I imagine the lair to be very girly and frilly, candy machines from wall to wall, with one large circular dome in the middle to show mission progress and information. All the chairs are a either a blinding white or blush pink, and would also be small enough to accommodate teenage girls. There would be a magical wardrobe to dress up in the latest cute teen trends, a hot chocolate machine, and a karaoke machine. Plushies and adorable cushions are everywhere, the walls painted white with multicolored polka dots to show the team's unity. There is also a pinboard with old pictures of the girls with the word "Friends!" in super shiny glitter letters.
Y'know, all cutesy, girly, teen girl stuff. Adorable yet out of place for women in their thirties.
Name: Lakshmi Opal Datta Aliases: Formerly Lakshmi Bhatt when she was married. Was affectionately called Opal by her father before his passing. Age: 27 Nationality: British Ethnicity: Indian Current Residence: Currently settled in a quaint apartment in the London Borough of Newham, England. Gender: Female Education: Graduated with a Bachelor's in Nursing from the Victoria University of Manchester. Job: Started as an aspiring nurse, formerly a bored housewife, now a slightly less bored nurse for a small doctor's office. Role: Nurse / Risk-Taker i.e. that one person who will do all that crazy jumping around kickin down bad guyz
Appearance
Height: 165 cm Weight: 49.9 kilo Build: Pint-sized, toned Eyes: Hazel Hair: Black Skin Tone: Dark Olive Tattoos/Scars/Piercings: Has various Henna markings on her left hand, upper right arm, and both feet. There's an oddly shaped burn scar on her left shoulder blade. Personal Style: Preferring the finer things in life, Lakshmi is very used to gorgeous and rather expensive clothing. She usually calls them 'simple' garbs, but even those who know nothing of fashion know that anything she wears is probably worth more than anything they have in their houses. Simplicity is usually her aim, preferring using her curves to bring out the beauty in the garments.
She likes to look elegant at all times, her waist-length raven hair usually in a low, loose ponytail tied by a girlish white ribbon. Her round, upturned hazel eyes are likely her most striking feature, closely followed by her plump lips usually sporting a shade of red lipstick. Her 'adventuring' outfit consists of a short sleeved beige romper with a white collar, accompanied by a pair of brown mid-length boots. She'll usually try to wear more form fitting clothing on the trek, as the last thing she wants is to get caught on something.
Psychology
Sharp-tongued ♢ Polite ♢ Fearless ♢ Thrill-seeker
Sexuality: Heterosexual Relationship Status: Widowed Personality: Lakshmi tends to give the impression of a graceful, exotic, submissive woman. Indeed, as soon as she opens her mouth, people are confronted with that image changing for better or for worse. While she always remembers to remain perfectly polite, sarcasm is her first language with English and Hindi a close second. She tries her damnest to prove herself, often getting irritated whenever her skills are in doubt (not that she can entirely blame them; her short stature leaves much to be desired). Ever the optimist, she looks for the silver lining even in the worst of situations. She knows to keep an open mind, although has a bad habit of 'act first, think second'. But hey, better to take a priceless vase and smash it over an intruder's head rather than freeze and yell for a man to save her, right?
She loves danger and the rush that accompanies it, an adrenaline junkie at her core. Whether it's climbing a mountain or scaling a building, if she thinks she can, she will. Despite her devil-may-care attitude, she tends to get offended when her abilities are in doubt. Her head is always thinking of what's happening in front of her, the future forever a mystery. She gets anxious if she thinks too hard on what she doesn't know and is determined to expand her horizons as a result.
Habits:
Has a tendency to keep one hand behind her back. Said hand is usually playing with the ends of her hair. Bites her index finger when she's nervous about something or trying to think. Either can't or won't remember people's names, instead using pet names for everyone. She'll learn their actual names eventually.
Hobbies:
Rock climbing, the view of a conquered mountain makes it all worth it. śastra-vidyā, specifically Platha--the art of unarmed combat, having learned it from her father. Studying several languages. Is fluent in English and Hindi, dabbles in Spanish, Italian, and French (strictly entry level though the three being similar has helped).
Fears:
Getting buried alive does not seem like fun.
Ironically dying of catching some disease despite her profession.
Leaving the world with no one to remember her is probably the reason she takes so many risks in the first place. If she dies, she'll go out with a bang.
Likes:
Seeing the world
Adrenaline rushes
Stargazing
Dislikes:
Doing nothing and getting bored
People who don't take her seriously
People who don't believe in her skills
History
A Memory:
Whether it was the sound of glass hitting the floor, a woman's scream, or the multiple shouts, Lakshmi was awake.
Sitting up, the young lady swung her legs off the bed, trying to listen carefully. Something was happening in the manor, her heart racing as she would stand. Carefully approaching the door, she could hear multiple footsteps outside. Realizing they would likely come bursting through at any second, she immediately turned around, ducking underneath the bed as she heard the doorknob turn. Carefully shifting herself quietly to get a better look, she watched as three pairs of boots stomped into the room.
She didn't quite recognize the dialect they spoke, but their intentions were clear when she caught her name in between some words she recognized. Slowly, the three split from one another. Great, it would be a manner of minutes before she would get discovered. The room was large enough, sure, but there were only so many places to hide. Biting her finger, she tried to think of what she could do, though her heart raced as one of the men approached the bed. The other two were turned away--if she chose to, she could probably take the closest one down. But what about the other two? Sure, she had practice fighting, but it was very different from using it against people who actually wanted to bring her harm.
The sound of a gun rang through the walls, and Lakshmi decided it was now or never. Inhaling quietly, she used her elbows to drag herself closer to the edge of the bed, her mind made up. As soon as she saw the man begin to bend, she shoved his foot away. As he toppled over she scrambled to get out from under the bed, managing to get to her feet as the other two noticed what was going on.
Without waiting to see if the one she knocked over would get up, she raised her leg, stomping down on his groin. He let out a howl of pain as the other two attempted to converge, and at this point, Lakshmi sprung into action. Sweeping her leg down behind the second man's knee, he toppled over once her knee came back up and connected to his jaw. Turning to the third, she noticed his hesitation, and took full advantage. Rushing forward, she spun around, a high kick to his shoulder. As he staggered she drew her open palm back and thrust it forward and up, connecting with his chin. She could hear something crack as took a step back, watching the last man fall to the ground.
Her knees were now shaking, but she managed to keep herself up. She did it. She took them down! By herself! Never in her life had she felt so alive, so much so that despite the situation, she actually found herself grinning. Biting her lip, it dawned on her that there were probably more in the rest of the manor. The thought alone revitalized her, and without a moment's hesitation, Lakshmi would run out of the room, eager to see exactly what she was capable of.
History:
Since she was a child, Lakshmi was told that women should be seen and not heard. Since she was a child, she determined that phrase was bullshit.
Her parents were convinced a demon had possessed their child, as in her youth Lakshmi was rebellious, loud, and had an unfounded vendetta against being told what to do. Her mother was a self-proclaimed free spirit who liked to do as she pleased, her father a martial artist who enjoyed play fighting more than scolding his daughter, so realistically her destructive nature was due to a lack of discipline. Age and maturity would eventually mellow her out, reducing her to a quieter teen, though she never did give up her quips and remarks.
She doesn't remember much of the place she was born, though she was aware her paternal grandfather had a hand in traditional medicine, specifically those called Siddha. Her family's money had come from their practice, but the family was uprooted when her grandfather squandered it all on an affair with a younger woman who plucked every cent she could take. The scandal was considered huge in their community, with Lakshmi's parents deciding to start over in another country entirely, choosing Great Britain as her father had an uncle who could help them until they got on their feet. Lakshmi's mother loathed their living conditions but put no effort into working. Luckily for her, her husband was more than willing to work for his family, however modest, and became a factory worker.
When she did hit the age of eighteen, she wasn't surprised her mother would marry her off to some rich man in order for her family to regain the wealth she had wanted. Lakshmi's husband's willingness to marry her came from lust, mostly, though he was less than pleased at her rather outspoken and sarcastic nature compared to the more submissive women of her culture. Most men would likely beat their wives' smart mouths, but this man was shocked when she would beat him back--having learned much from her father.
Their marriage was cut short when his parents' manor was robbed one weekend, with her husband's life taken in the scuffle. She found herself unable to mourn, but life went on. Her father eventually passed away after suffering an accident in the factory he worked in. As a result, Lakshmi decided to study medicine in an effort to live up to his wishes for her. Additionally, her mother hoped she could find another husband in college and was shocked when she ended up graduating with no intention of getting married to anyone. After a falling out between the two, Lakshmi took whatever she could get her hands on and moved out on her own. She found a job shortly after, and used that job for her little adventures: traveling, discovering the thrill of climbing up mountains and cliff-diving, all that good stuff. But it never seemed to be enough, she wanted something grand, something better.
And then that letter came.
It was a surprise; Lakshmi had long since lost contact with her family, more concerned with satiating her boredom by throwing herself into her work. There was also the matter of being unaware of the Baron, almost believing it to be a scam. It was only after the courier's insistence that she realized what it entailed. She had hesitated for all of a minute before throwing several belongings into a bag, withdrawing funds from the bank, and hopping on the first train she could get to.
As their friends chatted happily away, Kalder and Noel walked side by side in silence. The gears in Kalder's head were already at work, his intentions murky, though he could tell Noel was tense. They kept eyeing one another, almost daring the other to speak, but both refused to go first. Kalder didn't mind; if he was going to expose him, he needed to be more focused. Well, 'when', not 'if'. Demi's little rant had further proven that something was between them, but admittedly that thought alone made his blood boil, so he tried hard not to think too hard on it. Kalder was too aware of Noel and his conquests; he had bragged too many times about the girls he charmed and the ways he would ravage them. Kalder didn't care much, but now his head would mess with him as the image of Noel with his hands on Demi would continuously bring itself to the forefront of his thoughts.
But on the outside, he was as cool as ice. Or rather, he was acting relatively normal. As they approached the inconspicuous wall, Benjamin would pull out his wand. Tapping the bricks in a certain order, Kalder was reminded of Diagon Alley, though he was sure there were several different ways to get in. The bricks shifted, shimmying away to open a path to the room. The five entered, the wall closing behind him, and Kalder was surprised at how large the place was. It was somewhat dark, decorated with festive ornaments and a slight fog at their feet. He couldn't help but eye the many doors scattered on the opposing wall, already knowing their use.
People were just starting to arrive, but Benjamin already had his eye on a girl wearing cat ears. "Target Acquired!" Benjamin announced, grinning devilishly as he pulled his hood over his head. "Fiona Wildegrass, here I come...!"
Blake rolled her eyes, instead turning to the table near them. "They managed to sneak whiskey in, I'm impressed," She admitted, taking one cup for her and offering the other to Kalder.
He would take the cup, but not drink from it just yet. He noticed Noel was looking around, though he wouldn't comment on it yet. Coco began to chat Blake up, and Kalder decided to take advantage. Taking a swig from his cup, he could feel it burning as it went down his throat. Firewhiskey--Ogden's Old if he recalled correctly.
Emptying his cup, he nudged Noel playfully. "Letting loose?" Noel asked him.
"Mhm. I think it's about time I did," He admitted, bidding his group farewell and walking into the quickly forming crowd. He spotted the girl he was looking for, and after taking in a deep breath, forced a smile.
The dark haired Deva was definitely stretching the code, her outfit outright being lingerie with a set of bunny ears--and a tail as she would turn and reveal as such. Clearing his throat to catch her attention, he saw her eyes light up. She wasn't quite drunk yet, but she was getting started already, her smile revealing as much. "Wow, I didn't think you'd show up," She admitted.
Taking a page out of Playboy Jameson's book, he let his eyes wander for a moment, giving off the impression that he liked what he saw. "I'm looking for some fun tonight," He replied. "Think you can help?"
Aquarius had departed, and Aurelia had spent the rest of the flight alone. If her interaction with the girl proved one thing, it was that she still had a long way to go to become more sociable. Still, she figured she could just focus on her teammates; she didn't have to interact with every person that crossed her path, right? Then again, it felt more like an excuse, and as she watched the people around her interact with one another, she isolated herself out of habit. The rest of the day was uneventful, so to speak. Ozpin's speech did strike a chord with her; she did want to improve. She did want to stick to her convictions. But to do that, she would have to take that first step, something that seemed so simple and yet she kept hesitating.
For now, she would resign those worries to tomorrow, laying down her sleeping bag at the edge of the hall. Admittedly, she was slightly put off at the idea of sleeping with so many people around. Even the bathrooms had thrown her off! Her upbringing was quickly becoming a disadvantage, a discomfort being surrounded by so many in situations where she was used to her privacy. She certainly never imagined having to be seen in her nightgown--a simple, sleeveless silk hanging off her though only reaching her mid-thigh--and she was admittedly self conscious as she did her best to not show more than she needed to. Had she known, she likely would have brought pajamas like some of the other girls.
Letting out a shiver, Aurelia sat with her back to the wall, legs flat on the ground. She had decided to do a little reading, having brought her Properties of Dust as a refresher. If tomorrow was initiation, she needed to get her head in the right place. No need to worry about other people there--she'd be in her home turf on the battlefield for sure.
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