[centre][img=https://static.f-list.net/images/charimage/1353891.jpg][/centre] [b]Erica Faust[/b] -[b][i]Paranormal Detective.[/i][/b] ---- [b]Background.[/b] All people have passions, interests, and hobbies; though only a few are as intense as Erica is. From an early age Erica obsessed with books and reading. Her room filled with bookcases instead of brightly painted murals that most would expect. Toys didn't litter the floor of her room, it was unread novels. Some of her earliest memories revolved around books, one she can particularly recall being her proud moment of reading to her parents instead of them reading to her. When she entered grade school it was no surprise to her parents that she excelled at reading. Nearly all her talk about school to her parents when she came home quickly changed to what she read that day. At first her parents were ecstatic about this, as literacy lays a great foundation for education. The effects from reading showed in how she was much more articulate for her age and showed critical thinking too. It really appeared that Erica was making her way to be a great student.That was, until something started to emerge. The titles she read and the interests she held became increasingly dark for a child her age. Stories about murders, crimes, demons, and lovecraftian horror all being favourites of hers to read. Paying it no mind, her parents only focused towards the positive. Ignoring all other effects from her love of reading that formed well until she was older. Being so enthralled with reading, and loving such a dark subject, it quickly made her appear eccentric and unapproachable. In high school where most are pushed in to groups or identities, her solitude easily earned her the reputation of an outcast. Making her an open target for bullying and shunning. Even if she appeared to let these things not get to her on the surface, the small number of friends she had showed how it did. Another example of how an intense focus hurt her was how specific her knowledge became. At best she could call her grades in mathematics and science were average in comparison to her other subjects. When it was time for most students to choose their career path, she had no idea what to do with herself and her esoteric, creepy knowledge. Her guidance councillors suggestion to become a detective appeared to be the only good suggestion she had. It used her critical thinking skills rather well, and with her interest in the dark and strange it seemed to be a perfect fit. It wasn't easy for her at first. Like many going from high school to post secondary education, she had a lot of adjusting and maturing to do. The first issue for her was the mandatory police training wasn't something she easily took to. A meek little bookworm like her wasn't built for things such as the martial arts they taught and the physical requirements needed. Each failure and no driving motive caused a cycle of self doubt appeared to appear and several times she nearly quit. Every time she did, her instructors pleaded for her to stay and Erica reluctantly listened to them. With her final plea, she was given the motivation she was needed. A near bribe was given to her in the form of a promise. If she stayed, and continued to try, she could train further in a respective field of interest; say in the study of bones for instance. For most it wouldn't be enough of a bribe to work, but Erica took it in full when her interests were played in to so well. Years passed and she was finally an adult and a full fledged detected. Ready to prove her worth and knowledge, she was placed in a Brooklyn branch of the NYPD who were in the midst of a peculiar and rather tough case to solve. Recently women in the surrounding area were found passed out in local parks and alleys. Their wallets and belongings intact, but their memories of the events leading up to where they were missing. Stranger yet, many also reported symptoms of anaemia. Such mysterious on goings excited Erica as it seemed to be something purely out of fiction. She desperately wanted to be part of the case, thinking that her knowledge about the occult was invaluable to the team. Those hopes were quickly dashed as she was delegated to the more menial tasks due to her inexperience. It didn't quite hinder her as she used the basic information she gathered from witness testimony and doctor's notes to form a theory of the culprit and their motivation. For a while she was stumped just as many of her co-workers, it wasn't until she found a clue with in the medical notes that she had a theory to work on. Each victim she noticed an odd similarity, each one of them showed what appeared to be bite marks from an animal with sharp fangs. It was a leap in logic, but for the girl who loved monsters and the strange, a vampire appeared to be the only likely suspect that fit made sense. Many of her peers thought she was a fool for thinking of something so bizarre, attributing her idea to the stress and pressure of being on the case for the first time. She was adamant though, each new victim found only cementing her case in her mind. The bites on the neck with each victim, the loss of blood and memory, and the time of the attack all pointing back to her hypothesis. The more she tried to garner support, the more she was ostracised in the force. Growing tired of her voice not being heard, she took matters in to her own hands. Offering herself to be the victim to the vampire this time in an attempt to catch them, or if need be get rid of them. Armed with the knowledge of vampires she learned in her childhood, and to the tooth with silver and stakes, she set out one night. As she walked in the dark secluded park, she attracted the attention she wanted when she felt a hand on her shoulder along with glowing red eyes coming in to her vision that belonged to the culprit . She doesn't remember much of the ensuing fight except for several things like the ensuing panic of being outclassed, feeling more like mouse being chased by a lion; A pair of soft feminine pair of lips, teasingly saying "You'll be like me now"; and a sharp blow to her side, the force of it enough to knock her unconscious. The next day she was discovered unconscious in the secluded parts of the park atop a pile of ashes, and was immediately rushed to the closest emergency room. The fight with the vampire left her as a tattered mess, bruises and light cuts covering her arms, face, and legs. If those weren't punishment alone for being stubborn and reckless, she also had a slipped disk. It made it hard to walk with out any support, physiotherapy and surgery only going so far to grant her a fraction of the mobility she once had. It wasn't enough for a job that asked her to be active frequently, leaving her with little other choice but to honourably retire from the force. These days she does what she loves, the police pension and retirement package just enough grant her that wish. She can be found in her apartment living a nearly hermit like life style, surrounded by books in her own version of peaceful bliss. Though, some things will still draw her out; say the spreading rumours of strange ongoing in the city. [b]Personality.[/b] [i]"Oh? Did I become carried away again?"[/i] Its a common idiom to say "Don't judge a book by it's cover.", and with Erica's looks its hard not to. With glasses, a petite size, and a book not too far away at most times, its hard for most think she will soft spoken and timid. Most of these are true about her in fact. She never quite got socializing down pat after her interests that she considered normal pushed most away from her. She didn't quite mind that, sometimes the worlds she was transported to with books could be a bit preferable to interacting with people and finding out how cruel they could be. That particular life lesson learned time and time again as a child. As an adult, it left a mark in the way she speaks to people. Withdrawn and quiet to most, she selects her words to soft as possible when speaking to new people from a slight worry over how they will precive her. However, this is sometimes broken if there is somebody she takes interest in or they share her own passions. For them she tries to swallow this fear and to become more open. A few stuttered words and a fluttering heart in her chest being the only effect as she tries her absolute hardest. Another mark left from her childhood is how sensitive she can be to criticism or anger. Some times Its easy for her to quickly become critical and herself instead of addressing it properly. Its something she knows she must overcome on her own, and she is trying to work on it. The support and kindness the few friends she has makes genuinely appreciate them. Her positives brought out and bolstered when she is with them. Her bright and shining passion and curiosity for the world around her shown when them in conversation and actions. Her kindness, sympathy, and generosity showed only for them; even her affectionate side too. Its a mistake to judge her to be a push over based on her behaviour though, she can be firm and courageous when its needed of her or its expected of her. She's also one to stand up for her own beliefs if they're questioned. Perhaps a little too much, as she can border on being stubborn. Another surprising element is how fearless she can be in the eyes of some. All of those books she read about murderers, the paranormal, strange and her own work merely desensitizing her to violence and gore. It no small wonder that horror movies can be some of her favourite movies to watch. --- [b]More Information.[/b] [b]Cane:[/b] On first inspection it appears to be nothing more than a simple cane used for support and to grant her more mobility. Some also may simply write her off as feeble and weak thanks to it as well. This can prove to be a mistake as when she's in a pinch or confronted. As she can and will use her cane to disarm a person or to strike a blow. It is made from titanium, a light weight yet strong material in tensile strength. In simple terms, its light and it hits damn hard. [b]Books and book strap:[/b] A true bibliophile hardly lets being on the go hinder their reading time. A book strap is the perfect aid for her to always bring a few books with her. It has other purposes too, such as a handy makeshift weapon when all else fails. A few heavy novels swung around with force thanks to the strap never fails to pack a punch [b]Vampire killing kit:[/b] What would paranormal lover be with out at least one oddity? This one is an old relic from the 1800's, when belief in vampires was rampant in eastern Europe. Its an old wooden box with a painted cross on the top, the edges worn smooth from being handled and the simple joints that make it showing some signs of failure. Inside its lined with leather, custom cut outs created to hold each item in place.