as well, her legs stretched out in a split.
Catharina prefers to dress in clothes designed more for comfort than style, and if given a choice she'd rather blend in than stand out. Her clothes are mostly grays, blacks, and blues, although she does have the occasional deep purple or green. Reds and yellows are more rare, while pinks and oranges are unheard of in her closet. She owns many tank tops, t-shirts, and sweatpants, as well as some baggy shorts--anything that can be easily moved around in. She also owns many leotards, but rarely wears those in the castle--in fact, she can't remember one time she has done that yet. Still, she keeps them around for whatever reason.[/size]
Personality;[/b] Even as she ages, Catharina has kept much of her naivety about the world. She is very trusting and devastated when that trust is betrayed, often reduced to tears. Even if she is warned about things, many times she finds it hard to believe the worst of a person that she has faith in. She takes everything at face value and believes what people tell her almost without question.
She is somewhat shy and quiet, finding herself awkward in social situations if she does not know the people around her. She finds it very difficult to adjust to changes and much prefers routine and familiarity. If placed in an environment she doesn't know, she'll freeze up and grow nervous. Once she is familiar with a situation, though, she tends to smile often and talk a lot.
In her classwork, she does fairly well, mostly thanks to the amount of work she puts into it. Most nights she can be found studying anywhere she can find a seat, agonizing over every word of an essay or poring over the pages of a book in an attempt to better her grades. When she isn't, or if she is feeling especially down about something, she distracts herself with rigorous training, sometimes opting to run around the grounds if she can't find a suitably empty place. She doesn't like to have others around when she trains--having an audience makes her self-conscious and more prone to make mistakes.
Catharina is also very sensitive. It's easy to upset her, purposely or accidentally, with just one remark. She sympathizes with others and helps when she can, although she is hesitant and wary if it involves drawing attention to herself. Overall she prefers to blend into the background around others, remaining invisible.[/size]
Likes;[/b]
+Aerial silks
+Contortions
+Making people gasp when she does something unusual or impressive
+Cats
+Birds
+Roasted almonds
+Tank tops and sweatpants
+The colors purple and blue
+Stretching or running in the morning
+Her full name, Catharina[/size]
Dislikes;[/b]
-Crowds
-Attention being on her
-Speaking aloud
-Dogs
-Mice
-Doing poorly in classes
-Being called "Cat"
-Surprises
-Cheese of any kind
-Spending time on makeup or hair[/size]
Model;[/b] Veerle Casteleyn[/size]
Anything Else?;[/b] When she's home, she does infrequent performances of aerial silks and contortions for a little extra money. She also dreams of someday making a profession out of this.[/size]
Roleplay Sample;[/b]
Catharina loosened her grip on the silky fabric in her fists slightly, letting herself slide down the length of the ribbons several feet. As she slid, she twisted her feet, winding the fabric tightly around her ankles. Somehow, this precarious position, high above the floor of the gym, still felt more secure than she would be feeling by the next day.
Then, suddenly, she released her grip on the fabric entirely. For a brief moment, the floor rushed up towards her, flat and hard--
--and then she was jerked to a stop by the fabric around her ankles, her feet flat to ensure she didn't slip through the loop.
Smiling, Catharina let herself hang there for a few moments longer, imagining that there was someone around to work the mechanics of the ribbons. Then the fabric would spin and flare out while she grasped the very end of it with her hands, spinning with it until the music slowed and she would fling her arms out like wings, letting the notes drift away as she hung there...
A nostalgic sigh, and the brunette girl grasped the fabric, pulling herself up by her arms and twisting her feet around to free herself. Hanging there, it was difficult to resist the temptation to climb higher and higher, spinning and flipping herself. But she knew that there was no time for that today, so she let the fabric slide through her hands again, dropping gently to the floor. The feel of the mat beneath her bare feet was strange, and her arms ached fiercely. So she had been up there for a long while. How much time did she have left?
"Catharina!" Ah. Not much at all, then.
"Coming, Mama!" she called back as loudly as she could, yanking her hair free of the tie restraining it and shaking her head to fluff it out. She grabbed her shoes from their place in the corner, pulling them on hurriedly and grabbing her clothes bag as she rushed out the door. The sunlight was bright, and she blinked several times before her vision cleared enough to allow her to see the feminine figure standing in front of her, frowning impatiently.
"Catharina Antonie Aikema," Lea Aikema said sternly, "I told you that you would be able to spend a few minutes on the silks before we left for the train. Not half an hour! And look at you, all sweaty and flushed. Come, come! Now you must get dressed and ready to go, or you'll be late!"
Catharina merely grinned in response, feeling no remorse whatsoever. "Sorry, Mama, I lost track of time. This is my last time on the silks until the holidays! You can't blame me for wanting to stretch out my time a little."
"I can and I will," Lea countered, her angry expression not changing one bit. "Now get! What will you do if you miss the train, huh? How will you get to that school of yours then?"
"Perhaps I won't," the young witch mused out loud. "Perhaps I will stay home and perform on the silks all year." She grinned, but started walking towards the car anyway. She would throw on the t-shirt and sweats in the car, and perhaps her face would have lost the extra color by the time she got onboard the train. She knew that she wouldn't miss it--her father's speedy driving would make sure of that.
As the car pulled away, Catharina cast one longing glance back towards the gym, knowing that her silks were hanging there, abandoned, as they would be until she came home once again.
[/size]
Name; Meg
Age; 17
Location; Call me paranoid, but I'd rather not say...
Time Zone; Eastern Standard
YOUR CHARACTER;;*
Name;[/b] Catharina Antonie Aikema[/size]
Age;[/b] 16[/size]
Year;[/b] Sixth[/size]
House; Hufflepuff
Blood;[/b] Muggleborn[/size]
Parents;[/b] Her father is Augustus Aikema, and her mother is Lea Aikema.[/size]
Wand;[/b] Nine inches, holly, unicorn hair[/size]
Patronus;[/b] She has some difficulty forming it, but when it's clear it is a pigeon.[/size]
Boggart;[/b] Her parents rejecting her[/size]
Animagus;[/b] Doesn't have one.[/size]
Alliance;[/b] Neutral, mainly because she's too timid to really take sides in any conflict. She would likely side with the 'good' if a choice became necessary.[/size]
Pets;[/b] A bi-colored black and white tomcat named Quidam.[/size]
History;[/b] Catharina Antonie Aikema was born to Augustus and Lea Aikema. The two moved from their home in the Netherlands into London shortly after the birth of their daughter, where Augustus took a variety of jobs in order to support his family. Once Catharina reached five years of age, Lea went to work as well, hiring a nanny to take care of the girl when she and Augustus were both working.
Although both of her parents were Dutch, Catharina was raised speaking English, learning only a few Dutch phrases. Still, the heavy accents of her parents transferred over to her. It is most noticeable when she comes back to the school after holidays with her parents, but fades slightly by the end of the school year.
It was around this time that Catharina began to exhibit two strange talents. One was her flexibility, which eventually translated into her favorite activity--aerial silks and contortions. In aerial silks, she hangs from two long pieces of fabric and performs acrobatics in the air, held up only by her grip on the fabric or by wrapping it around herself. She also began to learn contortions, twisting her body in impossible shapes and stretching her flexibility as far as she could.
Another strange thing her parents noticed was even more unusual. Strange things, seemingly unexplainable, would happen around her. These happenings mostly went ignored, as the Aikemas couldn't think of any solutions to this problem, and Catharina began to grow self-conscious of herself, worried that she was a freak of some sort. No one was sure whether to regard the news that she was, in fact, a witch with relief or horror. On the one hand, there was finally an explanation for these things, a way to control them, and others with the same problem. On the other hand--a witch? Suddenly, Augustus and Lea were looking at their daughter with new eyes, worried over what they had created and wondering whether they could truly have the same relationship with her again.
She continues to stretch and train when she gets the chance, stretching when she finds the space and time alone, and performing aerial silks when she returns home. Although the tensions with her parents have mostly eased, she still finds herself awkward when attempting to talk to them about the school and magic.[/size]
Appearance;[/b] When people attempt to describe Catharina's appearance, the words "innocent" and "young" often come up. "Tiny" is oft-used as well, and for good reason--she stands at only four feet, eleven inches tall, and her training keeps her slim and in shape. "Delicate" is fairly common as well; at first glance, she gives off the appearance of fragility, as if she could be broken in half with little effort. However, the muscles gained from years of hard work become apparent upon closer inspection.
Partially due to her tiny stature, and partially due to her face, Catharina is often mistaken for much younger than she actually is. Her face is wide open and innocent--at any time of the day, one can almost watch Catharina's thought process move across her face. Her most prominent features are her eyes, large and deep brown. Contributing to her youthful appearance are her teeth--like a young child's, they are somewhat crooked and uneven. However, she doesn't seem to mind that much, constantly flashing a toothy grin at anyone and everyone. Her skin is pale and she uses little makeup, if any at all--she simply can't be bothered with the hassle of applying it every morning. Her hair, in contrast, is a deep, dark brunette. She wears it long and straight, only tying it back for training or when it is starting to annoy her for one reason or another.
She doesn't have any piercings, not even in her ears, once again because she simply couldn't be bothered with it. However, she does have a single tattoo, a simple design on her left hip that is rarely seen by any. It shows two long red ribbons hanging straight down, with the black silhouette of a girl hanging from them, one hand gripping each of the ribbons. Her feet are twined in the ribbons as well, her legs stretched out in a split.
Catharina prefers to dress in clothes designed more for comfort than style, and if given a choice she'd rather blend in than stand out. Her clothes are mostly grays, blacks, and blues, although she does have the occasional deep purple or green. Reds and yellows are more rare, while pinks and oranges are unheard of in her closet. She owns many tank tops, t-shirts, and sweatpants, as well as some baggy shorts--anything that can be easily moved around in. She also owns many leotards, but rarely wears those in the castle--in fact, she can't remember one time she has done that yet. Still, she keeps them around for whatever reason.[/size]
Personality;[/b] Even as she ages, Catharina has kept much of her naivety about the world. She is very trusting and devastated when that trust is betrayed, often reduced to tears. Even if she is warned about things, many times she finds it hard to believe the worst of a person that she has faith in. She takes everything at face value and believes what people tell her almost without question.
She is somewhat shy and quiet, finding herself awkward in social situations if she does not know the people around her. She finds it very difficult to adjust to changes and much prefers routine and familiarity. If placed in an environment she doesn't know, she'll freeze up and grow nervous. Once she is familiar with a situation, though, she tends to smile often and talk a lot.
In her classwork, she does fairly well, mostly thanks to the amount of work she puts into it. Most nights she can be found studying anywhere she can find a seat, agonizing over every word of an essay or poring over the pages of a book in an attempt to better her grades. When she isn't, or if she is feeling especially down about something, she distracts herself with rigorous training, sometimes opting to run around the grounds if she can't find a suitably empty place. She doesn't like to have others around when she trains--having an audience makes her self-conscious and more prone to make mistakes.
Catharina is also very sensitive. It's easy to upset her, purposely or accidentally, with just one remark. She sympathizes with others and helps when she can, although she is hesitant and wary if it involves drawing attention to herself. Overall she prefers to blend into the background around others, remaining invisible.[/size]
Likes;[/b]
+Aerial silks
+Contortions
+Making people gasp when she does something unusual or impressive
+Cats
+Birds
+Roasted almonds
+Tank tops and sweatpants
+The colors purple and blue
+Stretching or running in the morning
+Her full name, Catharina[/size]
Dislikes;[/b]
-Crowds
-Attention being on her
-Speaking aloud
-Dogs
-Mice
-Doing poorly in classes
-Being called "Cat"
-Surprises
-Cheese of any kind
-Spending time on makeup or hair[/size]
Model;[/b] Veerle Casteleyn[/size]
Anything Else?;[/b] When she's home, she does infrequent performances of aerial silks and contortions for a little extra money. She also dreams of someday making a profession out of this.[/size]
Roleplay Sample;[/b]
Catharina loosened her grip on the silky fabric in her fists slightly, letting herself slide down the length of the ribbons several feet. As she slid, she twisted her feet, winding the fabric tightly around her ankles. Somehow, this precarious position, high above the floor of the gym, still felt more secure than she would be feeling by the next day.
Then, suddenly, she released her grip on the fabric entirely. For a brief moment, the floor rushed up towards her, flat and hard--
--and then she was jerked to a stop by the fabric around her ankles, her feet flat to ensure she didn't slip through the loop.
Smiling, Catharina let herself hang there for a few moments longer, imagining that there was someone around to work the mechanics of the ribbons. Then the fabric would spin and flare out while she grasped the very end of it with her hands, spinning with it until the music slowed and she would fling her arms out like wings, letting the notes drift away as she hung there...
A nostalgic sigh, and the brunette girl grasped the fabric, pulling herself up by her arms and twisting her feet around to free herself. Hanging there, it was difficult to resist the temptation to climb higher and higher, spinning and flipping herself. But she knew that there was no time for that today, so she let the fabric slide through her hands again, dropping gently to the floor. The feel of the mat beneath her bare feet was strange, and her arms ached fiercely. So she had been up there for a long while. How much time did she have left?
"Catharina!" Ah. Not much at all, then.
"Coming, Mama!" she called back as loudly as she could, yanking her hair free of the tie restraining it and shaking her head to fluff it out. She grabbed her shoes from their place in the corner, pulling them on hurriedly and grabbing her clothes bag as she rushed out the door. The sunlight was bright, and she blinked several times before her vision cleared enough to allow her to see the feminine figure standing in front of her, frowning impatiently.
"Catharina Antonie Aikema," Lea Aikema said sternly, "I told you that you would be able to spend a few minutes on the silks before we left for the train. Not half an hour! And look at you, all sweaty and flushed. Come, come! Now you must get dressed and ready to go, or you'll be late!"
Catharina merely grinned in response, feeling no remorse whatsoever. "Sorry, Mama, I lost track of time. This is my last time on the silks until the holidays! You can't blame me for wanting to stretch out my time a little."
"I can and I will," Lea countered, her angry expression not changing one bit. "Now get! What will you do if you miss the train, huh? How will you get to that school of yours then?"
"Perhaps I won't," the young witch mused out loud. "Perhaps I will stay home and perform on the silks all year." She grinned, but started walking towards the car anyway. She would throw on the t-shirt and sweats in the car, and perhaps her face would have lost the extra color by the time she got onboard the train. She knew that she wouldn't miss it--her father's speedy driving would make sure of that.
As the car pulled away, Catharina cast one longing glance back towards the gym, knowing that her silks were hanging there, abandoned, as they would be until she came home once again.
[/size]