APPLICATION: ryansgulch

[exastris]

☞ Player Information;
Name: Melly.
Player Journal: onetouchdonnie
Age: 19
Contact: onetouchdonnie (AIM) | thanksforthememories (PLURK)
Other characters currently played at Ryan's Gulch: N/A.

☞ Character Information;
Character Name: Guífeí 'Selene' Wāng.
Canon: Original Character.
OU or AU?: N/A.
Canon point: Just as she's about to travels from the Night Courts of China to the Day Courts of England.

Setting:

Selene comes from a fantasy setting, specifically during what we would know as the fading decades of 10th century and the slow entrance to the 11th century, where each acknowledge and independent country of that world and time is watched and protected by its governing Day and Night Courts. The Courts are two separated but closely intertwined magical societies that are based on the Sun and Moon respectively and have existed for a long, long time. The Courts are known throughout the world but the country's own Courts are the ones they know the best while they have a vague idea what the others are like. The people from these Courts can live for centuries if someone doesn't attempt to kill them and succeed. They are hard to kill but can still be killed since their healing factor isn't the fastest and it takes several days to recover from a grievous injury. People from the Courts also have blessings (enhanced talents/traits) and abilities (magical skills/powers). The blessings and abilities can be granted to humans but this is a rare event since only the King and Queen can do this and they're stingy with this power. The Night and Day Courts are ruled by the King, Queen and their children who are acknowledged as the Prince/s and Princess/es. The Courts are both absolute and hereditary monarchy, passing down the titles from either the chosen son or daughter while the rest of the children are given other positions in their home realms or they are married off for the family's allegiances or for their own personal reasons like love. The former reason is the more common one. The Courts try not to interfere with the humans' personal matters and stick to their duties but there are times they've interfered with the lives of the people. For the people's own good for course or that's their justification. This meddling resulted in the following: ◥ A covert war of sorts among all the independent/budding countries for control or freedom for themselves. ◥ Europe and Asia have greater communication with one another thanks to traveling. Also greater tension as they're battling for dominance and influence in the smaller countries with said smaller countries battling for their own independence. ◥ Their existence is known and respected by most people as they watch over and control the seasons too besides the day and night, meaning they can decide if the country they govern over will have a peaceful time or not. They're worshiped like how most religions are: With priests/priestesses contacting them for help, offerings and prayers given to them and such. ◥ Of courses there is also great resentment and distrust among people against the Courts for their meddling or secretive ways. Some, but not all, Courts' attempts to stop the practice of religions to keep focus on themselves does not help matters. The Courts from each country are supposed to work hand-in-hand to bring progress and peace to their homelands but that is certainly not the case. The Courts from the country want what's best for their lands and usually only look out for themselves unless there is something for them. Instead the Courts, when not watching over their seasons and realms or dipping their hand into a situation they feel like needs their 'help', are always looking for ways to usurp or best the others in ways of politics, magic and other things that won't bring out a full out war since that would leave a large impact on the humans. Focusing specifically on the Chinese Night Courts a bit, as this is where Selene comes from, it is one of the oldest and largest Night Courts to exist also the most powerful despite the other countries' Courts to undermine it for their own gains. The Chinese Night Courts, known as the Eternal Night Courts, focuses heavily on etiquette and intrigue as the Courts are neck deep in many political/social games that can be found around the world. It's where shiny politics and dealings happen at any time and hour, proud and cunning people were always hunting for a higher position or source of power. Everyone who comes from here is careful and considerate and calculating, knowing on wrong step can proven fatal. Most people from the Courts are also adept magic users and should have a focused speciality be it spells or seer-sighting, etc. The situation at the Eternal Night Courts is always tense, since people watch each other carefully for a moment of weakness. The royal family is no exception and certainly not Selene's mother/creator, the Illustrious Moon-Queen who is the one with the final word on the actions of the Night Courts. More information on the Day and Night Courts can be found here and here!

History: Selene was born from stars. This is quite literally how one can describes her birth. Created from the stars and the magic prevalent in the Eternal Night Courts, Selene is the creation of the Illustrious Moon-Queen. Creations like Selene are usually just made to be servants or simple tasks, blessed with some intelligence that allowed them to get through day-to-day activities, but she was to be different. For some reason the Moon-Queen wanted one more daughter despite have the needed twelve she already had.

So Selene was blessed with intelligence to develop her own personality and free-will, with intelligence that allowed her to think and reason on her own. Then in one more act that still puzzles the Eternal Night Courts to this day, the Moon-Queen raised Selene as a Star-Princess which makes the girl the 13th (and the unneeded) one.

Selene's creation and her position in the society quickly became a touchy and sensitive subject for the beings of Night Courts around the world when the event was discovered and message spread. An object that is most of the time made for lowly jobs and given low intelligence to never surpass the creators, Selene was instead given a free will, a life and personality. She then was risen to a position of power and privilege that some would kill for. It didn't help that the Moon-Queen had always been a little bit... eccentric in her personality and did not always make the best choices for the Courts. During the time of Selene's creation, the Moon-Queen had made a slew of unpopular choices and movements that the Courts did not like. (Some of these involved more contact beyond Asia and being friendlier with Courts to make alliances, things the Court beings weren't ready for since it meant they had to depend on others and they were not yet ready to admit they wanted help. Much too proud for that.)

This act was not welcomed since it seemed like the Moon-Queen was having a passing fancy or phase of sorts in a serious situation. There were people that objected to this but there was nothing they could really change since Selene was harmless in her low rank of the royal family and the Illustrious Moon-Queen words made it clear this was not a passing fancy or phase of hers despite those moments. Selene was to be part of the Eternal Night Courts and part of the royal family. The creation was an odd addition to the Eternal Night Courts to say the least.

Despite being publicly known, she was rarely seen by others due to her unpopularity and the suspicion she faced from others. Instead she spent most of her days growing up by herself or with a small circle of trusted people. She spent time studying the fine arts of the arts, languages, maths, cultures, manners and politics. The lessons of magics and politics were lost on her, the former since she had little source of it for some strange reason and the latter because it was clear even then that she was too wide-eyed for some things that were require. When not studying, she would be in the company of her half-siblings should they call for her or by herself wandering from place to place. Public events and functions, like festivals and celebrations, were situations Selene rarely attended or saw because again she wasn't well-liked and the Moon-Queen can only push the comfort of everyone so far.

Beings from the Eternal Evening Courts went out of their way to avoid her, not believing she was a true child of the Moon-Queen, and only gave her the bare amount of respect and reverence that befitted her royal status. It didn't bother her when she was growing up as there was always something preoccupying her time but that changed. The lessons dwindled as she learned everything they could (would) teach her. The entertainment and the few ladies she had with her could only keep her away from paying attention to what was going on for so long. And her family? Her family had their own lives to attend to, to take care of besides some girl. Most of her half-sisters were being married off or engaged, her half-brothers too were getting married and/or deep in the politics or advancements of the Courts.

It was then she started to realize the iciness of the people, the coolness that did not equal politeness towards here. She also noticed the watchful, weary eyes and hushed, quiet whispers that followed her no matter where she went. There was this constant pressure all of the sudden, this expectation for her to falter and fail that she was now aware of and she wished she didn't now. Because it stung her, confused her since what did she do something wrong? What happened that made them dislike her so much?

At first she tried to get used to it, to show her worth to them in hopes they'll perhaps like her and accept her for who she is. She started to venture out more in public, in the Courts, started to interact beyond the little circle of hers. It didn't work out too well since it was clear to everyone that Selene was so sheltered or inept from everything the Eternal Night Courts was about: Sharp politics and brutal honesty veiled through silk words and sweet smiles, powerful magic or uncanny grasp of the great game that was happening around the world. It wasn't clear to Selene herself at first but she started to realize it when she caught people giving each other little smiles when she made observations about this or that or made a comment or question about an on-going conversation. They weren't expecting anything from her, nothing serious or real at least. It only spurred her to try harder, to learn more but it never seemed to be enough for them.

Selene went to her Glorious Mother in private after a long, tiring time of this and asked if there was something that could do to ease the loneliness she felt there or if something could be done about it at all. Leaving the Courts wasn't an option for her but perhaps contact from the other Courts at least? It was during this time that the Illustrious Moon-Queen was seeking a stronger alliance with England's Day (Dawn) and Night (Dusk) Courts as part of her attempts to gain more grounds with the Courts beyond Asia. She saw an chance in her creation's need for contact and took advantage of that because who wouldn't? It would kill two birds with one stone after all. China's Courts would have reasons to interact more with England's and Selene would hopefully gain someone else to chat to.

It was decided by the Wise Ones, advisers of the Illustrious Moon-Queen and the Esteemed Moon-King, that she will have contact with Charles the 3rd Ray-Prince, who came from the Dawn Courts of England. Through letters, gifts, paintings and other things, the two would interact with one another. Selene was at first nervous when her first letter, a greetings and well wishes for their writings in English, and gift was sent to Charles. What if he didn't like her and asked for the correspondence to stop? What if he couldn't understand her limited English since languages was a rather difficult lesson for her when she was younger? How can she be interesting to him? What could they talk about?

But this thing was, for once, something that Selene didn't have to worry about. Somehow the two of them just clicked, earning an understanding of one another in the early messages. Charles was a lonely boy himself, his own parents busy and his brothers pushing him away in favor of their own lives and independence, and was more than happy to find a kindred spirit from a girl from lands so far away. A tentative sweetness bloomed between the two as the messages and gifts and paintings went back and forth between the friends, an actual close friendship -- Something Selene doesn't know very well. It was Charles who give her the nickname 'Selene' during the early days of their correspondence when the two started to become closer, the nickname an early sign of the affection that would bloom between the two. It was Selene who gave him beautiful but simple drawings she made just for his eyes when she was usually so shy to present any of her work.

People, from the Courts to her family, were surprised by the outcome of this. They had expected polite friendliness and not what Charles and Selene had. The relationship Charles and Selene has isn't romantic or love, not yet, but it was getting there as the friendship between the two become closer and closer over the long, long time of their correspondence. It was, for now, a close and earnest friendship between two people who just wanted to be heard.

They found solace in company in their relationship now, something that helped them get through the day. And if Selene's (little) popularity was dwindling due to her. That was okay to her. At least she had her family and her friend at the end of everything. She could trust in that. But during this time, as Selene got dazzling gifts from her friend and pondered what to give to him in return and was charmed by his clever words and phrases from his lands, there was trouble in the Eternal Night Courts and Heavenly Day Courts. The Moon-Queen was losing trust over her people for more things she had decided to do and the Dazzling Sun-Queen and -King were not afraid to take advantage of it and attempt to grab support from the Eternal Night Realms for themselves. The Court beings were growing restless with their Queen, all but saying outloud if she really deserved her spot or not.

The Wise Ones pressured the Moon-Queen to take drastic steps to secure her place again, to gain the trust of her people once more. Take back her word on certain things, remove movements and acts she had done. Get rid of things to keep herself afloat. That meant Selene had to go away. She had to leave the Eternal Night Courts of China for good. As much as it pained her to do so, the Moon-Queen needed to get rid of one of the most visible things that made the Court brings uncomfortable and uncertain of her position of power. They didn't want the girl to be their problem. That naturally meant a marriage to a person from other lands, where Selene had to go off to live with her husband. Debate and questioning raged behind the scenes about this crucial question. The Dawn and Dusk Courts would be a good place to send her to. But who to give her away to?

It couldn't be Charles she could wed too. Even as the 3rd Ray-Prince, he was still an important asset to his own family as at the time they were still debating who should be the next Sun-King. The Wise Ones pointed out Selene wasn't worthy enough for him. She was inferior compared to him. No, it had to be someone close to her worth but slightly higher so they can keep her in her place. Ideas were spoken and suggested, plans were made and finalized, talks were placed and agreed upon. It was decided and Selene was later told of this news. In a sense. They didn't say who it was but instead they left it open to her wishful guessing. She was excited, thinking it was with her dear friend Charles because who else would it be? Her parents told her to stop writing to her friend for a while so she could concentrate her plans to travel there and she agreed. But she first wrote him a quick later, expressing her joy in their impending marriage, and ade it clear she was so happy to finally see him.

England was a place she never set foot on, only heard in her lessons and in those charming letters Charles sent her, but as long as she saw a familiar face or soul she knew it would be okay. He never responded but she brushed it off, albeit with some nervousness, thinking he too was asked to not concentrate on his letters for things too. It was difficult in the weeks before her travels. Plans for the arrangements were so hectic and the new lessons she had to learn, the history and culture of society of both England and their Courts, were hard for her. But she persevered and learned as much as she could, wanting to be a good wife for her dear friend. She was tired most times and, admittedly, lonely since she could not be allowed contact with Charles and the stares and smiles seemed to have increased since the announcement of her leaving for England. But she held on to hope, thinking the very best was to come after all of this.

Then she was called on by the Moon-Queen and -King to see them in their most private chambers. It was for a private talk between the three of them. They wanted to 'clarify' some things to her. They felt like they let her had enough happiness for now.

It was there that things were made crystal clear to her. She was not getting engaged to Charles, she was informed by the Moon-Queen and -King. (Not her mother or father, her rulers. The people she had to obey no matter what because isn't that what the lessons told her? To obey, to follow them no matter what? The Esteemed Moon-King had no issue reminding her of that during that tense conversation.) Instead it would be with one of Charles' cousin, Edward, the 10th Star-Prince of the Dusk Courts that'll she be engaged to. Wouldn't do for a Star-Princess, a being from the Night Courts, and a Ray-Prince, a being from the Day Courts, to get together. And her person of her rank would not be worthy enough for him, they kept pointing out to her in that long conversation.

Charles would also not be there when she came to England. Or for a long time as it seems his parents suddenly decided he should do more things around the Courts and had him move from here to there to 'oversee' things. Her ladies, the closest things she could call her 'friends' before meeting Charles, would only stay with her long enough for her to settle in before they left for the Eternal Night Courts again. They would be replaced with ladies that were approved by the Sun-King and -Queen, people that would keep an eye on her and keep her in her place.

Basically she was being sent to a stranger land with no one she actually knows to greet her there or keep her company. She was to be given a new life there. It could be worse, they would remind her if she let her face fall or her shoulders sag. They told her through cryptic speech and hints that they had no choice, that the people did not like her anymore and wanted her gone. The alternative option was to get rid of her. For good. Before she left for her rooms, the Moon-King gave her a letter, something they had intercepted before it could be sent. It was her final letter to Charles, the one speaking of how happy she was of their impending marriage. It was at that moment Selene finally realized she had been part of a political game. Not as a player but as a pawn.

Her travels, her marriage, her new life in England -- All of that didn't seem so exciting to the woman anymore. It's at this point in her life, as she prepared for the travels, that she's sent to Rapture when a Teleportation Plasmid experiment goes wrong.

Personality: She doesn't fit is how one would describe Selene in terms of a usual Eternal Night Court being. For a Night Court that is best known for its play in the political game, its use of magic without thought and its nature of being conniving and sly; Selene isn't any of that nor will be. She's rather innocent and keeps clear of the great game after her horrid attempts to do so, is always making an effort to be honest and open and is without magic that she is aware of to the point of quiet shame against herself. She is easily flustered or embarrassed by things but tries to keep it to herself out of politeness that has been drilled into her head. Almost bright as the smile she so often wears on her face, Selene tries very hard to be an optimist and cheerful no matter what, always smiling at people or giving a good sense of cheer around her.

Always looking for a good side to people even if there is a good chance that person doesn't have a good side to them, she wants to give people second/third chances if they manage to convince (or trick) her that they are sincere about their attempts. This is a glaring (and admittedly daft) flaw of her person. She's rather gullible, willing to believe someone's word for it if they have enough 'reason' or 'justification' on their side. You think coming from Eternal Night Courts, and what she's experienced, would make her more wary or careful but not much. She thinks of things with a large helping of romanticism, believing in second chances and new starts which explains her good nature in Rapture though it's a new (and very odd) world to her.

She is an intelligent being despite what she may think of herself and what others think of her the first few times they meet and converse with her. She's an artist, creative in the arts mostly in painting and music and can be witty from time to time. If she puts her mind into it, she can understand and learn things quick as she can. Despite the shyness ingrained in her, she has an inquisitive and curious streak when her interests are tickled. Which isn't much but she at least puts effort into it. She's also very friendly to people no matter what, forever making an effort to be polite to people and be respectful to those who she thinks are better than in her in anyway. Or if they say they are better than her because she'll believe them on word or looks alone. 'Naive' and 'simple' are words that can describe her despite her background and history, somehow retaining a wide-eyed look to everything. She all but clings to the notion of good and chivalry and good things happening to good souls.

Selene is eager to please others, anyone to be blunt if she takes a shine to them and does not want to be a disappointment or shame to them and is very loyal to them like how she is loyal to her family despite the things that occurred. She desperately wants to avoid conflict if possible and believes there can be peace between others given time and enough understanding. She tries not to be a bother and feels uncomfortable if there is a hint that she is one as she tries to make herself very sensitive and aware of others' feelings when with them. This doesn't always work but it's the effort that counts. She is very peaceful but not just because she's a pacifist and thinks everything can be mended out by people but also because she knows she doesn't have the skill set compared to many others to be able to take someone on in confrontations. She's easily intimidated as a result by things or people that have a potential of harming her, cowering visibly but trying to put up a brave face still if she must.

But she isn't always all sparkles and twinkles and she can't always be chipper and sweetness. Her life in the Eternal Night Courts has all but drummed it into her head that she was unworthy, lower than most people there and unfit for many things. Be it her position as a Star-Princess, the very idea of a marriage to Charles, etc. There are times she seems tired or confused or sad if the days or events have taken their toll on her. In rare times there will also be a sense of frustration of her, aimed at herself for things that are out of her control or should be in her control but aren't because of what she is. She doesn't have a good opinion of herself thanks to how most people were distant to her as she grew up and what had happened to her before her arrival in Rapture. Self-confidence issues are bountiful in this girl and if she feels like she's done something wrong then she'll become nervous and fearful, afraid that she messed up horribly for people. She is apologetic if she messes up, hurrying to fix it somehow in someway to appease the other.

She's slow to anger, having learned how to bottle her negative feelings for a long time thanks to her life, but when she does get mad -- It's not what some people may expect. Instead of raging, storming in righteous or fearful fury, Selene is contained and composed, icy and regal. She is still as a statue in her anger. She is cold and silent, embodying the emptiness of the night when the stars are not there. She says no words but only looks on, even then trying to keep whatever she has to herself.

This is perhaps the biggest tragedy and part of Selene. The very core of her? Maybe as it is hidden deep within her. She's always trying to restrain her real feelings, her real thoughts to herself. Keep her mouth shut unless someone asks and even then she gives a polite, demure version of what she really wants to say, carefully picked words in order to not offend or insult. Instead she presents the smiling, always-happy version of herself because it is a true side of herself but not all of her. She was hurt a lot of times by others, her emotions stepped on people or set aside or told they weren't the issue or bigger part of the situation. She's been through that so many times she's expected it as her fate, setting them aside and, instead, tries to be the bright star people must think she should be.

Added: Important changes to her personality due to her time here in the game can be found here: NOTES, CHANGES & OTHER THINGS.

Abilities: Usually, a Star-Prince/Princess will have blessings and powers affiliated with the zodiac animals it was born under. For example Selene's first half-sister, Wāng Xíu, is affiliated with the Rat and thus has the blessings of leadership and confidence. She also has the abilities to persuade people to her side if they listen to her voice when she makes a convincing and logical argument so she can win people to her side and to see five minutes into the future so she can plan ahead. Her first half-brother has similar skills being under the Rat too but are slightly different to acknowledge the difference between the two royal children.

But Selene does not have that as she's the 13th Princess born and there is no 13th animal. (Her mother and the Esteemed Moon-King actually debated allowing the Mouse to join the animals to rectify this but the Wise Ones shot down the idea. Pointing out that it would cause disorder.) She also has an alarmingly small amount of magic on her for a being created from magic itself and does not wield enough of it to be a magic caster of any sort.

To make it up for this problem, the Moon-Queen gave Selene not two but four magical abilities which are the following:

Illumination | Who is cloaked with the stars: She can, as the ability states, be able to illuminate herself if she lets the glamour fall and shows what made up her being. She make the shine bright or dim as she wants but this is about it. Not a very useful power in battle but she can combine it with Stellar Manipulation by taking out some matter of stars from her and making the stars shine brightly as she can muster to stun or blind people long enough to flee.

Stellar Manipulation | Where the realms show respect: She can control and manipulate stars. It would be an awfully useless power since she's under the sea, so far away from the stars, but there is the fact she's created from the material itself. There is also the fact Selene doesn't do it often since the stars are a part of her and it hurts when she rips a part of herself off. The stars are replaced with more stars but doesn't really soothe the pain. When she uses this skill, it's for easy things like create a small bright burst to stun people when combined with Illumination. Or to throw up a barrier between herself and others to have enough time to escape. In theory she can make blasts but requires larger amount of stars and the pain would be unbearable to her.

Lunar Affinity | When the Moon-Queen shows love: She can be become stronger by absorbing the lunar energy of the moon. In terms of strength, not magic, at least so she has more energy to fight off someone or get away faster. This only is possible on every full moon and if she is in closest proximity of it. So being in Rapture, in the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean, just causes this power to be very weak and only gives her a sliver of the power she should be getting. Not a very useful ability but a thoughtful one at the time.

Stars' Song | Why her voice is so divine: Selene isn't titled The One with the Voice of Songs for nothing. When Selene sings and there is someone/thing nearby that hears her, they become peaceful towards here. It's not like what her eldest half-sister has. She cannot control whoever is listening to her sing to her will but instead makes them cordial to her. That's it. There are also many limitations to this. Of course this can only work if she is singing, talking or anything else will not make this work. Those with strong will or strong magic can resist Selene's voice and can be immune along with those who cannot hear her sing for various reasons. (Be it them being deaf or unable to distinguish her singing one way or another.) This will most likely be her most used ability however as it can come in handy in a place like Rapture.

(For the sake of other players' comfort, I will also put up a permissions post if this ability if and/or can it be used on them should Selene ever find a reason or justification for doing so against their character.)

How did your character arrive in Rapture? An experiment with the Teleportation Plasmid gone wrong.

Why are you choosing to continue your character's development here from another RP? N/A.

Network sample: [ V O I C E: ]

{ Selene sounds so upbeat and cheerful as she uses this hotline. What a wonderful device this was, the hotline.It had been such a struggle to use the first time she encountered it but Selene got the basic concept and use of it. She'll be taking advantage of her new knowledge as she chatters away in her stitched together English. }

Hello! Greetings to all! A question:

I was wondering if explanation can be said! Man comes to me and said I can be made a star. I asked how he does that and says people can do it all the time! Simply can. { Can you just hear the excitement coming from the hopeful girl? The anticipation and hope? } He is not from lands I know. Very certain of this. Does this mean here there is similar magic after all?

It would be very.. nice. If people similar from my lands are here. { There's something coloring the hope and excitement. Nostalgia and... sadness? Probably one's imagination because she all but chirps out her next word: } Yes. Would be very nice if so. Is it true or not, fellow others?

{ She hopes it is true. }

Log Sample: This was not home. Selene knew that the moment the bright (almost painful) light wretched her from her rooms and dropped her down to here. For the people of Rapture this was an almost normal situation now, to see a strange person in strange clothing wander the streets in awe or curiosity or weariness.

For Selene, despite her time here already, she still looks at the buildings and neon-lights with shock and awe as she walks down the busy floor of Fort Frolic. She has been exploring for hours and wasn't planning to stop anytime soon. It was so different from her lands, where lights came from their Courts or maybe candles and fires. Not from big words that said Pharaoh's Fortune Casino or Eve's Garden. All the details that surrounded her just begged to be noticed, to be looked at and Selene just had to stare with an almost childlike joy. Everything was... beautiful in its own way. All of the effort that must have been made into this, one could see it if they looked hard enough at this or that. This was not home.

Then she walks right in to someone who was hurrying to somewhere as she gawks at a nearby store that sold something. She nearly fell from the impact and she all but had to flail her arms to gain her composer again but at least she clamped down on the gasp that almost escaped. Oh, she didn't want to make a scene here of all places.

Regaining her footing, she quickly looked down to avoid the person's possibly annoyed gaze and said, "Sorry."

She couldn't help but wince she heard herself speak in English. Soft but unmistakably accented. It marked her from not here, not from this Rapture place. Her cheeks burned in shame but she looked up still and tried to smile, something bright and cheerful, to show she meant no harm in her careless misconduct.

This was not home. This was a fact she has long accepted the moment she set foot here and looked around the underwater lands. But now the question was this: Was it a good thing or a bad thing?