marionette •• hiroko staff plumie DNP

[dandyLION]

Hello there barkeep.
I'll take something woody today, if thats okay with you.

Oh, you're Hiroko?
Pleasure to meet you, I'm Seraphina but feel free to just call me Sera.. its a lot easier to spit out if you were to ask me.

What was that? You like my name? Awe, thank you. I guess it comes from 'seraphim' which were the most powerful and beautiful angels around I was told. It kind of makes me laugh, I'm not really either of those things really... Okay.. I actually am really pretty.. from what I have been told.


So, you think I'm interesting?
Wait til you hear more about me, I have quite the story.

[dandyLION]

My story started twenty-two years ago to this day. For most, a birthday would be something celebrated or
maybe cherished. It is when family and friends gather around and make the day all about you, and only you. Today is
different for me though, I won't surround myself with family or people I know... this will be the one day that I will keep to
myself and hide away in my own corner of reality. My story has been riddled with twists and turns, honestly it would make
a good novel.

Oh wait, you're interested in hearing it.
Shall I share my story with you?
If you wish, though be warned.. it is twenty-two years worth of a story.

I was born May 17th, 1993 and was gifted the name Seraphina Serenity Leavsin. Before you ask, my parents were rather
"important" people. In most standards, they were modern day royals... blue bloods... cream of the very crop. And when
people like that have a child, they tend to get a little flamboyant with the name choices. I think it might make up for me
being so small and unnoticeable.

This day was a prideful day for the two of them, so many years ago. They had plans for me, everything laid out nice and
clean. Something they didn't understand back then, is that life is not nice and laid out. Things can change at the flip of a
switch. I wish they would have known that, maybe they would have taken care of me like normal parents do. Anyways,
lets continue.

Things should have started to become apparent once I was around seven years old. My mother would parade me around
while I wore little lace gowns and bows in my hair. I was her little marionette doll, even though I am a living creature,
mother would treat me as if I was something for her to play with. As a child, I was blind to how she treated me. I thought
I deserved the treatment I was receiving. I never got what normal children got... freedom.

But this isn't even the beginning.
Mother and father turned me into the most obeying, unselfish young woman the world probably had ever seen. You could
give me the most horrendous orders, and it would click in my mind to simply obey. "Don't ask questions, just do as we say.
" That was the motto of my life, I truly was just a doll. A moving, breathing marionette doll. I guess I was alright with it.
In my mind, I was making my father and mother proud and that's all I wanted. Love and attention, I craved and would
worship just for that alone.



One day, they told me to do something that I wasn't prepared for. I still don't understand why I couldn't for once in my life
say no.. or to even ask why. What were they getting out of it? I wish I knew.. I don't think I ever will. That day my parents
came to me with a stranger, a man who was to inherit a fortune of his own. That was the day when I was put into an
arranged marriage with a man as corrupt as my family.


It took me three years for me to realize what exactly was going on. The moment I began to live at my "fiance's" mansion, I
was not allowed to leave the property what-so-ever. I would spend hours, roaming the gardens or drawing in my sketch
books. I took up books and resin paintings to melt hours of the day. The first contact to the outside world was through a very
dear friend to me, Felix. The man of the house hired someone to take care of the gardens when I softly complained about
the state they were in.

Felix was always a gentle person towards me. He was the first person to make me question what I was doing with my life,
and how I deserved better than this. The man would bring books and pictures from "out there." The little stories he would tell
me as I helped him on the garden are still ones I cherish today. He made the real world become a reality for me. I only took
the steps to run away because I wanted to taste that world for myself. Felix is still near and dear to me, and I owe him
almost everything now.



When I ran away, I was blindly unaware of how big the world really was. It was scary and I was honestly all alone. I could
have gotten myself into a horrible place if it wasn't for a rather interesting characters. Being so unaware, I wandered into every
little place that looked interesting. "Whats this? Whats that?" My eyes had been filled with wonder and craving for everything I
could get my hands on. I landed in some sort of joint, someplace a proper unknowing lady should never be around.

It was a bar on the wrong side of the tracks. Two things came out of that night, two very important people to me. First was a
bartender named Jay. I was ordering drink after drink, making myself fall into a blitz of emotions and slurred words. I
enjoyed the taste, and how it made me feel. Jay was being friendly, asking me questions and trying to make me relax. Every
couple of seconds I would break down and cry, wondering why I was so messed up. Before I realized what was going on, Jay
cut me off and tried to steer me into a better mood. But I was stubborn and I got myself talking to a rather... unpleasant group.
And as I was going to get in trouble, a gentlemen older than me stepped in and steered me clear.

Monty, that was this gentleman's name. He took me out of there, and kindly offered me a place to stay. I think he figured out
how fragile I was. It was written all over me back then. For some reason, I could trust Monty. That first night I stayed with him
and his family, I spilled my guts. Every inch of my life was rambled from my mouth and into his thoughts. And how he reacted
was surprising to me, seeing as I didn't understand what a normal response was. Monty got angry, and confused. He questioned
how my parents could do that to me. I think that's when I started to look at him as my father figure, I felt protected by him. I
felt for once in my life that I was safe.



But that was two years ago.
In the time in between, I moved out from under Monty's wing and began to become an independent person. I have met a few
people here and there. I've gotten myself in trouble with alcohol, and money. I grew up. I became someone. Freedom is
something I really like now. I am not afraid of it, I cherish it. No one can ever tell me how to act anymore. The only person
who can control me is myself.

And I will celebrate my birthday with a piece of cake and a look up at the stars.
So yeah, that's my story..
Can I get that cake for free?

[dandyLION]

Man, you ask a lot of questions.
So, you want to know everything that's changed in the past two years?
Lets start with me.

I want to first say that becoming my own person has been an uphill
battle. I mean, when I was growing up... I was well-mannered and
oddly calm. Never once did I fight back or give attitude, admittedly
I was taught to be that way... but part of me actually was a good
child. I didn't know anger or hatred, I just knew the desire for being
a good daughter and someday wife.

That changed though once I ran away from my betrothed in a lot of
ways. I, for the longest time, became full of wanderlust. Everything
was new for me and because of that many challenges came up. One
of the biggest things was that I couldn't control myself. I was rash
and slightly unruly. Monty would always joke saying I didn't have
enough hours in the day to do everything I needed to do... not that
it slowed me down at all. My charisma and cleverness kept me out
of most trouble for the longest time.

But it didn't save me forever.
I ended up in jail for being stupid and naive.

When Monty bailed me out, he told me "Sera, it is time you actually
grew up. You can't run around without consequences anymore. No
one will stand by and let you be a brat about things." It was actually
that conversation that made me start to grow up. I didn't want to
let down the only father figure I had...

After that night, I sat down for hours to figure out how I wanted to be.
I realized I wanted to be calm but spunky. Confident but humble. Mix
that in with my past and I became what I like to call "Unpredictably
Predictable!" If that honestly makes any sense to you...

I feel like I should have more alcohol in me if I keep answering such
"deep questions." Really, who even are you? Whatever..next question?

Next on your list is where I live?
I would normally say thats personal, but I think we've already hit that
point in the conversation where anything goes.

About ten blocks from the bar Jay works at is a large studio apartment,
most say the apartments in some ways could use some work. Yet its
perfect for me in so many ways. It had enough space for me to be
content and spread out, but not huge to the point where I could wander
for hours like in the mansion. It felt like somewhere I wanted to be.
What captivated me completely was the stunning city view I was given.
There are nights when its raining and I just sit at the window and
watch for hours as I relax.

Now, if you were to come to my apartment you would probably notice
that my place is filled with vintage items more than modern ones.
Thats because I love how they look, the history behind the items. They're
special. But then I have some modern amenities, like my flat screen tv
and my computer. I am not going to lie, I love them too.. I need them
to watch my TV shows like "The Following", "Game of Thrones", and
others ones like that. Oh I also forgot I need it for my anime fixings. I
never knew I would like that so much.. hehe.

Something else you might see is my resin art pieces. I make giant pieces
to small pieces, but I put all of them on display so that if a friend wants
one they can buy, they can! I got to make my money somehow. Oh!
And you will also see my collection of books.. so many books. I think I
have over 200 in my small apartment. Hmm.. I guess that covers it
mainly. Maybe you could stop by sometime?

[dandyLION]

Oh man!
This is my favorite song, though to be totally honest... I have three songs that really hit home for me. Do we want to give them a listen? I know I do~

Here it is.
The name is Breathe and its by Telepopmusik. Isn't it a rather pretty song? I remember the first time I listened to it, it put me at ease. It honestly still does. So.. thats one.

Ahh!
This is the second song, a song that I really got into when I ran away. It was kind of my life back then. Partying, drinking all day and being careless. It even has a part about stealing, which is what I got in trouble for.. anyways this is We Are Young by 3OH!3. The beats pretty great still.

Now, this next song is a weird combination of the two genres that the other songs were of... a popular song but the acoustic cover of it. Overall, I think the song represents me perfectly. I mean.. I've grown up to showcase both my pain and the happiness I found.
I have my scars and I wear them proudly, I've found my rhythm in the world. Anyways, I'm getting a little too sentimental. The song I was talking about is called Yellow Flicker Beat by Lorde. I suggest you really listen to this one.

[dandyLION]

Wait.. you think I'm oddly perfect.
I'll let you in on a few secrets.

Ever since I ran away from my family and my fiance, I have been plagued by things that only some people will every be able to understand. The first thing that became increasingly apparent was that I was incredibly depressed. Now, don't give me the "oh you only think you have it." I know I do.

For weeks I had a hard time eating, and sleeping; actually it was any basic function that I was having trouble with. My mind would wander into dark thoughts, poking and prodding about how I wasn't good enough.. how I failed my family. The thoughts, a few times, almost drove me to the edge. Its a dark side I hope no one ever has to see again. Its taken a long time, but I think I am finally starting to recover.

But there is one thing that I haven't recovered from. The one thing that still plagues me day in and day out would be my night terrors. Have you ever woken up dripping in sweat and screaming at things that aren't truly there? Do you know the feeling of shaking awake to only keep dreaming? I hope you don't. Honestly it is one of the worst things in my life, someday I see his face and the horrible things he did to me. Other days I see my family and feel the marionette strings around my wrists.

Maybe that's why I hang out here, I can drink til I have to crash.
Sometimes it helps, honestly... though I wish I didn't have to admit that.

[dandyLION]

Hello Hiroko, and other competitors.
I am dandyLIONscare, currently just a girl obsessed with pixels.
This will be a section coming from specifically me, giving my art credits and closing remark.
I wanna thank danny, the pirate dragon and ivvy for the plumies I used in my form as well, they helped make her more real.

But here are my art credits in no particular order••
H-Hello by marzipan-love
Marionette Struggle by Vaas
A Look Out My Window by kdougfang
Jamming by IronicWorld
Its Awkward to Talk About My Secrets by Wolfswelpe
Look At My Sas by ~Caramel~ [ above ]

And here is my checklist for the ten extras ••
1. head shot in first post
2. history
3. marionette piece with history
4. personality
5. their home
6. looking out of the window piece
7. jamming piece with song part
8. little information like quirks
9. I'm not just a good girl art piece
10. I am just all around sass art piece

The last thing I want to say is this... Thank you Hiroko for giving a chance for me to try out for such a beautiful babe and
also to sit through reading all of the character. Good luck to both you and all entries. Whoever wins can have all my art
though please make sure you credit the artists for they took time to make such pretty and interesting art.