AX Application - Nina Pickering
Nov. 8th, 2013 12:49 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
little_bulletP L A Y E R I N F O R M A T I O N
Your Name: Nina
OOC Journal: None
Under 18? If yes, what is your age?: Sadly so far. So far past 18.
Email + IM: neensperry@gmail.com
Characters Played at Ataraxion: Arthur Pendragon
C H A R A C T E R I N F O R M A T I O N
Name: Nina Pickering
Canon: Being Human UK
Original or Alternate Universe: Original
Canon Point: Episode 1, Series 3 – Lia
Number: 028
Setting:
The Being Human universe is very much set in the world as we know it to be now. Only Vampires, Werewolves and Ghosts exist. Vampires are able to survive in daylight, thus they have integrated into society, keeping a lid on their operations by ensuring they have one of their own amongst the most important flocks. Law enforcement, justice and various other locations. Werewolves are generally solitary and work to conceal themselves by hiding away during a full moon. A lingering ghost is a human who has died with 'unfinished business'.
History:
Nina was born the child of a single parent and the result of an unwanted pregnancy, leaving her mother in no situation to support a child on her own. In an unfavourable situation and truly unhappy, Nina’s mother was at times drunk and as a result physically violent and verbally abusive toward her daughter for most of her childhood. She would not hesitate to remind Nina that she was both an unwanted child and worthless. There was no doubt she was the cause to the end of her parent's brief, unstable relationship. Nina's childhood did not sweeten, but there were good days and bad, her mother would fluctuate, as abusers often do; between affection, apology and mistreatment. Through a portion of her childhood she believed her mother's accusations and felt powerless, but as she grew learned to be self-sufficient, she needed to be from an early age. She learned how to take strength from her situation rather than let it constrain her. No one comes out of such a dysfunctional environment completely unscathed, however Nina refused to let fear or inutility rule her. She took control where she was able and took schoolwork seriously, knowing she could better her situation in spite of what she was told. For so many years she'd believed she'd had no voice in her situation, something that would colour her outspoken attitude into adulthood.
Needless to say Nina left home once she’d finished High School at 17 and took up a job in a local cafe, able to make ends meet living out of home. She would certainly not amount to nothing, or repeat her mother's mistakes or even allow herself to use her upbringing as an excuse not to find her feet, in any circumstance. It was no idle decision that she chose to study nursing at UWE in Bristol, eventually choosing to specialise in emergency care, a career in which she would care for others, often at their most vulnerable. She only ever had a couple of friends, not a talent she was particularly skilled in, given some viewed her as too abrasive, or disliked her propensity to speak her mind. Her focus on study too meant she was not widely socialising anyway. Despite her determination and strength, or even her better judgement, Nina was not immune to the want to be loved, as strong as she was she was not beyond being charmed and finding the appeal of someone intense and brooding who pursued her. Those sort of men tended to be her type.
Shortly after graduating, she was appointed to a post in A&E at St Jude’s Hospital and due to her strong work ethic and her drive to succeed Nina did well on the job and found her feet amongst the staff, though not all warmed to her. Over the course of 5 years she progressed to a more senior role, She moved between houses, settling in a flatshare that nearly drove her mad, until she later moved in with her then boyfriend. A relationship which promptly cured Nina of her tendency to be attracted to dating dark, damaged men. He left her permanently scarred by a large burn on her stomach. It did not bring Nina to close off to the idea of a relationship again one day, but it did bolstered her to rely on herself alone, was an unfortunate means of growing wiser to the danger of trusting you can change someone with a darkness woven into their personality, or even allowing yourself to grow dependant, or loving enough toward someone that you're blind to the truth, or blind to fault. No. Sometimes you're just better off well shot of it.
Then she met George. She did not meet George on a good day and thus Nina as she would later put it 'ranted in his general direction' – venting her frustrations in regard to the hospital's doctors when George, really had done nothing to deserve it. Later seeing him out to apologise, Nina's first impressions of George Sands were no bettered when he then attempted to flirt with her, coming off more as misogynist who appeared to enjoy insulting women (he was under vile how-to-talk-to-women tutelage) Nina understandably knocked him back with a hefty dose of sarcasm and continued to express her dislike of him whenever they crossed paths, just to get in that extra dig at the sort of womanising prick George was.
Turns out, George was actually one of the sweetest, kindest and most genuine of people anyone might meet. Everything the previous men in her life were not, Nina began to realise this as she watched him interact with the most vulnerable, and lonely of hospital patients. It was after asking about him, during a smoke break with Mitchell, that the Vampire set up a date for his young, ridiculous housemate. George cooked, they talked, George attempted to disguise the fact there were two Ghosts present on said date. Nina felt a definite spark during her first date with George, her feelings for him already having begun to settle as she'd watched his innate good nature and kind-heartedness with hospital patients. It wasn't so far into their relationship that Nina realised there was something George was keeping from her, past things – but things she was not privy to. She could only assume it was a secret not unlike her own, whilst she didn't speak directly about her past abuse, she showed her scar to George, attempting to get through to him that she too, had her baggage and he needn't let that stop himself from getting close to her.
George's particular demons where somewhat less of a past than Nina might ever have anticipated and still a current, active part of his life. Mitchell's miraculous recovery in the hospital, and the heartbeat the doctors couldn't detect was just the beginning of her suspicion. It was George's attempted break-up and her curiosity that lead to her discovery of just what it was that George was hiding from her. Nina found him in the basement of the hospital, writhing and screaming – though Mitchell and Annie were there to attempt to stop her she acted on impulse and concern, hauling the door open and going in after him. Nina was scratched in the scuffle and promptly taken out of the room. She watched George change, she watched George kill the current Vampire leader Herrick, the vampire he had come to the basement to challenge – Herrick had world domination in his sights. It was a lot for Nina to learn in one evening, she never let on how terrified she truly was by it all.
Worse still, Nina knew the scratches on her arm meant something, they healed unnaturally, she'd seen the same sort of marks on George. Fearing the worst, and knowing it was all a matter of time until she found out, Nina decided to move in with George, Annie and Mitchell. Even though shortly after she began to push George away, withdraw with more on her mind than she'd share. She'd witnessed Herrick's murder by the wolf George, learned of the existence supernatural creatures and concerned for her own infection. She didn't know how to tell him, isolating herself from her boyfriend, his frustration only pushing her further away. Nina put off telling anyone but Annie up until shortly before the next full moon. Together they prepared, going back to the hospital basement just in case. Unfortunately, Nina's fears were confirmed, as the moon rose, she transformed.
It was a shock and more than Nina could process all at once, she fought not to blame George for the infection, or Mitchell and his pushing her toward a relationship with George. She eventually confessed, George as she predicted was shattered for having infected her and the two reconciled in their grief. For a short time, they were happy again or at least healing. Hard enough as it was to adjust, it was made more difficult still when the group were part of scheme to help a Vampire attempting to remain 'dry' and murdered his human lover escape the country without recompense. Not willing to either turn a blind eye or to accept that such things as concealing murder, or being a bloodthirsty monster in suburbia, amongst families, amongst children were simply part of her life now, Nina couldn’t bare to stay.
Despite how much she loved George she left him with nothing but a letter, thinking she might manage her condition alone and thus retain her humanity as best she could. Alone she was found in a vulnerable state by a group called CenSSA claiming they had a ‘cure’ for such supernatural afflictions, kind and welcoming and most importantly a place to shelter her away from the humanity that she feared harming. Unbeknownst to Nina they tracked supernaturals and had been monitoring the house where she, George, Mitchell and Annie lived, they been monitoring the group and needed a way to make contact, Nina would provide that. Desperate to rid herself of the wolf and quite willing to believe anything, she signed up and left her job, entirely committed. The live-in facility was run by a former Priest called Kemp and Lucy Jaggat, a medical researcher with a strong sense of faith. Perhaps Nina's hope for a cure seemed on the side of ridiculous, but no more ridiculous than being a werewolf, the entire place having the feel of a strange, methodical little cult. She followed as she was told, unaware her life hung in the balance when she was put inside a chamber to attempt to inhibit her full-moon change, thankfully the experiment was ceased before it killed her, and Nina went on believing they'd have her cure by the next full moon. Despite having broken up with him, Nina reached out to George, wanting him to be cured too, trying to convince him to come to Kempt's facility. At first he turned the very concept down, thinking it to be a complete load of rubbish. It was an incident with daylight savings and hours pushed forward, that placed George in the path of near changing in the presence of, and subsequently harming children, that he decided he needed to visit the facility and go back to Nina. Annie chose to come too, secretly she had decided that perhaps Kemp could help her to find her door.
The facility provided security and a barrage of tests to determine the nature of how lycanthropy truly worked. Soon enough, Nina, George and Annie discovered CenSSA was little more than a method of tracking down and executing supernaturals desperate to be cured. The experience in the pressure chamber had killed each and every wolf before them. Mitchell by now had discovered Lucy's link to a bombing attack on Vampire headquarters (killing vampires attempting to become 'dry') and thus her link to CenSSA, he stormed the facility and murdered most of it's occupants. Once they uncovered the facility's true purpose Nina, George and Mitchell escaped, but Annie was exorcized and sent to Purgatory for having no doorway to pass through properly. For this Nina felt a terrible guilt, she had lead them, even encouraged them all to come see Kemp. After their escape the remaining group later relocated to a small countryside cottage, to escape the ruin of the facility that had been left behind, to distance themselves from the world. Nina made an effort to understand the what was behind Lucy's actions, only finding her publications little more than preaching intelligent design and the existence of an 'evil' gene. Instead, Lucy eventually found them and Nina's response was nothing short of hostile. Kemp followed, vengeful and killing Lucy in the process. Annie, made a brief return from purgatory dragging Kemp through Lucy's door and killing him.
To attempt to leave the entire thing behind them, the group, still minus Annie moved to Wales. They found themselves in the quieter community of Barry Island, not far from an abandoned fun park. Weeks passed, life found some normalcy again as Nina and George took jobs at the local hospital. Mitchell, already dead decided he would venture to rescue Annie from purgatory through a door opened upon a hospital patient's death. The evening of the full moon arrived shortly after they'd settled in, George's plans to transform outdoors, and Nina's in their new basement were cut short, and the two were forced to transform together locked in the same room, despite the risk their wolves would likely tear one another apart when forced together. Prepared for the worst they said their goodbyes to one another, and their transformation begun.
As the sun rose once again, returned human - Nina awoke ..aboard the Tranquillity.
Personality:
Nina is a strong individual, she prides herself on it and has used it to her advantage. Her strength means sometimes Nina’s attitude sticks a bit to the ‘get them before they get you’ mentality, she’ll rile up with minimum provocation, so if she’s on the defensive she can seem abrasive and rude; perhaps sometimes she is actually intending to be rude too. At times she can be fiery and hot-headed; Nina's certainly got a temper. Once she's in rampage mode, it isn't easy to cool her down. However she is not above realising when she’s behaved in the wrong nor apologising for it properly. She can be humble, enough so to admit a misstep where it's due.
Nina's sense of morality is strong, such to verge on the black and white at times, with Nina refusing to accept 'grey' areas. She's not afraid to take the paths she believes is right and hold to those convictions. She left George, the man she truly loved for fear of losing her humanity and finding herself too complacent in the supernatural world, where murder was 'excusable' in certain circumstances.
In most circumstances Nina has never been scared to confront the truth. She sees the truth in something and won't be blinkered or blinded, over time she has learned never to let her feelings colour what she knows is important. She's allowed it to happen in the past, an abusive relationship she made excuses for, allowing feelings to soften hard facts, that ought to have had her leaving being she was hurt. This much has taught her to trust what she knows and stand up for what she believes is the truth, however cold it might seem.
Possessing quite a strong sense of humour, she’s also a big fan of sarcasm. Such devices are apparently highly appropriate at all times when it comes to Nina. Whether she’s uncomfortable, scared or simply trying to remain unintimidated Nina is liable to use humour, wit and sarcasm to diffuse the situation, hide her fear or simply attempt to relieve tension.
Strong as she is Nina is not without her insecurities and fears. She’s buried them deep and she is capable of pushing them aside for the most part, having only more recently resurfaced when confronted with the thought she and George may soon be 'cured' of their curse, which would mean a relationship based purely on their very human strengths and weaknesses. Nina feared without his Werewolf side to hold him back, and limit his options, George was far more 'normal' than she, even in a human state would be and as a result he might not want to be with her.
Nina tends to become very introverted when faced with something that worries her deeply, or that scares her. It takes effort, even from George to get her to discuss it, to open up or even allow someone to help her shoulder whatever it is. Discovering her pregnancy drew a lot to the surface of Nina's past. She'd never planned on being a mother because of such and only feared she'd fall into repeating her mother's fractured and often cruel parenting, the baby was unexpected, even unwanted. George's persistence and Sasha's guidance brought her to see that she wasn't alone and this was not a time to retract to a mode more self-sufficient.
Whilst she might be a spitfire, Nina does have her a true warmth about her, a sweet side that for some, takes a little digging to find. Her career in nursing is well suited, it’s more than a source of income. She enjoys it, she cares for others and she always ensures she treats her patients with kindness and dignity.
When she does love it’s whole heartedly, fiercely and in the case of George Sands, she's found the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with, regardless of their shared wolfy-side. In Annie she’s found a best friend, someone she trusts and cares about completely. Hand in hand with this is her more light-hearted playful side that is generally brought about by the people she surrounds herself with.
Abilities, Weaknesses and Power Limitations:
Strengths
Nina is a registered nurse, she not only possesses the caring, nurturing side any nurse really should have, but the ability to stay calm and focused in an emergency situation. Having worked several years in A&E have made this practically second nature to her.
Despite several setbacks in her life, Nina's a strong minded individual and generally tough. Once her mind is set a particular way, very little can convince her otherwise. Though she might not look so intimidating, she knows how to talk herself up, use bravado.
Nina appears to have a natural detector for bullshit.
As a werewolf she can smell things other's can't and her nose is always more sensitive than usual; the scent of fear or perhaps adrenaline is detectible to her. As the moon approaches and in the days following, Nina's strength increases. Her sense of smell is particularly sharp as is her eyesight and hearing.
Weaknesses
Nina is a werewolf, she's only been transforming for about a year or a little less, so it's generally still new to her. As a wolf she has no control over her actions, mind or who she may or may not recognise. Transformations are extremely painful.
The wolf is over six feet, bipedal and very dangerous, the change is not one she elects, but is controlled by the moon. Whilst 'dormant' and growing closer to the full moon, Nina's already short temper can ..be exceptionally short. The wolf increases one's aggression.
Though Nina does try to keep a level head at all times she is fiercely protective of her loved ones. George and Annie. She can be manipulated by fear for their safety.
Inventory:
-Navy scrubs
-White skivvy
-Tennis shoes
-Nurse's watch
-ID badge
-Underwear
Appearance: Nina Pickering in portrayed by Sinead Keenan.
Standing at about 5'1 Nina is not an imposing figure upon first sight. Her blonde hair when worn down is just to her shoulders, though most often she puts it up for work. Her eyes are greenish-blue eyes and she has a light complexion. On one arm. she has a set of four scratches, though she usually keeps these hidden, likewise for the large, ugly burn mark on her torso.
ONE
Age: 29
AU Clarification:
S A M P L E S
Log Sample:
(previous game log sample)
So she wasn't the one in the position to defend herself and so that was sort of obvious, she chose to be in denial. Whilst she couldn't exactly blame him for laughing, it could still piss her off. “You barged in here-” She added incredulously, wondering if this would just be a matter of empty threats, signals like keeping eye contact, refusing to be intimated, regardless the fact she couldn't actually put on socks at the moment. She felt rather like a animal, raising it's hackles to appear a bigger threat, or was that just the wolf? “Try me.” She smirked. It was already, all slightly ridiculous, wasn't it? They were still in their pyjamas for god's sake.
“You wound up here. Of all places- isn't that random.” Nina watched him closely, even though it made no difference to how safe or unsafe she was. She watched the vampire prowl into the room, inspect it, shortly she realised he was making certain she was alone, and entirely as defenceless as she appeared to be. There was a certain amount of violation now, the way their room was. It wasn't just their room now – it was the baby's room too and it tensed every inch of her just to have Cutler here, looking about, occupying the space she didn't want him in.
“You didn't want to kill anyone.” There was a certain deadpan to her tone that suggested she thought this to be utter bullshit. Bursting in, fangs exposed and eyes dark would have one believe the contrary. Nina made an attempt to process what exactly that meant, what she was supposed to gleam from the fact he avoided James. Avoided people. Who in the end would not be difficult to catch, if that was was what he was after. He avoided James for what reason? Though she was glad he did. "Right." She practically huffed. "So- it was a toss up between a terminally ill man, and a pregnant woman? Did you struggle to weigh up the- more immoral of two options? The easier target?" Nina queried him with a look of sort of revolted confusion, it explained nothing. "You didn't want to kill James, so you're here? To what then, kill me?" she scoffed, because she didn't really believe that was it. Nor did she actually believe she was under threat. He wasn't interested in being staked and that's what would result.
Comms Sample:
[Nina sizes up the screen in front of her with a discerning look - it's not quite that she doesn't trust the device in front of her, it's more she's not entirely certain she wants to communicate with it.]
You know it's bloody grim when you're wishing you were in Wales.
I'll never call it boring again.
[Her humour is dry, brows creased in a sort of disbelief as she continues to eye the screen she's focusing upon.]
Space? Was this whole werewolves and vampire thing, just honestly not ludicrous enough?
Your Name: Nina
OOC Journal: None
Under 18? If yes, what is your age?: Sadly so far. So far past 18.
Email + IM: neensperry@gmail.com
Characters Played at Ataraxion: Arthur Pendragon
C H A R A C T E R I N F O R M A T I O N
Name: Nina Pickering
Canon: Being Human UK
Original or Alternate Universe: Original
Canon Point: Episode 1, Series 3 – Lia
Number: 028
Setting:
The Being Human universe is very much set in the world as we know it to be now. Only Vampires, Werewolves and Ghosts exist. Vampires are able to survive in daylight, thus they have integrated into society, keeping a lid on their operations by ensuring they have one of their own amongst the most important flocks. Law enforcement, justice and various other locations. Werewolves are generally solitary and work to conceal themselves by hiding away during a full moon. A lingering ghost is a human who has died with 'unfinished business'.
History:
Nina was born the child of a single parent and the result of an unwanted pregnancy, leaving her mother in no situation to support a child on her own. In an unfavourable situation and truly unhappy, Nina’s mother was at times drunk and as a result physically violent and verbally abusive toward her daughter for most of her childhood. She would not hesitate to remind Nina that she was both an unwanted child and worthless. There was no doubt she was the cause to the end of her parent's brief, unstable relationship. Nina's childhood did not sweeten, but there were good days and bad, her mother would fluctuate, as abusers often do; between affection, apology and mistreatment. Through a portion of her childhood she believed her mother's accusations and felt powerless, but as she grew learned to be self-sufficient, she needed to be from an early age. She learned how to take strength from her situation rather than let it constrain her. No one comes out of such a dysfunctional environment completely unscathed, however Nina refused to let fear or inutility rule her. She took control where she was able and took schoolwork seriously, knowing she could better her situation in spite of what she was told. For so many years she'd believed she'd had no voice in her situation, something that would colour her outspoken attitude into adulthood.
Needless to say Nina left home once she’d finished High School at 17 and took up a job in a local cafe, able to make ends meet living out of home. She would certainly not amount to nothing, or repeat her mother's mistakes or even allow herself to use her upbringing as an excuse not to find her feet, in any circumstance. It was no idle decision that she chose to study nursing at UWE in Bristol, eventually choosing to specialise in emergency care, a career in which she would care for others, often at their most vulnerable. She only ever had a couple of friends, not a talent she was particularly skilled in, given some viewed her as too abrasive, or disliked her propensity to speak her mind. Her focus on study too meant she was not widely socialising anyway. Despite her determination and strength, or even her better judgement, Nina was not immune to the want to be loved, as strong as she was she was not beyond being charmed and finding the appeal of someone intense and brooding who pursued her. Those sort of men tended to be her type.
Shortly after graduating, she was appointed to a post in A&E at St Jude’s Hospital and due to her strong work ethic and her drive to succeed Nina did well on the job and found her feet amongst the staff, though not all warmed to her. Over the course of 5 years she progressed to a more senior role, She moved between houses, settling in a flatshare that nearly drove her mad, until she later moved in with her then boyfriend. A relationship which promptly cured Nina of her tendency to be attracted to dating dark, damaged men. He left her permanently scarred by a large burn on her stomach. It did not bring Nina to close off to the idea of a relationship again one day, but it did bolstered her to rely on herself alone, was an unfortunate means of growing wiser to the danger of trusting you can change someone with a darkness woven into their personality, or even allowing yourself to grow dependant, or loving enough toward someone that you're blind to the truth, or blind to fault. No. Sometimes you're just better off well shot of it.
Then she met George. She did not meet George on a good day and thus Nina as she would later put it 'ranted in his general direction' – venting her frustrations in regard to the hospital's doctors when George, really had done nothing to deserve it. Later seeing him out to apologise, Nina's first impressions of George Sands were no bettered when he then attempted to flirt with her, coming off more as misogynist who appeared to enjoy insulting women (he was under vile how-to-talk-to-women tutelage) Nina understandably knocked him back with a hefty dose of sarcasm and continued to express her dislike of him whenever they crossed paths, just to get in that extra dig at the sort of womanising prick George was.
Turns out, George was actually one of the sweetest, kindest and most genuine of people anyone might meet. Everything the previous men in her life were not, Nina began to realise this as she watched him interact with the most vulnerable, and lonely of hospital patients. It was after asking about him, during a smoke break with Mitchell, that the Vampire set up a date for his young, ridiculous housemate. George cooked, they talked, George attempted to disguise the fact there were two Ghosts present on said date. Nina felt a definite spark during her first date with George, her feelings for him already having begun to settle as she'd watched his innate good nature and kind-heartedness with hospital patients. It wasn't so far into their relationship that Nina realised there was something George was keeping from her, past things – but things she was not privy to. She could only assume it was a secret not unlike her own, whilst she didn't speak directly about her past abuse, she showed her scar to George, attempting to get through to him that she too, had her baggage and he needn't let that stop himself from getting close to her.
George's particular demons where somewhat less of a past than Nina might ever have anticipated and still a current, active part of his life. Mitchell's miraculous recovery in the hospital, and the heartbeat the doctors couldn't detect was just the beginning of her suspicion. It was George's attempted break-up and her curiosity that lead to her discovery of just what it was that George was hiding from her. Nina found him in the basement of the hospital, writhing and screaming – though Mitchell and Annie were there to attempt to stop her she acted on impulse and concern, hauling the door open and going in after him. Nina was scratched in the scuffle and promptly taken out of the room. She watched George change, she watched George kill the current Vampire leader Herrick, the vampire he had come to the basement to challenge – Herrick had world domination in his sights. It was a lot for Nina to learn in one evening, she never let on how terrified she truly was by it all.
Worse still, Nina knew the scratches on her arm meant something, they healed unnaturally, she'd seen the same sort of marks on George. Fearing the worst, and knowing it was all a matter of time until she found out, Nina decided to move in with George, Annie and Mitchell. Even though shortly after she began to push George away, withdraw with more on her mind than she'd share. She'd witnessed Herrick's murder by the wolf George, learned of the existence supernatural creatures and concerned for her own infection. She didn't know how to tell him, isolating herself from her boyfriend, his frustration only pushing her further away. Nina put off telling anyone but Annie up until shortly before the next full moon. Together they prepared, going back to the hospital basement just in case. Unfortunately, Nina's fears were confirmed, as the moon rose, she transformed.
It was a shock and more than Nina could process all at once, she fought not to blame George for the infection, or Mitchell and his pushing her toward a relationship with George. She eventually confessed, George as she predicted was shattered for having infected her and the two reconciled in their grief. For a short time, they were happy again or at least healing. Hard enough as it was to adjust, it was made more difficult still when the group were part of scheme to help a Vampire attempting to remain 'dry' and murdered his human lover escape the country without recompense. Not willing to either turn a blind eye or to accept that such things as concealing murder, or being a bloodthirsty monster in suburbia, amongst families, amongst children were simply part of her life now, Nina couldn’t bare to stay.
Despite how much she loved George she left him with nothing but a letter, thinking she might manage her condition alone and thus retain her humanity as best she could. Alone she was found in a vulnerable state by a group called CenSSA claiming they had a ‘cure’ for such supernatural afflictions, kind and welcoming and most importantly a place to shelter her away from the humanity that she feared harming. Unbeknownst to Nina they tracked supernaturals and had been monitoring the house where she, George, Mitchell and Annie lived, they been monitoring the group and needed a way to make contact, Nina would provide that. Desperate to rid herself of the wolf and quite willing to believe anything, she signed up and left her job, entirely committed. The live-in facility was run by a former Priest called Kemp and Lucy Jaggat, a medical researcher with a strong sense of faith. Perhaps Nina's hope for a cure seemed on the side of ridiculous, but no more ridiculous than being a werewolf, the entire place having the feel of a strange, methodical little cult. She followed as she was told, unaware her life hung in the balance when she was put inside a chamber to attempt to inhibit her full-moon change, thankfully the experiment was ceased before it killed her, and Nina went on believing they'd have her cure by the next full moon. Despite having broken up with him, Nina reached out to George, wanting him to be cured too, trying to convince him to come to Kempt's facility. At first he turned the very concept down, thinking it to be a complete load of rubbish. It was an incident with daylight savings and hours pushed forward, that placed George in the path of near changing in the presence of, and subsequently harming children, that he decided he needed to visit the facility and go back to Nina. Annie chose to come too, secretly she had decided that perhaps Kemp could help her to find her door.
The facility provided security and a barrage of tests to determine the nature of how lycanthropy truly worked. Soon enough, Nina, George and Annie discovered CenSSA was little more than a method of tracking down and executing supernaturals desperate to be cured. The experience in the pressure chamber had killed each and every wolf before them. Mitchell by now had discovered Lucy's link to a bombing attack on Vampire headquarters (killing vampires attempting to become 'dry') and thus her link to CenSSA, he stormed the facility and murdered most of it's occupants. Once they uncovered the facility's true purpose Nina, George and Mitchell escaped, but Annie was exorcized and sent to Purgatory for having no doorway to pass through properly. For this Nina felt a terrible guilt, she had lead them, even encouraged them all to come see Kemp. After their escape the remaining group later relocated to a small countryside cottage, to escape the ruin of the facility that had been left behind, to distance themselves from the world. Nina made an effort to understand the what was behind Lucy's actions, only finding her publications little more than preaching intelligent design and the existence of an 'evil' gene. Instead, Lucy eventually found them and Nina's response was nothing short of hostile. Kemp followed, vengeful and killing Lucy in the process. Annie, made a brief return from purgatory dragging Kemp through Lucy's door and killing him.
To attempt to leave the entire thing behind them, the group, still minus Annie moved to Wales. They found themselves in the quieter community of Barry Island, not far from an abandoned fun park. Weeks passed, life found some normalcy again as Nina and George took jobs at the local hospital. Mitchell, already dead decided he would venture to rescue Annie from purgatory through a door opened upon a hospital patient's death. The evening of the full moon arrived shortly after they'd settled in, George's plans to transform outdoors, and Nina's in their new basement were cut short, and the two were forced to transform together locked in the same room, despite the risk their wolves would likely tear one another apart when forced together. Prepared for the worst they said their goodbyes to one another, and their transformation begun.
As the sun rose once again, returned human - Nina awoke ..aboard the Tranquillity.
Personality:
Nina is a strong individual, she prides herself on it and has used it to her advantage. Her strength means sometimes Nina’s attitude sticks a bit to the ‘get them before they get you’ mentality, she’ll rile up with minimum provocation, so if she’s on the defensive she can seem abrasive and rude; perhaps sometimes she is actually intending to be rude too. At times she can be fiery and hot-headed; Nina's certainly got a temper. Once she's in rampage mode, it isn't easy to cool her down. However she is not above realising when she’s behaved in the wrong nor apologising for it properly. She can be humble, enough so to admit a misstep where it's due.
Nina's sense of morality is strong, such to verge on the black and white at times, with Nina refusing to accept 'grey' areas. She's not afraid to take the paths she believes is right and hold to those convictions. She left George, the man she truly loved for fear of losing her humanity and finding herself too complacent in the supernatural world, where murder was 'excusable' in certain circumstances.
In most circumstances Nina has never been scared to confront the truth. She sees the truth in something and won't be blinkered or blinded, over time she has learned never to let her feelings colour what she knows is important. She's allowed it to happen in the past, an abusive relationship she made excuses for, allowing feelings to soften hard facts, that ought to have had her leaving being she was hurt. This much has taught her to trust what she knows and stand up for what she believes is the truth, however cold it might seem.
Possessing quite a strong sense of humour, she’s also a big fan of sarcasm. Such devices are apparently highly appropriate at all times when it comes to Nina. Whether she’s uncomfortable, scared or simply trying to remain unintimidated Nina is liable to use humour, wit and sarcasm to diffuse the situation, hide her fear or simply attempt to relieve tension.
Strong as she is Nina is not without her insecurities and fears. She’s buried them deep and she is capable of pushing them aside for the most part, having only more recently resurfaced when confronted with the thought she and George may soon be 'cured' of their curse, which would mean a relationship based purely on their very human strengths and weaknesses. Nina feared without his Werewolf side to hold him back, and limit his options, George was far more 'normal' than she, even in a human state would be and as a result he might not want to be with her.
Nina tends to become very introverted when faced with something that worries her deeply, or that scares her. It takes effort, even from George to get her to discuss it, to open up or even allow someone to help her shoulder whatever it is. Discovering her pregnancy drew a lot to the surface of Nina's past. She'd never planned on being a mother because of such and only feared she'd fall into repeating her mother's fractured and often cruel parenting, the baby was unexpected, even unwanted. George's persistence and Sasha's guidance brought her to see that she wasn't alone and this was not a time to retract to a mode more self-sufficient.
Whilst she might be a spitfire, Nina does have her a true warmth about her, a sweet side that for some, takes a little digging to find. Her career in nursing is well suited, it’s more than a source of income. She enjoys it, she cares for others and she always ensures she treats her patients with kindness and dignity.
When she does love it’s whole heartedly, fiercely and in the case of George Sands, she's found the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with, regardless of their shared wolfy-side. In Annie she’s found a best friend, someone she trusts and cares about completely. Hand in hand with this is her more light-hearted playful side that is generally brought about by the people she surrounds herself with.
Abilities, Weaknesses and Power Limitations:
Strengths
Nina is a registered nurse, she not only possesses the caring, nurturing side any nurse really should have, but the ability to stay calm and focused in an emergency situation. Having worked several years in A&E have made this practically second nature to her.
Despite several setbacks in her life, Nina's a strong minded individual and generally tough. Once her mind is set a particular way, very little can convince her otherwise. Though she might not look so intimidating, she knows how to talk herself up, use bravado.
Nina appears to have a natural detector for bullshit.
As a werewolf she can smell things other's can't and her nose is always more sensitive than usual; the scent of fear or perhaps adrenaline is detectible to her. As the moon approaches and in the days following, Nina's strength increases. Her sense of smell is particularly sharp as is her eyesight and hearing.
Weaknesses
Nina is a werewolf, she's only been transforming for about a year or a little less, so it's generally still new to her. As a wolf she has no control over her actions, mind or who she may or may not recognise. Transformations are extremely painful.
The wolf is over six feet, bipedal and very dangerous, the change is not one she elects, but is controlled by the moon. Whilst 'dormant' and growing closer to the full moon, Nina's already short temper can ..be exceptionally short. The wolf increases one's aggression.
Though Nina does try to keep a level head at all times she is fiercely protective of her loved ones. George and Annie. She can be manipulated by fear for their safety.
Inventory:
-Navy scrubs
-White skivvy
-Tennis shoes
-Nurse's watch
-ID badge
-Underwear
Appearance: Nina Pickering in portrayed by Sinead Keenan.
Standing at about 5'1 Nina is not an imposing figure upon first sight. Her blonde hair when worn down is just to her shoulders, though most often she puts it up for work. Her eyes are greenish-blue eyes and she has a light complexion. On one arm. she has a set of four scratches, though she usually keeps these hidden, likewise for the large, ugly burn mark on her torso.
ONE
Age: 29
S A M P L E S
Log Sample:
(previous game log sample)
So she wasn't the one in the position to defend herself and so that was sort of obvious, she chose to be in denial. Whilst she couldn't exactly blame him for laughing, it could still piss her off. “You barged in here-” She added incredulously, wondering if this would just be a matter of empty threats, signals like keeping eye contact, refusing to be intimated, regardless the fact she couldn't actually put on socks at the moment. She felt rather like a animal, raising it's hackles to appear a bigger threat, or was that just the wolf? “Try me.” She smirked. It was already, all slightly ridiculous, wasn't it? They were still in their pyjamas for god's sake.
“You wound up here. Of all places- isn't that random.” Nina watched him closely, even though it made no difference to how safe or unsafe she was. She watched the vampire prowl into the room, inspect it, shortly she realised he was making certain she was alone, and entirely as defenceless as she appeared to be. There was a certain amount of violation now, the way their room was. It wasn't just their room now – it was the baby's room too and it tensed every inch of her just to have Cutler here, looking about, occupying the space she didn't want him in.
“You didn't want to kill anyone.” There was a certain deadpan to her tone that suggested she thought this to be utter bullshit. Bursting in, fangs exposed and eyes dark would have one believe the contrary. Nina made an attempt to process what exactly that meant, what she was supposed to gleam from the fact he avoided James. Avoided people. Who in the end would not be difficult to catch, if that was was what he was after. He avoided James for what reason? Though she was glad he did. "Right." She practically huffed. "So- it was a toss up between a terminally ill man, and a pregnant woman? Did you struggle to weigh up the- more immoral of two options? The easier target?" Nina queried him with a look of sort of revolted confusion, it explained nothing. "You didn't want to kill James, so you're here? To what then, kill me?" she scoffed, because she didn't really believe that was it. Nor did she actually believe she was under threat. He wasn't interested in being staked and that's what would result.
Comms Sample:
[Nina sizes up the screen in front of her with a discerning look - it's not quite that she doesn't trust the device in front of her, it's more she's not entirely certain she wants to communicate with it.]
You know it's bloody grim when you're wishing you were in Wales.
I'll never call it boring again.
[Her humour is dry, brows creased in a sort of disbelief as she continues to eye the screen she's focusing upon.]
Space? Was this whole werewolves and vampire thing, just honestly not ludicrous enough?
