Post by Meerkat on Jan 13, 2010 12:51:48 GMT -5
Name: Miriam Katharine Webster "Meerkat"
Age: 36 (includes 10 years in cryo)
Secret Word: Sent
Gender: Female
Sexuality: Hetero
Race: Human
Occupation: Neuropsychologist/sociologist
Human Physical Description:
Standing at 5'5", Miriam carries herself well. She stands tall with shoulders back. This wasn't training, just the results of a positive self image. Her dark brown hair, which is nearly black and sports a healthy sheen, hangs in loose waves just past her shoulders. She changes the style of her hair often depending on what activity she is engaged in. Her skin is on the pale side of the Caucasian spectrum, but is healthy. Her hands are small, with thin, nimble fingers. Of average weight for her height, Miriam is neither exceptionally toned, nor is she carrying around much extra weight. Average would be a good word to use. Blue eyes are large on her face over a button-like nose and under quizzical eyebrows. The result is a face that always seems to be locked in an interested gaze with whatever she happens to be engaged with at the moment.
Her clothing is a clear indication of her philosophy on life. She's heard the term hippie before and enjoys the connotation behind it. She doesn't try to hide the association. Often found wearing simple flip flop style sandles, Miriam enjoys neutral toned clothing. She has, however, had to somewhat abandon her loose flowing skirts on Pandora, where she has found that cargo style pants are much more useful and efficient. She accents her greens, browns and whites with bright jewelry that often incorporates natural elements such as stones, feathers, etc.
Her voice always seems to carry a questioning tone and never seems to lack a genuine interest, no matter the topic. Her laughter is bubbly and frequent and is accompanied by a wide smile. She doesn't wear much make up, but she does favor a foundation that helps to hydrate and nourish her skin. Occasionally she will dawn a particular eyeshadow of a bright color she finds appealing, but such adornments are subject more to whims than routine.
Avatar Physical Description:
Miriam's avatar stands at a decent 9'4" tall. The skin is a light cyan, smooth over her long limbs. The large yellow eyes hold barely detectable flecks of blue near the pupils. The nose is like that of the Na'vi, but still holds the button-like essence of Miriam's own nose. The lips are wider and slightly thicker in proportion to her own. The ears are slightly smaller than the average for a Na'vi, but maintain the feline pointed look. The bio luminescent dots that speckle her flesh are few, but seem to follow subtle spirals from forehead and cheeks, down her neck and shoulders, to arms, torso and legs. She has even fewer dark stripe patterns. They are only visible along her neck, shoulders, and upper back, and are only slightly darker than her light blue skin.
The tall, thin frame shows much more muscle tone than Miriam's body, making it lithe and strong. The black hair, apart from the long braid, is quite similar to her own. It hangs to her shoulders in loose, thick waves.
Miriam quite enjoys the look of her avatar form and is eager to try it out. The height is exciting to her. But the part that interests her the most is of course the braid and the bundle of neurons it hides. As a neuropsychologist, this is the feature she has come to Pandora to study.
Her clothing is not much different in avatar form from her usual. She prefers light, cami tops, light weight pants, and sandals.
Personality:
Curious to a fault, Miriam was raised to believe that there are no stupid questions. And so she asks questions, and asks them often. Her parents nurtured her inherent thirst for knowledge, encouraging her to pursue nearly any topic she found an interest in. This has led to an eclectic range of interests, from history, music, art, architecture, science, and the human beings around her. This last would win out in the end. As she aged, the field of psychology drew her in. She believes that sentient beings are the subject most worth study because they are the most complex and because the field is not likely to die away any time soon.
Her curiosity and upbringing, while allowing for a bright and intelligent woman to develop, did however also allow for that same woman to often seem flighty and scatter brained. To an unknowing eye, Miriam might seem disorganized and absentminded, even somewhat ADD, as her attention shifts often. But though she seems to be totally unorganized, Miriam works well in her "organized chaos".
She is a free spirit, through and through. A true hippie, Miriam holds an optimistic view on life. She will not falter in her belief that all beings have the capacity to love and that a pursuit of love in all it's forms is a noble act. She isn't ashamed of her optimism, nor is she ignorant of how idyllic it is. But she refuses to believe that the appearance of impossibility is a good enough excuse not to try. If anything, she sees it as a challenge.
Among others, Miriam is friendly and tries to accept anyone that she can. Even if others hold contrasting views than her own, she does her best to maintain an amicable heart for all. This stems from a distaste for conflict, an issue that Miriam has had to deal with her entire life. She shies away from conflict as best as she can, making her appear to be timid and easy to walk over. In many ways she might be. But everyone has a line they wont cross. Miriam has yet to know exactly where her own line is drawn, but it's there somewhere.
But everyone has a slightly darker side, and Miriam is no exception. In general, her optimism keeps hers at bay, but on occasion it seeps through. A painful memory in her recent past has left a stain on the woman's soul, opening her up to the occasional bout of sadness. She does her best to keep it from others, seeing it as something no one else need bother with. But the wound is there and she isn't sure how to heal it.
Talents:
Language: Miriam is fluent in English, Spanish, French, and Na'vi. She also has an interest in just about any language. She might be found pestering others to learn new words.
Curiosity: While this might sometimes get the better of her, Miriam's curiosity drives her to study, research, test, and hypothesize. Stemming from a genuine interest in the world around her, Miriam is intent on learning whatever she can.
The Arts: Miriam has a fairly steady hand when painting. She's no master, but she enjoys the act of painting and sketching. She has a lovely singing voice, and also plays the piano and the guitar.
Empathy: Miriam's interest in the world around her is strongest on the subjects of humans and the Na'vi. In particular, she is interested in how her fellow sentient beings relate. She has a genuine care for others and is quick to offer a helping hand.
History:
Miriam was born to parents Arnold and Renee Webster. Both had come from wealthy families and both were professors at Berkley University in California. Renee taught art history classes while Arnold was a professor of Spanish and French. Both loved language, to an extent that their own daughter's name was something of a joke. She was named for the famous Merriam-Webster dictionary.
Her infancy was a happy one. The Websters were an older couple, and Miriam was their only child. She never wanted for attention. As a toddler, she was bright and happy. Eager to explore, she was allowed to, stopped only when her actions were deemed dangerous. Her first word was mama, and her second was nariz, the spanish word for nose.
From that time on, Miriam was raised speaking both English and Spanish, as her father taught and spoke both in the home. Though Renee did not speak Spanish, she did understand it, and encouraged her daughter to follow her father's example.
Miriam grew steadily, and entered the university preschool at age 3. Here she excelled at her fine motor movements, learning to write her own name by age 4, however sloppy. By five she was reading simple children's books and entered kindergarten eager to learn. This would prove the pattern for the rest of her life. Learning came fairly easy to the young girl, and so she enjoyed it, wanting to learn more. This behavior was highly praised by her parents, adding another reinforcement.
At around 6 years old, Miriam began to hear stories about the people who'd just come back from Pandora. She'd hear these stories through closed doors as her parents discussed them, sometimes with angry voices. But Miriam was too young to understand such things. Too young to understand the outrage that RDA's abuse of the Na'vi people caused.
As she continued to grow through her childhood, Miriam dabbled in many things. She tried soccer, gymnastics, had even spent about two weeks in a karate class. But as she neared her teens, it became obvious that sports were not her strong suit. She simply found them boring. She needed something with more of a mental challenge. So her extracurricular pursuits began to focus more towards the arts. She began to take piano lessons at age 10, and would often paint and draw with her mother. These activities proved more suited to Miriam's tastes and so would be continued through the following years.
Once in middle school, Miriam had to choose a foreign language to begin studying. Already fluent in Spanish, Miriam chose French. This would be a new challenge, and her father would be able to help her when needed. Miriam would learn quickly, continuing on with French classes even though she'd met the required amount.
As she entered high school, Miriam again found herself sampling many different types of classes. The only exception was mathematics. In that subject, she never strayed beyond the required courses, not because of a lack of skill, but more of a lack of interest. The subject that caught her interest most strongly was psychology. The course in her high school was a simple overview one, but Miriam couldn't get enough of it. She joined the school's psychology club and became the vice president her senior year. The club organized trips to visit psych programs at nearby universities and would prove useful when it came time to apply for college.
Miriam had a small, but enthusiastic group of friends throughout her childhood and adolescence. They were all quiet studious, but also energetic about their collective interests. Miriam's best friend was Andrea. They'd known each other from kindergarten. It was a sad day when Miriam had to say goodbye to Andrea, who was moving to the east coast to attend college there. Her parents were moving as well, and so the two would only be able to stay in touch electronically.
Miriam was accepted to Berkley, where her parents worked and began college with enthusiasm. She chose to stay in the dorms, even though her home had always been just off campus. College was a time for independence, a time to learn self reliance, and Miriam was intent on this. And in any case, if she ever needed something, her parents would be right there.
Her first year might be described as hectic as the young woman jumped on nearly every opportunity that presented itself. She'd been overeager when signing up for classes, and consequently had to drop two because of time constraints. But the psychology classes were always in her schedule, as many as possible. Miriam studied development, abnormalities, sociology, positive psychology, anything that was offered. Again, she was a member of the university's psychology club, making friends who shared her passion. As she advanced, she found the field within psychology that would draw her the most: neuropsychology.
The study of the brain itself and all of it's chemical and electrical workings was fascinating. Miriam knew that this would be what she wanted to study. She made it her one focus, above all other things.
This was of course not to say that Miriam had no social life. Apart from the psych club, Miriam had joined a small art club. She was by no means the most skilled in the group, but she enjoyed the company and the simple fun that the group always seemed to have.
It was here that Miriam met Alex. He was tall, with dark black hair that hung past his ears. His green eyes were electric and had drawn her in from the first moment she'd met him. Miriam had had boyfriends before. Short, awkward relationships that never amounted to much. She'd never really been too into the whole concept. But that was before Alex. Around him, she found it difficult to not stare. His skin was dark, and he spoke with an accent. Later Miriam would find out that Alex was originally from France. The two would talk when the club met, sometimes finding themselves suddenly alone, not noticing that the others had all gone while they were still wrapped up in conversation. Soon, they were meeting up for lunch, then dinners. She'd lose track of time around him, exchanging shy smiles, "accidentally" brushing up against him.
Their friendship had turned into a romance so naturally, Miriam hadn't even noticed it at first. Not until one night when she was studying in her dorm junior year and he was there to keep her company. He played his guitar quietly next to her as she sat on her bed under a pile of books. After a while, she'd drifted off to sleep, not waking until he was gently sliding out from under her arm. She smiled at him with drowsy eyes and began to get up to walk him out. But he shook his head. Instead, he lifted her chin and kissed her gently on the lips.
"Sweet dreams Meerkat." He whispered to her. "I love you."
She'd mumbled "I love you" back and fell back asleep. The next morning Miriam woke up slowly. As she remembered what he'd said the night before, she smiled to herself. That night, she invited Alex to dinner with her parents. Needless to say, they approved of Miriam's boyfriend. She couldn't have been happier.
The next year, Miriam and Alex graduated, he with a degree in music and Miriam with two, psychology and sociology. Miriam wasn't done yet, however. She'd been accepted to Berkley's graduate program where she'd continue with her neurological focus. Alex had accepted an offer to teach music at a nearby high school. Two weeks after graduation, he presented Miriam with a ring. She said yes.
The wedding plans were set for the following spring. Miriam, during the planning time, could be seen as a brilliant ray of light, such was her happiness. Those around her couldn't help but get swept up in it. But only two months after the proposal, tragedy would strike.
The continued energy crisis was sweeping the globe and was boiling into something very dangerous. The school where Alex taught was closer to those who suffered most from the energy crisis. Poorer students and their families were becoming more and more angry by the day at how their communities were being forgotten while the rich scrambled to hoard resources for themselves. The tipping point had been reached, and a riot broke out at the end of the first day of school that fall. Alex had been leaving to head home and was swept up into it. A rock had been thrown, without any real aim, and struck him in the back of the head. He fell to the ground, unconscious, and was trampled as the crowd swarmed over him. He wasn't found until later that night when the mob finally disbanded.
Miriam had felt as though her lungs had been taken away when she heard the news. She was suddenly unable to breathe. She didn't sleep that night, or the next. The bright light she had been mere days before was gone. She was a cold mist. Unable to feel, she drifted through her days in a fog. Her family worried for her. She seemed to be in shock. She didn't cry. Even at his funeral, Miriam was like a ghost. Strangely, her school work didn't suffer. If anything, she improved. Miriam poured herself into the only thing that kept her from thinking about him.
After a few months, Miriam's parents finally convinced her to see someone, to talk about how she felt. At first her sessions were a waste of time. She didn't speak, nor did her therapist. But after a couple of weeks, Miriam finally broke down. Session after session, all she did was cry. It was as if she couldn't let herself open up unless she was in that small room, alone except for her therapist. The woman was patient. She didn't try to stop Miriam from crying. If anything, she encouraged it. Miriam needed to grieve.
Slowly, the crying spells came in shorter bursts, until one day, she didn't cry at all. It was then that they began to talk. Miriam's time with the therapist was a rock in her life for the next three years. And slowly, her smile began to return, she began socializing with friends again, and was returning to the bubbly self she'd lost after Alex's death.
She took up playing Alex's old guitar. He'd taught her some when he was still alive, and it was one of only three things she'd kept of his. She'd also kept her engagement ring, now worn on a necklace, and a photograph of them together. It had been taken the year they'd first met. It was at one of the art club meetings. Someone had been going around, just taking pictures for fun and snapped one of them while they were talking. They hadn't even noticed their picture was being taken. She'd been laughing about something when the photo was snapped, she couldn't remember now what it had been. Alex was looking at her, his smile wide and his eyes bright. She kept the photo in a drawer, but pulled it out every now and then.
The next year, Miriam graduated with the masters in neuropsychology. She'd been reviewing a few possible careers, from rehabilitation to continued research with the University, when she'd heard about another possibility.
A return expedition to Pandora was being planned. This one would be a pure scientific venture, with only minimal security. The moment she heard about the venture, Miriam knew that it was what she wanted to do. She spoke with her parents, who agreed to make a large contribution to the effort, and Miriam brought her proposal along with their money to the university, seeking sponsorship. The university agreed to sponsor Miriam for the trip, under the condition that she would promise her research to the university for publication. With her family's private donation, as well as the university's sponsorship, Miriam applied for a spot on the mission. She wanted to research the similarities and differences between human and Na'vi neurology. She also wanted to study the effects of prolonged avatar use on humans. Though she was thought to be slightly young and inexperienced, her fluency in three languages, and the generous contribution her family, and the fact that the remainder of her expenses would be covered by Berkley, she won over the committee and was selected for the trip.
She was given a crash course in many subjects before the voyage began. Coming in late in the game, she was forced to cram cultural, language, and biology lessons into a six month period. But her already keen ear for language, and general thirst for knowledge allowed the young woman to meet the challenge head on, coming out the other side well versed in Na'vi language and culture. She'd also logged considerable hours operating an avatar. She was as ready as she'd ever be.
Miriam took very few things with her as she went to board the Green Mother. Much of the equipment she needed would be provided for her. She brought only clothes, Alex's guitar, ring, and photo, and a sketch pad her mother had given her, along with a few other personal items. Miriam said goodbye to her parents with a smile, and the boarded the shuttle. Soon, she was put in cryo and fell asleep for the six year journey.
However, Miriam wouldn't be woken up until after the initial and delicate negotiations between the scientists and the Na'vi. Her line of work wouldn't be able to be implemented until after they had established a base of operations, and so it would simply be easier to leave her in cryo until this had been completed. Miriam woke up after 10 years asleep and caught her first glimpse of Pandora through a view port. It was a beautiful world. Miriam had never seen so much blue and green, save for in the images of famous paintings her mother had shown her. She was eager to land and see the moon's beauty first hand.
When Miriam's group had finally prepared, she was shipped ground side. The whole group was briefed on the strict protocol they'd be following, and for the first time, Miriam was allowed to see her avatar. She'd come into the mission late in the game, and so her avatar wasn't quite fully developed yet, but was now only a couple of days away from being ready. So she had some time to settle in before the real work would begin.
RP Sample:
Miriam's eyes fluttered open, squinting against the bright white light that so unceremoniously ended her long sleep. The caretakers were shouting out instructions. Their voices were grading in her ears. She stretched as she was released from her restraints and floated up above where her bed was pulled out from the wall. Her stomach growled loudly and the caretaker that had just woken her up chuckled.
"I'm soooo hungry!" She exclaimed and he smiled.
"You've been asleep for ten years. It's normal. They've got some food ready for you through there." He said, pointing towards the exit.
Miriam thanked the man and pushed herself off the wall toward the door. Down the hall, she reached the area that was rotating in order to provide some artificial gravity. She oriented herself accordingly and walked into the dining hall. She ate ravenously until her stomach felt distended. Her group was then ushered to a debriefing room. Soon, they were all busy with the work of preparing to land on Pandora.
The ride down felt too long for the impatient woman and the others around her, who were likely as impatient as she was. But soon enough they were on the ground. All had dawned their breath masks and the ramp was lowered. They moved quickly into the compound, where they were able to remove their breath masks. Here, they sat through the overly long protocol debriefing, but it was important to understand the terms under which they were allowed to be here. They were then dismissed to different areas. Miriam was taken with a group that would be going to observe their avatars.
They reached the room where the tall blue avatars were being kept. She marveled at each one as she passed them until she was brought to one tank marked with her name. Turning her head sideways, Miriam smiled as she got her first look at her own avatar.
"She's beautiful." Miriam whispered to herself.
"It's not done quite yet."
Miriam turned her head to see an older man with gray hair and thick glasses sorting through information on a screen readout.
"You came in too late for the first round to be grown. So we didn't start yours until we got here. But it should only be another day or two."
The man finished and moved away without another word. Miriam didn't even have a chance to thank him before he was gone. And then, too soon, she was ushered out and escorted to the living quarters, shown hers, and then finally left alone.
Miriam plopped down on the bed she'd been provided, her luggage sat piled at the foot of the bed. Staring up at the ceiling, she couldn't help but smile. Pandora. She was actually here!
Age: 36 (includes 10 years in cryo)
Secret Word: Sent
Gender: Female
Sexuality: Hetero
Race: Human
Occupation: Neuropsychologist/sociologist
Human Physical Description:
Standing at 5'5", Miriam carries herself well. She stands tall with shoulders back. This wasn't training, just the results of a positive self image. Her dark brown hair, which is nearly black and sports a healthy sheen, hangs in loose waves just past her shoulders. She changes the style of her hair often depending on what activity she is engaged in. Her skin is on the pale side of the Caucasian spectrum, but is healthy. Her hands are small, with thin, nimble fingers. Of average weight for her height, Miriam is neither exceptionally toned, nor is she carrying around much extra weight. Average would be a good word to use. Blue eyes are large on her face over a button-like nose and under quizzical eyebrows. The result is a face that always seems to be locked in an interested gaze with whatever she happens to be engaged with at the moment.
Her clothing is a clear indication of her philosophy on life. She's heard the term hippie before and enjoys the connotation behind it. She doesn't try to hide the association. Often found wearing simple flip flop style sandles, Miriam enjoys neutral toned clothing. She has, however, had to somewhat abandon her loose flowing skirts on Pandora, where she has found that cargo style pants are much more useful and efficient. She accents her greens, browns and whites with bright jewelry that often incorporates natural elements such as stones, feathers, etc.
Her voice always seems to carry a questioning tone and never seems to lack a genuine interest, no matter the topic. Her laughter is bubbly and frequent and is accompanied by a wide smile. She doesn't wear much make up, but she does favor a foundation that helps to hydrate and nourish her skin. Occasionally she will dawn a particular eyeshadow of a bright color she finds appealing, but such adornments are subject more to whims than routine.
Avatar Physical Description:
Miriam's avatar stands at a decent 9'4" tall. The skin is a light cyan, smooth over her long limbs. The large yellow eyes hold barely detectable flecks of blue near the pupils. The nose is like that of the Na'vi, but still holds the button-like essence of Miriam's own nose. The lips are wider and slightly thicker in proportion to her own. The ears are slightly smaller than the average for a Na'vi, but maintain the feline pointed look. The bio luminescent dots that speckle her flesh are few, but seem to follow subtle spirals from forehead and cheeks, down her neck and shoulders, to arms, torso and legs. She has even fewer dark stripe patterns. They are only visible along her neck, shoulders, and upper back, and are only slightly darker than her light blue skin.
The tall, thin frame shows much more muscle tone than Miriam's body, making it lithe and strong. The black hair, apart from the long braid, is quite similar to her own. It hangs to her shoulders in loose, thick waves.
Miriam quite enjoys the look of her avatar form and is eager to try it out. The height is exciting to her. But the part that interests her the most is of course the braid and the bundle of neurons it hides. As a neuropsychologist, this is the feature she has come to Pandora to study.
Her clothing is not much different in avatar form from her usual. She prefers light, cami tops, light weight pants, and sandals.
Personality:
Curious to a fault, Miriam was raised to believe that there are no stupid questions. And so she asks questions, and asks them often. Her parents nurtured her inherent thirst for knowledge, encouraging her to pursue nearly any topic she found an interest in. This has led to an eclectic range of interests, from history, music, art, architecture, science, and the human beings around her. This last would win out in the end. As she aged, the field of psychology drew her in. She believes that sentient beings are the subject most worth study because they are the most complex and because the field is not likely to die away any time soon.
Her curiosity and upbringing, while allowing for a bright and intelligent woman to develop, did however also allow for that same woman to often seem flighty and scatter brained. To an unknowing eye, Miriam might seem disorganized and absentminded, even somewhat ADD, as her attention shifts often. But though she seems to be totally unorganized, Miriam works well in her "organized chaos".
She is a free spirit, through and through. A true hippie, Miriam holds an optimistic view on life. She will not falter in her belief that all beings have the capacity to love and that a pursuit of love in all it's forms is a noble act. She isn't ashamed of her optimism, nor is she ignorant of how idyllic it is. But she refuses to believe that the appearance of impossibility is a good enough excuse not to try. If anything, she sees it as a challenge.
Among others, Miriam is friendly and tries to accept anyone that she can. Even if others hold contrasting views than her own, she does her best to maintain an amicable heart for all. This stems from a distaste for conflict, an issue that Miriam has had to deal with her entire life. She shies away from conflict as best as she can, making her appear to be timid and easy to walk over. In many ways she might be. But everyone has a line they wont cross. Miriam has yet to know exactly where her own line is drawn, but it's there somewhere.
But everyone has a slightly darker side, and Miriam is no exception. In general, her optimism keeps hers at bay, but on occasion it seeps through. A painful memory in her recent past has left a stain on the woman's soul, opening her up to the occasional bout of sadness. She does her best to keep it from others, seeing it as something no one else need bother with. But the wound is there and she isn't sure how to heal it.
Talents:
Language: Miriam is fluent in English, Spanish, French, and Na'vi. She also has an interest in just about any language. She might be found pestering others to learn new words.
Curiosity: While this might sometimes get the better of her, Miriam's curiosity drives her to study, research, test, and hypothesize. Stemming from a genuine interest in the world around her, Miriam is intent on learning whatever she can.
The Arts: Miriam has a fairly steady hand when painting. She's no master, but she enjoys the act of painting and sketching. She has a lovely singing voice, and also plays the piano and the guitar.
Empathy: Miriam's interest in the world around her is strongest on the subjects of humans and the Na'vi. In particular, she is interested in how her fellow sentient beings relate. She has a genuine care for others and is quick to offer a helping hand.
History:
Miriam was born to parents Arnold and Renee Webster. Both had come from wealthy families and both were professors at Berkley University in California. Renee taught art history classes while Arnold was a professor of Spanish and French. Both loved language, to an extent that their own daughter's name was something of a joke. She was named for the famous Merriam-Webster dictionary.
Her infancy was a happy one. The Websters were an older couple, and Miriam was their only child. She never wanted for attention. As a toddler, she was bright and happy. Eager to explore, she was allowed to, stopped only when her actions were deemed dangerous. Her first word was mama, and her second was nariz, the spanish word for nose.
From that time on, Miriam was raised speaking both English and Spanish, as her father taught and spoke both in the home. Though Renee did not speak Spanish, she did understand it, and encouraged her daughter to follow her father's example.
Miriam grew steadily, and entered the university preschool at age 3. Here she excelled at her fine motor movements, learning to write her own name by age 4, however sloppy. By five she was reading simple children's books and entered kindergarten eager to learn. This would prove the pattern for the rest of her life. Learning came fairly easy to the young girl, and so she enjoyed it, wanting to learn more. This behavior was highly praised by her parents, adding another reinforcement.
At around 6 years old, Miriam began to hear stories about the people who'd just come back from Pandora. She'd hear these stories through closed doors as her parents discussed them, sometimes with angry voices. But Miriam was too young to understand such things. Too young to understand the outrage that RDA's abuse of the Na'vi people caused.
As she continued to grow through her childhood, Miriam dabbled in many things. She tried soccer, gymnastics, had even spent about two weeks in a karate class. But as she neared her teens, it became obvious that sports were not her strong suit. She simply found them boring. She needed something with more of a mental challenge. So her extracurricular pursuits began to focus more towards the arts. She began to take piano lessons at age 10, and would often paint and draw with her mother. These activities proved more suited to Miriam's tastes and so would be continued through the following years.
Once in middle school, Miriam had to choose a foreign language to begin studying. Already fluent in Spanish, Miriam chose French. This would be a new challenge, and her father would be able to help her when needed. Miriam would learn quickly, continuing on with French classes even though she'd met the required amount.
As she entered high school, Miriam again found herself sampling many different types of classes. The only exception was mathematics. In that subject, she never strayed beyond the required courses, not because of a lack of skill, but more of a lack of interest. The subject that caught her interest most strongly was psychology. The course in her high school was a simple overview one, but Miriam couldn't get enough of it. She joined the school's psychology club and became the vice president her senior year. The club organized trips to visit psych programs at nearby universities and would prove useful when it came time to apply for college.
Miriam had a small, but enthusiastic group of friends throughout her childhood and adolescence. They were all quiet studious, but also energetic about their collective interests. Miriam's best friend was Andrea. They'd known each other from kindergarten. It was a sad day when Miriam had to say goodbye to Andrea, who was moving to the east coast to attend college there. Her parents were moving as well, and so the two would only be able to stay in touch electronically.
Miriam was accepted to Berkley, where her parents worked and began college with enthusiasm. She chose to stay in the dorms, even though her home had always been just off campus. College was a time for independence, a time to learn self reliance, and Miriam was intent on this. And in any case, if she ever needed something, her parents would be right there.
Her first year might be described as hectic as the young woman jumped on nearly every opportunity that presented itself. She'd been overeager when signing up for classes, and consequently had to drop two because of time constraints. But the psychology classes were always in her schedule, as many as possible. Miriam studied development, abnormalities, sociology, positive psychology, anything that was offered. Again, she was a member of the university's psychology club, making friends who shared her passion. As she advanced, she found the field within psychology that would draw her the most: neuropsychology.
The study of the brain itself and all of it's chemical and electrical workings was fascinating. Miriam knew that this would be what she wanted to study. She made it her one focus, above all other things.
This was of course not to say that Miriam had no social life. Apart from the psych club, Miriam had joined a small art club. She was by no means the most skilled in the group, but she enjoyed the company and the simple fun that the group always seemed to have.
It was here that Miriam met Alex. He was tall, with dark black hair that hung past his ears. His green eyes were electric and had drawn her in from the first moment she'd met him. Miriam had had boyfriends before. Short, awkward relationships that never amounted to much. She'd never really been too into the whole concept. But that was before Alex. Around him, she found it difficult to not stare. His skin was dark, and he spoke with an accent. Later Miriam would find out that Alex was originally from France. The two would talk when the club met, sometimes finding themselves suddenly alone, not noticing that the others had all gone while they were still wrapped up in conversation. Soon, they were meeting up for lunch, then dinners. She'd lose track of time around him, exchanging shy smiles, "accidentally" brushing up against him.
Their friendship had turned into a romance so naturally, Miriam hadn't even noticed it at first. Not until one night when she was studying in her dorm junior year and he was there to keep her company. He played his guitar quietly next to her as she sat on her bed under a pile of books. After a while, she'd drifted off to sleep, not waking until he was gently sliding out from under her arm. She smiled at him with drowsy eyes and began to get up to walk him out. But he shook his head. Instead, he lifted her chin and kissed her gently on the lips.
"Sweet dreams Meerkat." He whispered to her. "I love you."
She'd mumbled "I love you" back and fell back asleep. The next morning Miriam woke up slowly. As she remembered what he'd said the night before, she smiled to herself. That night, she invited Alex to dinner with her parents. Needless to say, they approved of Miriam's boyfriend. She couldn't have been happier.
The next year, Miriam and Alex graduated, he with a degree in music and Miriam with two, psychology and sociology. Miriam wasn't done yet, however. She'd been accepted to Berkley's graduate program where she'd continue with her neurological focus. Alex had accepted an offer to teach music at a nearby high school. Two weeks after graduation, he presented Miriam with a ring. She said yes.
The wedding plans were set for the following spring. Miriam, during the planning time, could be seen as a brilliant ray of light, such was her happiness. Those around her couldn't help but get swept up in it. But only two months after the proposal, tragedy would strike.
The continued energy crisis was sweeping the globe and was boiling into something very dangerous. The school where Alex taught was closer to those who suffered most from the energy crisis. Poorer students and their families were becoming more and more angry by the day at how their communities were being forgotten while the rich scrambled to hoard resources for themselves. The tipping point had been reached, and a riot broke out at the end of the first day of school that fall. Alex had been leaving to head home and was swept up into it. A rock had been thrown, without any real aim, and struck him in the back of the head. He fell to the ground, unconscious, and was trampled as the crowd swarmed over him. He wasn't found until later that night when the mob finally disbanded.
Miriam had felt as though her lungs had been taken away when she heard the news. She was suddenly unable to breathe. She didn't sleep that night, or the next. The bright light she had been mere days before was gone. She was a cold mist. Unable to feel, she drifted through her days in a fog. Her family worried for her. She seemed to be in shock. She didn't cry. Even at his funeral, Miriam was like a ghost. Strangely, her school work didn't suffer. If anything, she improved. Miriam poured herself into the only thing that kept her from thinking about him.
After a few months, Miriam's parents finally convinced her to see someone, to talk about how she felt. At first her sessions were a waste of time. She didn't speak, nor did her therapist. But after a couple of weeks, Miriam finally broke down. Session after session, all she did was cry. It was as if she couldn't let herself open up unless she was in that small room, alone except for her therapist. The woman was patient. She didn't try to stop Miriam from crying. If anything, she encouraged it. Miriam needed to grieve.
Slowly, the crying spells came in shorter bursts, until one day, she didn't cry at all. It was then that they began to talk. Miriam's time with the therapist was a rock in her life for the next three years. And slowly, her smile began to return, she began socializing with friends again, and was returning to the bubbly self she'd lost after Alex's death.
She took up playing Alex's old guitar. He'd taught her some when he was still alive, and it was one of only three things she'd kept of his. She'd also kept her engagement ring, now worn on a necklace, and a photograph of them together. It had been taken the year they'd first met. It was at one of the art club meetings. Someone had been going around, just taking pictures for fun and snapped one of them while they were talking. They hadn't even noticed their picture was being taken. She'd been laughing about something when the photo was snapped, she couldn't remember now what it had been. Alex was looking at her, his smile wide and his eyes bright. She kept the photo in a drawer, but pulled it out every now and then.
The next year, Miriam graduated with the masters in neuropsychology. She'd been reviewing a few possible careers, from rehabilitation to continued research with the University, when she'd heard about another possibility.
A return expedition to Pandora was being planned. This one would be a pure scientific venture, with only minimal security. The moment she heard about the venture, Miriam knew that it was what she wanted to do. She spoke with her parents, who agreed to make a large contribution to the effort, and Miriam brought her proposal along with their money to the university, seeking sponsorship. The university agreed to sponsor Miriam for the trip, under the condition that she would promise her research to the university for publication. With her family's private donation, as well as the university's sponsorship, Miriam applied for a spot on the mission. She wanted to research the similarities and differences between human and Na'vi neurology. She also wanted to study the effects of prolonged avatar use on humans. Though she was thought to be slightly young and inexperienced, her fluency in three languages, and the generous contribution her family, and the fact that the remainder of her expenses would be covered by Berkley, she won over the committee and was selected for the trip.
She was given a crash course in many subjects before the voyage began. Coming in late in the game, she was forced to cram cultural, language, and biology lessons into a six month period. But her already keen ear for language, and general thirst for knowledge allowed the young woman to meet the challenge head on, coming out the other side well versed in Na'vi language and culture. She'd also logged considerable hours operating an avatar. She was as ready as she'd ever be.
Miriam took very few things with her as she went to board the Green Mother. Much of the equipment she needed would be provided for her. She brought only clothes, Alex's guitar, ring, and photo, and a sketch pad her mother had given her, along with a few other personal items. Miriam said goodbye to her parents with a smile, and the boarded the shuttle. Soon, she was put in cryo and fell asleep for the six year journey.
However, Miriam wouldn't be woken up until after the initial and delicate negotiations between the scientists and the Na'vi. Her line of work wouldn't be able to be implemented until after they had established a base of operations, and so it would simply be easier to leave her in cryo until this had been completed. Miriam woke up after 10 years asleep and caught her first glimpse of Pandora through a view port. It was a beautiful world. Miriam had never seen so much blue and green, save for in the images of famous paintings her mother had shown her. She was eager to land and see the moon's beauty first hand.
When Miriam's group had finally prepared, she was shipped ground side. The whole group was briefed on the strict protocol they'd be following, and for the first time, Miriam was allowed to see her avatar. She'd come into the mission late in the game, and so her avatar wasn't quite fully developed yet, but was now only a couple of days away from being ready. So she had some time to settle in before the real work would begin.
RP Sample:
Miriam's eyes fluttered open, squinting against the bright white light that so unceremoniously ended her long sleep. The caretakers were shouting out instructions. Their voices were grading in her ears. She stretched as she was released from her restraints and floated up above where her bed was pulled out from the wall. Her stomach growled loudly and the caretaker that had just woken her up chuckled.
"I'm soooo hungry!" She exclaimed and he smiled.
"You've been asleep for ten years. It's normal. They've got some food ready for you through there." He said, pointing towards the exit.
Miriam thanked the man and pushed herself off the wall toward the door. Down the hall, she reached the area that was rotating in order to provide some artificial gravity. She oriented herself accordingly and walked into the dining hall. She ate ravenously until her stomach felt distended. Her group was then ushered to a debriefing room. Soon, they were all busy with the work of preparing to land on Pandora.
The ride down felt too long for the impatient woman and the others around her, who were likely as impatient as she was. But soon enough they were on the ground. All had dawned their breath masks and the ramp was lowered. They moved quickly into the compound, where they were able to remove their breath masks. Here, they sat through the overly long protocol debriefing, but it was important to understand the terms under which they were allowed to be here. They were then dismissed to different areas. Miriam was taken with a group that would be going to observe their avatars.
They reached the room where the tall blue avatars were being kept. She marveled at each one as she passed them until she was brought to one tank marked with her name. Turning her head sideways, Miriam smiled as she got her first look at her own avatar.
"She's beautiful." Miriam whispered to herself.
"It's not done quite yet."
Miriam turned her head to see an older man with gray hair and thick glasses sorting through information on a screen readout.
"You came in too late for the first round to be grown. So we didn't start yours until we got here. But it should only be another day or two."
The man finished and moved away without another word. Miriam didn't even have a chance to thank him before he was gone. And then, too soon, she was ushered out and escorted to the living quarters, shown hers, and then finally left alone.
Miriam plopped down on the bed she'd been provided, her luggage sat piled at the foot of the bed. Staring up at the ceiling, she couldn't help but smile. Pandora. She was actually here!
