Post by Vanessa Clark on Apr 27, 2016 5:05:28 GMT -5
Full Name:
Vanessa Clark
Aliases:
Ness
Avatar Photo:
Age:
28
Gender:
Female
Appearance:
Vanessa is a lithe, unassuming woman in her late twenties. She stands at 5'4'' and has a thinness to her stature, despite her slight curves. Her skin is olive-tinged, and both her eyes and hair are a dark brown. Her tresses are wily and wavy, usually pulled back in an attempt to keep them contained. Demure and subdued, she sports a pair of jeans and a flannel over a plain black top. Not one to be flashy, she downplays her features, despite her natural allure. The only remarkable thing about her is her eyes: not the hooded lids or the wide shape, but by the depth they carry. Haunted and troubled, knowing and telling, it is evident that she has seen things that most people haven't. Any scars that she has aren't visible to the eye.
Occupation (studies and job before the outbreak):
Before the outbreak, Vanessa was a kindergarten teacher.
Hometown (city, state, country):
Due to the nature of her childhood and background, Vanessa doesn't know where her hometown is, nor could she pinpoint one if asked. In her life, she has had over ten addresses. Her most recent, and longest, stint was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Relationships (relatives, friends,...):
Vanessa hasn't had many lasting relationships in her life. Given up for adoption at a young age, she never knew her birth parents, and she bounced around the foster system so frequently that it was difficult to develop any lasting friendships. Once she cemented her life in Wisconsin, she had three encounters that proved to be more than she bargained for. She became acquaintances with Tawny Mills, a local flower shop owner who she had come to know through frequent visits, and the occasional show and tell in her classes. Through her, she met the enigmatic Ivan Radovich, who she still can't fully figure out. The one who had the most impact on her was David Moori, the father of a little girl in her class. From the moment she met him, she felt an immediate draw towards him, but discovered that he was married. Despite their frequent encounters due to the nature of her relationship with his children, as well as her proximity to his neighborhood, she tried to stifle these feelings. It was ultimately to no avail, and left her longing.
Weapons (currently in possession):
A pistol
A kitchen knife
A baseball bat
Items (clothing, backpacks, first-aid kits, etc...):
A fresh change of clothes
A blanket
A few bottles of water
A few bags of snacks
A lighter
A flashlight
A basic first aid kit
A box of ammo
A teddy bear with her named stitched into the stomach
Mode of transportation:
A modest four-door sedan
List 3 or more good personality traits:
Resilient
Altruistic
Tries her hardest to see the good in people
List 3 or more bad personality traits:
Terribly lonely
Severely underestimates herself
Emotionally distant
List 3 strengths:
Has an excellent judgment of character
Experienced and seasoned with street smarts
Adapts easily to difficult situations and surroundings
List 3 flaws:
Struggles with her own self-worth
Has strong abandonment issues
Shy to speak her mind and frequently bottles her feelings up
Describe your character's life before the Apocalypse:
As a small child, Vanessa was given up for adoption by her birth parents. She was too young to remember them, and all that she was left with was a stuffed bear. She meandered through life, bouncing around in the foster care system, and never finding a permanent home. Because of this, she traveled from county to county, state to state, and never lived anywhere for more than a year or two. Instances of abuse within the system were, luckily for her, incredibly rare. More or less, it appeared that the foster parents providing her with care would send her back either out of a growing disinterest in her or a growing interest in their own families, and that was somehow worse. Never considering herself to be good enough for adoption, she accepted this as a truth as she bounced around within the confines of the foster care system. She aged out of the program when she was eighteen and, not having anyone to care for her or anywhere to go, was left homeless and out of luck. She never stayed in one place at any given time, and with no destination in mind, she wandered the streets, just a lost little girl who didn't think she mattered, and didn't think she ever would.
But when she was twenty, her luck changed. She was informed that her parents had passed away in an accident, and with no known family to inherit their belongings, it all trickled down to Vanessa. Suddenly, the little orphan girl was given a house in a nice neighborhood in Wisconsin, and a lump sum fell into her lap. At first, the sudden stability gave her almost a bit of shell shock, but after taking time to come to grips with her new situation, she took control of her life. Setting herself up in her parents' inherited house, unbeknownst to her just outside the gated community that both Tawny Mills and David Moori lived in, Vanessa used the funds she had received to put herself through school. She got a degree in elementary education, and graduated with her bachelor's a year early from her university.
Without any friends or family to ease the loneliness in her, Vanessa focused on her career and her hobbies. Through both, she met David and Tawny. Artistic and creative, she liked to paint, and frequented Tawny's flower shop for fresh subjects. Through their repeated interactions, the owner inevitably agreed to occasionally attend show and tell for her students. One of those students was the daughter of David, whom she immediately took a shine to. Their conversations were never very long, nor were their glances held for more than a moment, but Vanessa couldn't shake her undeniable attraction to him. She would work up the courage to talk to him when he would come to pick up his child from her class, and although it was never much, even motivating herself to speak to him was enough to slowly make her come out of her shell. Because he was a married man, however, she never took it any farther than that out of respect for him and his wife, whom she had met on multiple occasions. Tawny's rumored affair with Ivan, the naughty gossip of the town, was an idolized instance for Vanessa. She wished that she could act on her feelings the way that Tawny had, to be strong like her, but her admiration ultimately never came to fruition.
What happened to your character on Outbreak Day?:
It was her birthday.
Vanessa went about her day as usual, knowing that she had no one to share it with. She painted in the morning, and then went to school. Her day with the children followed her lesson plan for the first half of the day, but as they started to receive strange news bulletins and messages from the school board, school was cancelled. Unprepared for such an event, many children were left to wait for their parents. Rather than rush home or pawn her students off on another person, she waited with the children until their parents arrived to take them home. Vanessa had nothing to go home to but an empty house, and she was procrastinating because of the special nature of the day, despite how much she tried to ignore it. It wasn't the first birthday she had spent alone, and it certainly wouldn't be her last. One by one, the students were picked up from the school, until only Vanessa and David's daughter remained. The radio system was jamming and the electricity was starting to falter in the school, and to try and calm down the frightened girl, Vanessa distracted her with games and songs. After a game of Twenty Questions, the little girl discovered that it was her teacher's birthday. She offered her a leftover cupcake from her lunch bag, and together the two found a candle to humor the child. She watched Vanessa light it and asked her to make a wish. She closed her eyes and wished that she didn't have to be alone on her birthday.
She blew the candle out, and in walked David. He seemed anxious and warned her that something was happening, that the roads were clogged and dangerous. Presumably in exchange for keeping his child safe, he offered for Vanessa to come back with him to his house. Although she knew that it was professional concern for her as a mere human being, versus a personal concern out of romance, she accompanied him to his home. Anything was better than going home to be alone, and it was ultimately a good choice that she made. Her house was just outside the gated community, and it was one of the first to get raided when the riots and chaos broke out.
When the world collapsed around them, it fell fast. One of David's neighbors tried to attack them, but he killed him in defense of them. The military came and cordoned off the community, using their elevated level and gates to their advantage. What she first thought to be care and protection ultimately became twisted and warped. Tawny and Ivan, as well as Tawny's husband, got locked within the community as well, and little did they know that their meager encounters with each other were about to blossom into full dependence for survival.
Describe your character's life after the Apocalypse:
The military proved to be more of a hindrance than a help, and the quartet were lucky to survive. Lead by Ivan, they managed to escape the community in one piece. Together, they traveled around with no intended destination, their eyes set on survival. Although Vanessa was capable of taking care of herself, David went out of his way to look out for her and make sure that she was all right, which she absorbed like a sponge. Unfortunately, not everyone was so lucky. The death of Tawny's husband weighed the reality of this new world upon them, and it is uncertain what the future holds for the party. For Vanessa, she only knows one thing for certain: that she has never felt so lost, yet so found.
Vanessa Clark
Aliases:
Ness
Avatar Photo:
Age:
28
Gender:
Female
Appearance:
Vanessa is a lithe, unassuming woman in her late twenties. She stands at 5'4'' and has a thinness to her stature, despite her slight curves. Her skin is olive-tinged, and both her eyes and hair are a dark brown. Her tresses are wily and wavy, usually pulled back in an attempt to keep them contained. Demure and subdued, she sports a pair of jeans and a flannel over a plain black top. Not one to be flashy, she downplays her features, despite her natural allure. The only remarkable thing about her is her eyes: not the hooded lids or the wide shape, but by the depth they carry. Haunted and troubled, knowing and telling, it is evident that she has seen things that most people haven't. Any scars that she has aren't visible to the eye.
Occupation (studies and job before the outbreak):
Before the outbreak, Vanessa was a kindergarten teacher.
Hometown (city, state, country):
Due to the nature of her childhood and background, Vanessa doesn't know where her hometown is, nor could she pinpoint one if asked. In her life, she has had over ten addresses. Her most recent, and longest, stint was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Relationships (relatives, friends,...):
Vanessa hasn't had many lasting relationships in her life. Given up for adoption at a young age, she never knew her birth parents, and she bounced around the foster system so frequently that it was difficult to develop any lasting friendships. Once she cemented her life in Wisconsin, she had three encounters that proved to be more than she bargained for. She became acquaintances with Tawny Mills, a local flower shop owner who she had come to know through frequent visits, and the occasional show and tell in her classes. Through her, she met the enigmatic Ivan Radovich, who she still can't fully figure out. The one who had the most impact on her was David Moori, the father of a little girl in her class. From the moment she met him, she felt an immediate draw towards him, but discovered that he was married. Despite their frequent encounters due to the nature of her relationship with his children, as well as her proximity to his neighborhood, she tried to stifle these feelings. It was ultimately to no avail, and left her longing.
Weapons (currently in possession):
A pistol
A kitchen knife
A baseball bat
Items (clothing, backpacks, first-aid kits, etc...):
A fresh change of clothes
A blanket
A few bottles of water
A few bags of snacks
A lighter
A flashlight
A basic first aid kit
A box of ammo
A teddy bear with her named stitched into the stomach
Mode of transportation:
A modest four-door sedan
List 3 or more good personality traits:
Resilient
Altruistic
Tries her hardest to see the good in people
List 3 or more bad personality traits:
Terribly lonely
Severely underestimates herself
Emotionally distant
List 3 strengths:
Has an excellent judgment of character
Experienced and seasoned with street smarts
Adapts easily to difficult situations and surroundings
List 3 flaws:
Struggles with her own self-worth
Has strong abandonment issues
Shy to speak her mind and frequently bottles her feelings up
Describe your character's life before the Apocalypse:
As a small child, Vanessa was given up for adoption by her birth parents. She was too young to remember them, and all that she was left with was a stuffed bear. She meandered through life, bouncing around in the foster care system, and never finding a permanent home. Because of this, she traveled from county to county, state to state, and never lived anywhere for more than a year or two. Instances of abuse within the system were, luckily for her, incredibly rare. More or less, it appeared that the foster parents providing her with care would send her back either out of a growing disinterest in her or a growing interest in their own families, and that was somehow worse. Never considering herself to be good enough for adoption, she accepted this as a truth as she bounced around within the confines of the foster care system. She aged out of the program when she was eighteen and, not having anyone to care for her or anywhere to go, was left homeless and out of luck. She never stayed in one place at any given time, and with no destination in mind, she wandered the streets, just a lost little girl who didn't think she mattered, and didn't think she ever would.
But when she was twenty, her luck changed. She was informed that her parents had passed away in an accident, and with no known family to inherit their belongings, it all trickled down to Vanessa. Suddenly, the little orphan girl was given a house in a nice neighborhood in Wisconsin, and a lump sum fell into her lap. At first, the sudden stability gave her almost a bit of shell shock, but after taking time to come to grips with her new situation, she took control of her life. Setting herself up in her parents' inherited house, unbeknownst to her just outside the gated community that both Tawny Mills and David Moori lived in, Vanessa used the funds she had received to put herself through school. She got a degree in elementary education, and graduated with her bachelor's a year early from her university.
Without any friends or family to ease the loneliness in her, Vanessa focused on her career and her hobbies. Through both, she met David and Tawny. Artistic and creative, she liked to paint, and frequented Tawny's flower shop for fresh subjects. Through their repeated interactions, the owner inevitably agreed to occasionally attend show and tell for her students. One of those students was the daughter of David, whom she immediately took a shine to. Their conversations were never very long, nor were their glances held for more than a moment, but Vanessa couldn't shake her undeniable attraction to him. She would work up the courage to talk to him when he would come to pick up his child from her class, and although it was never much, even motivating herself to speak to him was enough to slowly make her come out of her shell. Because he was a married man, however, she never took it any farther than that out of respect for him and his wife, whom she had met on multiple occasions. Tawny's rumored affair with Ivan, the naughty gossip of the town, was an idolized instance for Vanessa. She wished that she could act on her feelings the way that Tawny had, to be strong like her, but her admiration ultimately never came to fruition.
What happened to your character on Outbreak Day?:
It was her birthday.
Vanessa went about her day as usual, knowing that she had no one to share it with. She painted in the morning, and then went to school. Her day with the children followed her lesson plan for the first half of the day, but as they started to receive strange news bulletins and messages from the school board, school was cancelled. Unprepared for such an event, many children were left to wait for their parents. Rather than rush home or pawn her students off on another person, she waited with the children until their parents arrived to take them home. Vanessa had nothing to go home to but an empty house, and she was procrastinating because of the special nature of the day, despite how much she tried to ignore it. It wasn't the first birthday she had spent alone, and it certainly wouldn't be her last. One by one, the students were picked up from the school, until only Vanessa and David's daughter remained. The radio system was jamming and the electricity was starting to falter in the school, and to try and calm down the frightened girl, Vanessa distracted her with games and songs. After a game of Twenty Questions, the little girl discovered that it was her teacher's birthday. She offered her a leftover cupcake from her lunch bag, and together the two found a candle to humor the child. She watched Vanessa light it and asked her to make a wish. She closed her eyes and wished that she didn't have to be alone on her birthday.
She blew the candle out, and in walked David. He seemed anxious and warned her that something was happening, that the roads were clogged and dangerous. Presumably in exchange for keeping his child safe, he offered for Vanessa to come back with him to his house. Although she knew that it was professional concern for her as a mere human being, versus a personal concern out of romance, she accompanied him to his home. Anything was better than going home to be alone, and it was ultimately a good choice that she made. Her house was just outside the gated community, and it was one of the first to get raided when the riots and chaos broke out.
When the world collapsed around them, it fell fast. One of David's neighbors tried to attack them, but he killed him in defense of them. The military came and cordoned off the community, using their elevated level and gates to their advantage. What she first thought to be care and protection ultimately became twisted and warped. Tawny and Ivan, as well as Tawny's husband, got locked within the community as well, and little did they know that their meager encounters with each other were about to blossom into full dependence for survival.
Describe your character's life after the Apocalypse:
The military proved to be more of a hindrance than a help, and the quartet were lucky to survive. Lead by Ivan, they managed to escape the community in one piece. Together, they traveled around with no intended destination, their eyes set on survival. Although Vanessa was capable of taking care of herself, David went out of his way to look out for her and make sure that she was all right, which she absorbed like a sponge. Unfortunately, not everyone was so lucky. The death of Tawny's husband weighed the reality of this new world upon them, and it is uncertain what the future holds for the party. For Vanessa, she only knows one thing for certain: that she has never felt so lost, yet so found.