Post by Emma Van Dyke on Oct 31, 2013 20:55:19 GMT
その日人類は思い出したXXXヤツらに支配されていた恐怖をXXX鳥籠の中に囚われていた屈辱を On that day, mankind received a grim reminder... Emma Van Dyke Full Name: Emma Annette Van Dyke (Nicknames: Emmy, Em, Waffle girl, Blondie, etc) Name Meanings: Emma || From the short forms of various Germanic names which began with ermen, meaning "whole" or "universal". It is one of the most popular names for girls in Belgium, particularly in the region of Flanders. The Dutch diminuative of Emma is "Emmy".Age: Nineteen Gender: Female Ethnicity: Dutch ancestry, though if traced back far enough French and German blood can also be found. (Place of birth: Karanase District of Wall Rose) Rank: Cadet of the Scouting Legion Birthday: 21st July (Star sign: Cancer ♋) Physical Appearance Height: 5 ft 7 (172 cm)It is fair to say that Emma Van Dyke is a rather attractive young woman. Standing rather tall for her age at five foot seven, Emma holds herself with an air of confidence about her. Her chin is held up, shoulders back, posture perfect. Her long limbs and rather voluptuous figure just adds to the appearance of being tall, and when she moves, she moves with elegant and gentle, fluid movements that make the European seem incredibly graceful. Her body is rather slender, yet well toned and she appears physically fit. The one less "slim" thing about her is her quite busty chest, showing off her much more feminine attributes. Her hair is a rich golden-blonde colour, cut short and styled in a simple bob that falls just above her shoulders. The ends of her hair are slightly curled, and a prominent fringe is cut at the front. Emma always wears a ribbon in her hair; usually in green or red, however the colour may change depending on what outfit she wears. Her hair frames a delicately shaped face. Vivid, olive green eyes are the most striking feature of her face, which naturally sparkle with a constant brightness that just reflects her usually cheerful nature. They are almond shaped, and surrounded by dark, long eyelashes which hardly ever require mascara. Emma has rather delicate features: full, soft pink lips (which are rarely seen not curled upwards into a cat-like smile), arched eyebrows and a petite nose. As a European nation, her skin is white and rather pale. She tends not to tan, and instead has an outbreak of freckles when spending too much time in the sun. Her soft complexion always maintains a rather healthy glow to it, along with a soft blush which rarely leaves her cheeks. Her face is soft, round, and almost a little bit youthful still. Although she could be considered pretty, Emma has a habit of getting overlooked and ignored. She does not stand out much, mainly due to her rather plain attire and fashion sense, and the fact that she tends to be surrounded by people who are much more… shall we say, flamboyant than her. Unless of course she must dress in her formal attire or military uniform, her dress sense usually consists of just simple and plain outfits (e.g. trousers and shirts or plain dresses). Distinguishing Features: The fact that Emma Van Dyke is a rather... easily conspicuous young lady means that she does not seem to have many striking features. If anything, the only thing that makes her stand out are the ribbons she wears in her hair, however you could also include her cat-like smile and vividly coloured eyes as well if you were to notice her. Personality To sum up somebody like Emma Annette Van Dyke simply, the best and easiest way to describe her is that she is a “glass half full” type of woman. A bubbly, cheerful optimist right down to the core, it is extremely rare to see Emma Van Dyke without a genuine smile on her face. She goes about each day searching for the good in everything, looking on the bright side of life even when the world might be against her. It is an incredibly hard feet to put someone like her down; no matter how many times you knock her over or try to put a dampen on her spirits, Emma will just get straight back up and continue smiling. That smile of hers, so warm and bright, is even able to encourage a little bit of cheer from her grumpy elder brother on occasions. “Don’t worry, be happy!” is her motto in life, and boy does it show. Happiness just bubbles out of Emma for the majority of the time, and her upbeat outlook on life is what helps keep her motivated during more difficult times. She honestly tries her very hardest to remain positive; though this can be a hard feet sometimes, Emma may just force herself to keep smiling to help keep everyone else’s spirits up. Emma is rarely seen not smiling, and she always tries her best to keep everyone else as upbeat as possible. This bubbly personality may make her come across as annoying or a bit of an air-head, but she really doesn't care what other people think about her chirpiness. It will be a bleak day if and when Emma ever stops being joyful. There is an inextinguishable enthusiasm Emma has, which she pours into every little thing she does. Passionate about the things she loves and treasures most deeply, Emma cherishes, cares for and puts every ounce of effort she can into those trivial little things that lighten her day and keep her smiling. Emma is a vibrant woman, often portraying strong feelings and emotions (which may be perceived as just being over-dramatic by most people). There is always enthusiasm in what she enjoys, and also very strong emotions in what she doesn't as well... Really, Emma is just a bit theatrical, and puts a certain fire into all her feelings that makes them much more prominent and strong than most other peoples. Of course, she is only human, and it is virtually impossible to constantly remain happy. Though it is a rare occurrence, there are times when Emma allows her emotions to get the better of her. If, for some reason, she is ever made upset, she has a habit of trying everything she can to cover it up. Forced smiles and blasé replies of “I’m fine! Honest!” become frequent during times of unrest. Though despite her best efforts, it is easy to tell when she is down. Like a book, Emma is quite easy to read. She loses her general “oomph” and vibrancy, her eyes lose their vivid sparkle and her voice becomes strained. There have been times when trying desperately to maintain a more upbeat demeanour, she has practically ended up working herself into hysterics. Her hysteric states can also be brought about by extreme stress, or reminders of certain incidents she would rather forget. Emma tends to go into complete anxiety, sometimes suffering from mild panic attacks when pushed to her limits. As stated earlier, however, these are incredibly rare events to happen, and only occur during the most extreme circumstances. Who knows, though? Maybe the manor might just end up pushing her to this state eventually… One thing she has a problem with is when she considers people are “being mean” to each other, to put it simply. Bullies she most certainly will not tolerate! Emma finds it incredibly awkward and uncomfortable when there is unrest between two people, so will constantly stick her nose in to try and fix any messes others have caused. This makes her come across as nosey and interfering, however she'll insist she's not trying to get gossip out of a situation... Then again, sometimes there might be more than trying to fix a problem, and juicy stories with friends does seem to be a favourite thing of Emma's. Emma Van Dyke is quite the social butterfly. Her virtually constant cheer, along with a lot of confidence and an open and friendly demeanour. She finds it easy to get on with people; never once suffering from a lack of self-assurance or poise. Emma is able to make and keep conversation going, can easily mix in social circles and has little difficulty in befriending others. Friends are something she holds dear to her, and her large numbers of acquaintances and buddies always get the very best treatment from this European woman. If you’re ever invited over to her home, she’ll treat you like royalty, and is incredibly hospitable. She takes great pride in her people skills, and looking after guests is her speciality. She’ll make sure everyone has a blast in her company. Give her a beer, and Emma’s even more outgoing and lively than before (if you can imagine that)!! Friendly; incredibly so as mentioned before. She is very open to people and has a kind, trustworthy heart. Emma always tries to see the good in people, no matter who they are. There is a slight naivety to her in this respect, and sometimes Emma really is not the best judge of character at all. Her overly trusting nature has landed her in a few difficult situations in the past, and though today she does her best to be less… open minded, Emma honestly finds it hard to see the “bad sides” to others. Because no matter who you are, in her mind, someone always has the best intentions at heart, right? Just like she does. Admittedly, Emma is a bit of a hopeless romantic. Romantic comedies are always her favourite genre of movies, and the prospect of finding a “soul mate” or “one true love” is rather… appealing, to say the least. A lot in her life revolves around that one magic word – love. Though she doubts she may ever find the one person who is truly right for her, Emma’s more human side remains a dreamer and continues to cling onto a small speck of hope that one day she might find that special someone. In the meantime, though, she will smile and admire other romantically involved couples. She won't begrudge them; in fact, she supports and cherishes that spark they share. Emma really finds it adorable to see couples out together, holding hands and sharing romantic moments together. All that “gooey smushy stuff” is very much likeable to her. If that special someone ever does come along to sweep Miss Van Dyke off her feet, she’ll be expecting to be wooed with chocolates (Belgian, obviously), roses, the whole package! It's clichéd, she knows, but it's what she likes! Everyone has a soft spot for chocolates. Oui? Coupled with the hopeless romantic is a rather teasing, playful and flirty side to the woman. Emma will be that girl to flutter her eyelashes in someone's direction and giggle at what they say; such flirtations will only grow if the person in question reacts and responds to them. She is also willing to help people as much as she can and spread a bit of kindness, which sometimes makes her seem like a bit of a push-over. That does not mean she is unable to hold her own, though, and when Emma knows what she wants, boy does she fight for it. She is willing to stand up for herself, her beliefs and put up a fight. In that respect she is very strong willed. Emma is also quite strict and slightly stubborn, refusing to back down or change her mind. Sometimes she may come across as fussy or picky (even demanding) if she does not get her way, although, she does not mean to be malicious. She’s just a strong-willed woman who knows what she wants. And there’s nothing wrong with knowing what you want, ja? Maternal, caring and mature. She is like a mother bear; towards those she knows well, she is incredibly protective and cares deeply about that. Emma is the sort of woman who will do things and try to convince others to do things as she sees it as something beneficial to them; something that will help them. Emma will be that friend who cooks pots and pots of soup for you when you’re sick, and will rush over to tuck someone into bed and take care of them until they recover. With a heart of gold, she genuinely is a decent, kind woman. Her mothering instincts make her seem and act a lot more mature than certain others as well. While everyone else is messing around or panicking, Emma will be the one to calmly sit, evaluating the situation, until she can come up with the most sensible and easy way to resolve issues. There have even been times when she comes up with rather wise statements almost out of the blue, helping lead to the much more sensible image she has taken on. Reliable, most certainly. She will always stand by those she cares about and will always be there to lend a helping hand. Whilst sometimes she may not have the best solution to a problem, she will still try to find one to help someone she cares about when they're in need. Emma is also very loyal, especially to her friends and family. The Belgian woman in dedicated; that is for sure. Emma is not one to back down when things start looking difficult. She is a fighter in that respect. When she sets her mind on something, she won't back down unless there is absolutely no way she can continue. She is driven, especially in what she has a passion for (as mentioned earlier). A hard worker with bucket loads of determination, she is extremely meticulous and diligent However, do not think she is totally sweet and “innocent”. When angered she will not hold back and can become quite rude and frightening, losing her sweet personality and becoming incredibly fierce. Although she dresses quite plainly, making her easily unnoticed or ignored, she is very feminine compared to some of the other female cadets. She would rather not be getting into fights or trying to act tough all the time (even though she can easily hold her own) like some of the others and this might make her seem a little wimpy. Her innocent demeanour means she comes across as being scared all the time, however she really is quite strong after some of the things she’s been through in her past. She can be easily angered, or hurt, if insulted in anyway, and will not go lightly on whoever it was who upset her. When people tend to jump to assumptions about her, she will be quick to prove them otherwise. Don’t assume that Emma is unable to look after herself, for she can. Resilient, independent and self-reliant, Emma can stand up for herself, fight back and will not back down. She’ll dig her heels in and defend herself until the end, no matter what. History Father: Viktor Van Dyke - deceasedEmma Annette Van Dyke was born on July 21st, 826, in the Karanase District of Wall Rose to Frigga Van Dyke (née Lambert), a baker, and her husband Viktor Van Dyke who worked as an engineer for Military Weaponry and Three-Dimensional Manoeuvre Gear. She was their second child; the first being Lars Van Dyke. Emma was a fortunate girl; though their life was simple the family felt secure. As she was only a toddler, the little girl was unaware of any problems and difficulties the family would have to face, and everyone seemed happy to her. At a young age, she watched her father fixing the manoeuvre gears and subconsciously learnt how to fix them herself. Her mother taught her and her brother hobbies such as baking and sewing, and the young Van Dyke children had a good childhood. When the family met difficulties as she grew older, Emma would help her mother in the bakery to try and bring some more income to the household whilst Lars went out to work as well. Things were going well for the little family. Then, things began to change. When Emma was fourteen years old in 840, her home town suddenly became overcrowded as an influx of refugees from Wall Maria entered Wall Rose. If truth be told, at the time Emma had little idea about what was going on. Everything was changing quite suddenly; people seemed to be afraid of something… but she could not know, nor could she understand what it was. Eventually, her father told both herself and her brother about things called “Titans”, and from that moment on, Emma began to understand a lot more. Why they were living behind giant walls, why everyone seemed to afraid, why so many new people had entered Wall Rose, and why they all acted like shells of humans… Then came the food shortage, and suddenly life became that much more difficult than before. The rapid change in the area was unavoidable and impossible to ignore, and there were times when Emma found the alarming deviations frightening. But, unlike her brother, the younger sister of the Van Dyke family could only feel sympathy towards the children she encountered who survived that terrible ordeal. She tried to befriend many of them, make them feel at home, but most remained distant and cut-off. It was a struggle to adapt to the way the new population was functioning, and the impact they had on the overall society as well was startling. Emma could not remember a time prior (or after) this point in her life when she was so hungry. It was hard to adjust to the lack of food, and even harder to adjust to how little she started to see of her father. His work load had increased thanks to a sudden demand of the gear he worked on, and Viktor was hardly around any more to see his family. Emma felt so proud of her “brave, strong daddy” when he had announced he would be volunteering for the Garrison. Though she hardly saw him any more, her older brother Lars soon became the father-figure of the household in Viktor’s absence, and life went on slowly, but surely. Year 842, Cadets of the Garrison came to her home and broke the terrible news that her beloved father had passed away in the fight against the Titans. The family seemed to fall apart as Emma’s mother struggled to cope, and Lars did all he could to provide support and comfort for her. It was during that time that Emma made herself a promise; she was going to one day join the fight against the Titans herself and make sure that her father’s efforts would not go down in vain. Lars soon joined the 102nd trainees’ squad and in 844 joined the Military Police. Emma and her mother where moved into the Stohess District of Wall Sina by Lars, despite how Emma had been saying she wanted to join the police. Lars was completely against this though, and hired tutors for Emma to keep her at home and train her to be a nurse. However, when Lars went away for a a mission to protect the King whilst he travelled, Emma in fact enrolled in the 103rd Trainees Squad continued with her own training in secret, no matter how much her mother tried to convince her to stop. It was bad enough for Frigga that she had lost her husband to the military and that her son had joined (despite the fact he was much safer in Wall Sina), let alone her youngest trying to fight. But she could do anything to persuade the young girl otherwise. The siblings wrote to each other often, but Emma never once mentioned how she had gone behind Lars' back. Emma was a hard worker; though she struggled in certain fields she put her heart and soul into everything, and excelled as much as she could. But she continued, and eventually she graduated from her class, just managing to get a position in the top ten! “10th, Emma Van Dyke – Despite lacking in physical strength, her determination, agility and teamwork skills have helped her to excel.” She was so very proud of that statement. Despite getting into the top ten of her class, Emma has no intention of following her brother’s footsteps and joining the Military Police. In fact, it was an easy decision for her to make, and soon she was joining the Scouting Legion. However, not long after she enrolled, the Colossal Titan breeched Wall Rose, and all hell broke loose. Emma was witness to many of her comrades getting eaten by the titans, and was truly sickened by what she saw. The horrors she witnessed only fuelled her on further, however, and she ended up killing five titans during that battle, two of which were done without the aid of her comrades. When her brother Lars returned from his trip, he remained none the wiser. Emma still keeps her work a secret, and often sneaks out of Sina to the Scouting Legion whenever Lars is busy. Even after the bloodshed, Emma Van Dyke has remained a member of the Scouting Legion, and proudly wears the Wings of Freedom on her back for her father and the friends she lost thanks to the Titans. Those people are what continue to push her on in humanity’s fight for freedom against their ruthless enemies. Likes Cooking and baking || This is Emma's favourite past-time and hobby. With a love for gourmet food and a talent for being able to whip up culinary delights from even the simplest ingredients, Emma really has got a talent in the kitchen. Her major strength when it comes to preparing food is in baking; she without a doubt makes some of the best cakes, pastries and goodies in the Scouting Legion! Which is something she will not hesitate to remind her comrades. Emma will always be delighted to whip up a treat for any hungry cadets in need. Sweets || Emma has a major sweet tooth; this is an undoubtable fact. Her favourite foods are the world renowned chocolates and Belgian waffles! She is addicted to chocolate bars and chocolate waffles, and usually has a stash of sweets somewhere accessible in case of an "emergency". She is nearly always seen munching on a bar at work, home (etc). Waffles are also her favourite comfort food, so if she is feeling a bit down it is the first thing she’ll turn to for cheering herself up. She likes "gourmet treats" in general, actually. Riding || She is a very outdoors-y sort of person, and riding is by far her favourite sport. Whenever she feels the need to clear her head, she will get out her horse and go out for a ride (or may just take a walk instead) around and about the city, depending on where she is. Emma is also rather competitive on the in the saddle, and may encourage others to try and race her from time to time. She named her horse for the Scouting Legion "Flanders", and is very attached to him. He has become Emma's partner, as she puts it. Beer || She knows that Belgian beer is the best and some of the most easily available alcohol, and will often spend time at the local bars enjoying a pint... or more... Emma is pretty good at holding her alcohol, and is one of the cadets who enjoys getting involved in the odd drinking competition against other nations after a hard day’s work or training. Comic books || She has a love for comic books; a secret passion of hers, and she has an incredibly large collection of them at home. Emma hates it when people say that comic books are for children and that they are immature. For her, they are genuinely enjoyable! Tintin is her favourite series, though she can't ignore the Smurfs either. They're also rather entertaining. Music || In particular, jazz music is her favourite genre. Emma is rather good at playing the saxophone, and loves to indulge in a bit of playing in her own time. However, don't ask for her to play for you! She's rather embarrassed about preforming, and tends to make up excuses like "Ah, I can't hold my saxophone! It's too heavy!" to get out of those situations. Parades and festivals || She simply adores festivals, Mardi Gras and any other type of parade or celebration you can imagine. They are always her favourite times of the year! It's so much fun~ Everyone gets dressed and just has a good time, which is always a joy to watch~ The festivities can really help to brighten any day, no matter what the general mood or weather is like. Everyone loves a good old party, and Emma is no exception. Animals || Be it cats or rabbits, so long as it's cute and fluffy Emma's heart will melt. Of course, because of her older brother's love for rabbits, she is often purchasing or hand-making bunny toys to give to him as presents. Though... occasionally she may snatch some for herself as well. Socialising || As mentioned earlier, Emma really adores to interact with people. It's much more fun to have more friends than to be a recluse, and she tries her hardest to get Lars to be nicer to people and make more friends. Unfortunately, his stinginess is making this a rather hard endeavour... Languages || Emma really has a talent for languages. Some say she is practically trilingual (more like quadrilingual). She has learnt Dutch, French and German, and of course she also speaks English fluently. Emma can be a little bit of a show-off when it comes to her language abilities, and she tends to casually switch between them without much thought. Fairy-tales || Those stories which end in happily ever after (okay, so we’re talking about the more “tame” versions of fairy-tales rather than the originals here) will always have a place in Emma’s heart. There is something about the magic and romance from them that has stuck with her, ever since she was a little girl. Of course, like every young child, Emma wanted to be a fairy-tale princess when she was a girl, and even today she would love to have her own “happily ever after” as well. Lars Van Dyke || Her dearest older brother. She loves him like any younger sister who looks up to their elder siblings would. The Van Dyke siblings in particular have an incredibly strong bond, and it is rare for the two of them to argue with each other. Though Emma is not always fond of Lars’ attitude to others, she still adores him, and often visits with cakes, waffles, chocolates and other fine gourmet treats and gifts in tow. It was Emma who made him his favourite scarf which he is hardly seen without. Children || There is no doubt about the fact that Emma Van Dyke would make a wonderful mother. She dotes on children of any age; their youthful cheer and positive outlook is something she sees reflected in herself, and she enjoys spending company with those younger than her as their carefree nature often lifts her own mood as well. Emma is a caring figure, and does take on quite a protective stance on those younger than her. To those who lost their parents, she acts as a mother-figure who visits as often as she can. Emma has become quite popular with a large number of the kids inside Wall Rose in particular. Reading || Emma loves books and to read, no matter what the genre: comics, crime, fantasy, romance, drama, anything and everything you can imagine! She has an active and very vivid imagination, and books just fuel it on. The Belgian does not struggle to get lost in a good book from time to time. Anything romantic || If it had not been stressed enough by now, Emma is a completely hopeless romantic. In fact, you could call her a complete sap when it comes to anything remotely romantic or lovey-dovey. Miss Van Dyke will often gush over other couples she sees together, acts of love, crushes, Valentines Day (etc). She also likes to try and play cupid sometimes, and has tried setting people up on more than a few occasions. Flowers || Emma would love a garden she could take care of. It would be full of poppies and tulips; her favourite flowers. There is something undoubtedly beautiful about nature, in particular the bright and vivid colours of flourishing blossoms. Although she has little time for horticultural activities, Emma does fill her home with potted plants, flowers and bouquets to brighten up the space as much as she can. Sewing || Her mother taught her to sew when she was a little girl, and really, she isn’t half bad at it. It’s one of those hobbies Emma finds quite relaxing, and sometimes the best way to unwind is just to sit in a quiet room with a needle and thread and let your hands get to work. Emma made her brother’s scarf by hand thanks to this little skill of hers. Hercule Poirot || He is pretty much the only famous fictional Belgian! Emma read some old books by a woman named Agatha Christie a while back, and took an instant penchant to the detective who often got mistaken for being French. There was just something she found particularly likeable about the character, and he has proven to be one of her favourite literacy figures. Markets|| The lively hustle and bustle, as well as the excitement of bartering for a good deal is something Emma finds truly enjoyable. It is also a plus that she is able to find the odd gem and treasure located amongst the various items on offer and for sale in the streets. Come market day, she is often one of the first people ready and waiting to see what the stalls have on offer this time round. Gossip || Okay, truth be told, Emma loves to hear all the juicy and interesting stories that get passed on from one person to another. It’s the best way to find out what is going on between people, after all, and Emma simply has to be kept in on the loop! Dislikes Hangovers || "Maybe that extra pint to drink had been a bad idea, ja?" Vomiting and headaches in the morning will never be pleasant. Need I say any more? It certainly is extra bad when you have training the next day, and it is incredibly likely you are going to get screamed at for lagging. Which will just make the headaches ten times worse than usual. Ouch. Formalities || Emma's bubbly personality means she'd much rather be on personal terms with people. To her, being formal just feels so fake. She even has a habit of referring to herself as "Em" instead of Emma just to make her seem less uptight and formal. Often, Emma is the sort of girl to forget about formalities when addressing her superiors, and ends up chatting away to them like they are the best of friends. Of course, this doesn’t always go down particularly well, but she really doesn’t care. Stress || As a soldier who is constantly putting her life on the line, on a daily basis, to try and fight off a force that seems impossible to defeat can prove to be more than a little bit stressful. Emma unfortunately suffers from frequent headaches due to the stress of trying to fight and cope with the pressure of the Scouting Legion. She does a pretty good job of staying upbeat despite this, though everyone has their off days, and Emma is certainly no stranger to those. Bad weather || When the weather is bad, it usually means that Emma ends up getting stuck indoors. However, she would much rather been outside, enjoying the hustle and bustle of the streets, walking around, and soaking in the sun. That sounds much preferable to being stuck inside with nothing to do, ja? Being ignored || Not standing out much can be rather a nuisance. Emma may be a rather plain girl, especially in comparison to some of her much more attractive or physically impressive comrades, however she knows that she is powerful (being one of the top ten graduates from her trainee squad) and it really irritates her when she is forgotten or ignored. Blonde jokes || They are incredibly insulting, and she really does take them personally. Emma would say that she is not your "stereotypical blonde" and tries to rise above any jokes that might be made, however they still get to her and can be rather hurtful sometimes. Oh, and don't ever call her "Blondie". Flavourless food || It's so bland! How could anyone enjoy food that tastes of nothing? The main pleasure comes from the taste, and she much prefers to have seasoning and sauces on her dishes than leaving them plain. Otherwise they are just dull. Non-alcoholic beer || ...She doesn't even see the point of this. Why have beer without the alcohol?! Doesn’t that completely defeat the entire object of the beverage in the first place? To Emma, it sounds like it would be completely rubbish and bland if beer was lacking alcohol. Disagreements || Be it arguments or people just being unable to get along, Emma hates it! She would much rather people would cooperate with each other, and often goes out of her way to try and resolve issues which usually have nothing to do with her in the first place. This generally makes people believe she is being nosy, however Emma insists she is doing it for the greater good of her team-mates! Honest! Sadness || Her positive attitude means that Emma really can't stand to see people upset, nor does she like it if she's sad herself. It is rare for this to happen, yes, and if she ever is sad Emma often looks for things to show how thankful and happy she should be. When someone else is feeling blue, she'll bake them up a nice waffle to lift their spirits, and sit with them for a while to try and make them smile. Cheap chocolate || Ew, no. It is really disgusting, okay? And you can just taste that it’s not the best standard as well! Emma refuses to touch the stuff, even with an incredibly long stick… Smoking || The fact Lars engages in this habit irks Emma no end, and she is often telling him of the risks to his health smoking brings. Not only that, but it just seems pretty foul to her. The smell is not exactly pleasant, and she just can’t get her head round why anyone would actually want to start smoking. It seems pointless to her, not to mention dangerous. "Boring" || Please, do not ever call Emma Van Dyke “boring”. Sure, she admits that she does not exactly stand out from the crowd, but she really does try her hardest to make more of an impact! It’s just plain old rude and nasty to label somebody like that just because they aren’t exactly the centre of attention all the time. French fries || Well… she loves French fries because they are absolutely delicious. No, what Emma dislikes about them is the name. Because they are Belgian! Not French! Why did France take the credit for something they didn’t make; Emma will never know. But, it just irritates her for some reason that everybody thinks they’re French, not Belgian. Yes, it’s petty, but it’s just one of those little pet peeves she cannot get rid of. Bullies || She absolutely cannot tolerate anybody who picks on those weaker or more susceptible to upset. Emma finds bullies to be cowards more than anything, and will not hesitate to stand up to them and defend those they are hurting. They are just one of those types of people who, no matter how open minded she tries to be about, Emma simply cannot bring herself to sympathise with. Physical violence || Being the sort of girl who prefers to settle things more passively and peacefully, Emma really does not like the use of physical violence. Of course, everyone has to fight during these times, including herself. However, it is not something she enjoys in the slightest, and she would much prefer it if they could find some other way to deal with some of the problems humanity has been faced with. Insects || They are not exactly the most pleasant of creatures around. This may sound rather a stereotypical “girly” trait, but Emma can’t help but find insects, bugs and creepy-crawlies absolutely disgusting, and she tends to avoid them if she can. It is not as if she will run around screaming if a fly buzzes past her ear, but she certainly does not like getting closer to them. Dirt || There seems to be a trait running in the Van Dyke family that they are neat freaks. Emma certainly is one herself, and she keeps her home completely spotless and sparkling clean. If there is a single spot of dirt, it is quickly removed. She detests anything dirty with a passion, and really puts a lot of effort into keeping everything spotless. Snobs || Another group of people Emma finds it hard to get along with, no matter how friendly she tries to be. People who seem to walk around thinking they are the best thing since sliced bread gets on her nerves so much, and she really has to hold back on telling them off for their behaviour. Liars || Honesty is an important trait to have, Emma believes, and everyone should strive to be as truthful as they can. This is the main reason that she cannot stand it when people are dishonest and tell lies. Sure, the odd white lie every now and then is acceptable, but those who seem to be compulsive liars just really annoy Emma. Titans || ...Is there even a need for an explanation here? Strengths Reliable || Emma is very protective of her friends and family, and will try her best to leave nobody behind. This European woman is a trustworthy women who will do all she can to keep your trust and stay loyal to you. If an ally is ever needed, Emma is certainly a reliable one. Her method of thinking is that nobody ever should get left behind, and she may even risk herself to help others before seeing that she is safe. Brave || Despite her chirpy, girly attitude, Emma is a lot braver than she makes out to be, and will put up a very good fight when needed. Although she would prefer not to physically engage in combat (despite the fact she has to), she will hold her own ground, stay steady, and will certainly defend herself if need be. Although sometimes she does let her fears get the better of her, Emma is the sort of woman who will not try to deny her fears, but will stand up, acknowledge them and continue regardless of how afraid she might be. Emma is strong willed and will always stand up for her beliefs. It is incredibly hard to put her down when there is something she believes in. Cheerful || Her bubbly personality means she often knows how to improve a situation and cheer others up when they're feeling down. She's the one who will do everything she can to lift peoples spirits, make them smile and try to put their mind at ease for as long as she can no matter how bleak everything may seem. In a situation such as working in the Scouting Legion, when the odds seems constantly stacked against you, a little bit of cheer can go a long way to boosting the mentality of a group. She may not be a leader, but she is certainly a motivator who will do her best to keep everyone calm, and try to bring a few smiles where she can as well. Intelligent || After seeing all she has seen throughout her life and picking up on efficient ways to deal with situations, Emma has become incredibly smart and quick-thinking over the years. Emma relies on her sharp eye to help her get out of tricky situations, and can easily come to a quick judgement with how it is best to solve a tough situation. Of course, her plans are never fool-proof, but they often to the job they need to. "Mama Bear" || Emma's home-making skills actually prove to be quite useful, even in the most extreme and bleak situations. For the hungry, she can whip up a nutritious and filling meal or snack with very few ingredients in next to no time. For the sick and injured, her knowledge of basic first aid means she can help others recover just enough for them to keep going. The care Emma gives to others is what can sometimes help them to continue, and she's even there to lend an ear if anyone needs emotional and mental support as well. Fighting the titans can be tough on anyone, and Emma is always ready to be a shoulder to cry on when it is needed. Agility || Her lean and lithe build has meant that Emma is incredibly quick. Speed is one of her greatest fortitudes, and she was the fastest member of the 103rd Trainee Squad. Often the trainee to win most races and able to swiftly dive in and make an even faster getaway, her natural speed enhanced with the help of the 3D manoeuvre gear makes Emma a force to be reckoned with. Team player || She may not exactly be leadership material, however Emma has a great talent of being able to work and cooperate with others. She much prefers working in a group, and finds the safety of numbers much more reliable than trying to play the lone wolf. Her teamwork skills are excellent; Emma has no difficulty in getting along with and motivating others in her group. Fast learner || It never takes long for Emma to work out how to do something. Give her any weapon, and pretty soon she’ll be wielding it like a pro. Tell her a certain strategy, and it will be memorised and executed to the best of her ability. Emma just has a knack of being able to pick up and remember things, a skill which has proved very useful on more than one occasion. Miss Fix-it || This woman has a natural talent for being able to fix things. Be it mending a torn piece of clothing, tinkering with technology and the 3D manoeuvre gear, or even just using basic medial skills and patching somebody up after a nasty accident, Emma has a good ability to repair almost anything within reason. Aim || Give her a gun, bow and arrow, or any other type of projector weapon and Emma is much more likely to hit the target with it than miss. A more than decent ability to aim and target a specific thing is one which Emma possesses, so be extra careful if she decides to throw something at you! Chances are, she will not miss. Weaknesses Naivety || She is far too trustworthy of others, no matter who they are. Always trying to see the good in people means that sometimes she’ll be blind to people’s true colours, which probably could put her in danger. Her optimism means that although others may be able to read her, she simply tends to be oblivious the true nature other people have. She is slightly naive sometimes, and so either over or under-estimates people. Emotional || Emma takes things far too seriously, and so can get hurt easily by even the tiniest thing. For example, if she was to offer someone waffles and they declined, she would take it as a personal insult and get extremely upset. Of course, she would try to cover it up, but that just ends up with her working herself into a hyperactive state more than anything else. Panic attacks || As mentioned above, when incredibly emotional she suffers from headaches and panic attacks, especially when afraid. During these times, it is hard for her to concentrate and stay focused. Emma is prone to be at risk when not alert or focused, especially if she has worked herself up into a state where she can hardly control herself. This may result in her being rather vulnerable if left alone for too long... Chatterbox || Emma is far too open sometimes, and will often blab about private matters. This can get her in a lot of trouble later on. It is rare for her to stop and think about the consequences of her actions and words, and she may accidentally put others at risk without even realising. Also, she has picked up a habit of talking to herself rather loudly when alone and extremely nervous or frightened, which could attract and draw any "enemies" who might be lurking to her... Too diplomatic || To put it simply, Emma is not a fighter, or at least she would prefer not to be one. Of course, she is more than able to defend herself and fight (mainly because she has to in her current position), however she much prefers to try and resolve conflicts peacefully, and will be hesitant to physically fight unless she really has to. A moment of hesitation, however, could prove to be a moment too long when trying to stay alive... Physical strength || Strength is something that Emma is lacking. Physically, she is not that strong at all, especially in comparison to some of her comrades. Her muscles never really did develop that much when she was younger, and her slender frame just shows how little muscle she actually has. Whilst she might be strong willed, her lacking of physical power has hindered Emma on occasion. Selflessness || One would have thought this was a wonderful trait to have, correct? Unfortunately, this seems to be the opposite of a good thing in this case, and is one of Emma’s greatest downfalls. The Belgian will do anything she can to try and aid somebody, often without thinking things through. There has been the occasion when she has put herself at great risk, without considering the consequences, to aid someone else. It has been something that worries her family no end, and Emma’s almost reckless selflessness has put her in quite a bit of danger in the past. Responsibility || For some reason, Emma Van Dyke cannot help but feel responsible for events, especially the less than successful ones. If she was ever directly involved in an incident which went pear-shaped, guilt starts to eat her up and Emma blames herself for whatever happened. Even when her thoughts are completely irrational, and she ended up having very little to do with the outcome of a scenario. Balance || Admittedly, Miss Van Dyke is not exactly the most graceful woman around, and is pretty clumsy. Sometimes, the way she wobbles and fumbles around, it’s a miracle she’s able to stand up on her own two feet, let alone master the 3D manoeuvre gear. Although most of the time Emma has little difficulty to stay upright, there have been times when she has just landed flat on her face because she tripped over her own feet. Her family || Lars and her mother are the two most important people in her life, but can also prove to be quite the sore spot for Emma. If something were to ever happen to them, she would be a complete mess, and would struggle to function properly. Fears Darkness || This seems like a rather... immature fear for a soldier of all people to have, yet it is one of those things that just highlights how very human they all are. An irrational fear, Emma admits, which has always been with her, she really hates to be in the dark unless she is sleeping. You really do have no idea what's lurking in the shadows, shrouded in the dark. There might be something there that wants to harm you. Not knowing what could be there scares Emma the most... Abandonment || It's irrational and ridiculous. There is no way to explain it, but Emma is constantly worried that she will get left alone and forgotten by those she loves. The fact that she doesn't stand out does not help the situation. She detests being separated from a group, in fear that she will get left behind and left to the mercy of the titans. It is a truly terrifying thought for her. Splitting apart || Once she witnessed the horrifying sight of a person getting torn in half by a titan, and since then it has been the death that scares Emma the most. The thought of herself getting torn apart, split in half or having half of her getting eaten is one she finds sickening and chilling at the same time, and the prospect is truly frightening. Emma always avoids the teeth and hands of those monsters as much as she can to try and avoid such a dreadful fate. Spiders || Another very immature fear to have, especially for a cadet of the Scouting Legion. She can fight against titans on a daily basis, but seeing a spider will make her scream and hide behind a companion in fear. Emma really finds spiders that creepy!! With their eight legs and how they scuttle around. Yuck. They’re foul! Losing her family || As mentioned before, Emma cherishes her family with all her heart. They all share a particularly close bond, and the thought of something ever happening to them is truly devastating for her. She is truly glad that Lars is a member of the military police, and far away from the titans. If something were to ever happen to him... Emma can't even bear thinking about it. Quirks Multilingual || Her aptitude for languages means she finds it very easy to converse in various tongues, and sometimes it is so natural to slip into another language Emma does not always realise she is no longer speaking English to people. Her sentences are seasoned with the odd word or phrase in French, Dutch or German thrown in, often accidentally. Admittedly, however, she does occasionally like to show off her little talent. Chocolate || Emma always, without fail, has a bar of chocolate on her person at all times. She says she carries around the snack “in case of an emergency”, aka suddenly feeling a little hungry. It is also a pretty common sight to see Emma munching on said bar of chocolate, no matter where she is or what she is doing. Ribbons || You will never see Emma leave her room without one of her famous ribbons in her hair. The colour of said ribbon will depend on her mood or outfit, but usually she wears red, green or black material in her hair. Emma, for some reason, says she feels naked if she ever goes without wearing her ribbon for a day. Smile || Just like how rare it is to see Emma without her ribbon, it seems just as rare to see her without a smile. Being the optimist she is, she goes about trying to see the good in every little thing that happens, and wears a smile to keep herself feeling fresh and upbeat instead of glum and downtrodden when things go wrong. Talkative || Oh dear. Emma really could talk for Belgium. If she gets onto a topic or subject in a conversation which particularly interests her, she does not even seem to take a breath between her words, and would go on and on until somebody would have to stop her. Simply put, she is a complete and utter chatterbox. Skillset Physical Strength: 2 / 10 Intelligence: 6 / 10 Teamwork: 10 / 10 Confidence: 8 / 10 Agility: 10 / 10 Roleplay Sample: (Taken from Manor of Fate because orz it's really late and I'm too tired to write out one. This post is... long and a bit all over the place, but Belgium was having a bit of a mental break down so... yeah... Enjoy?) A lonely figure lay amongst the dirty, rotting straw, partly hidden in the shadows of the ancient barn. Her slender form was curled into itself in a foetal-like position as a freezing breeze whistled through the creaking structure, causing her to shiver. As the blonde rolled onto her back, a soft groan escaped her lips. Her head was pounding, throbbing blindly as though someone had hit her with a shovel and knocked her out cold. Again, another tiny moan echoed through the rotting rafters and Belgium pulled herself up to a sitting position, despite the reluctance and protests of her aching muscles. Tired olive green eyes slowly opened, and Belgium ran a hand through her short blonde locks, gently massaging the back of her head that was still dully aching. The barn was far too quite. Apart from the nation herself, there were no other signs of life. No movement. Nothing. The only thing that you could possible count as “life” was the few specks of dust Belgium could just make out dancing in front of her face in the gloom. Otherwise, there was nothing. Emma had been expecting to hear maybe the coo of a pigeon stuck in the rafters, or see a spider scurrying down the wall beside her. But there wasn’t anything alive. The cold and lifelessness sent a shiver down her spine, causing the Belgian to instinctively pull her red cloak around her body tighter. She squinted her olive green eyes, trying to adjust to the darkness. There wasn't much to see in the barn anyway. Piles of old hay scattered around the floor, a few worn and tattered saddles hanging on the far wall. Clearly, this place hadn't been used in many years. Just like the rest of this supposedly "haunted" manor, the barns were coated in dust and old, sticky cobwebs, limply hanging from the rafters above. Yes, it certainly looked like it could be haunted. The thing that was most concerning Belgium, however, was the lack of memory she had of ever coming to this place. She really had no clue how she had ended up in a random, old barn in the first place. “Wat is er gebeurd?” she murmured to herself, her thoughts still muddled and groggy. For a moment, she sat in the silence, her eyes glazed over and focusing on a far wall as she tried to piece together how she had ended up here. Yet, everything remained a total blur. The last thing she could remember was searching for her brother inside the manor, making her way through the winding hallways that were covered in shadows and riddled with cobwebs. She had no luck, and just when she was about to give up, a blinding pain in the back of her head consumed her into darkness. When she had woken up, she had found herself alone, lying on a mound of hay with little recollection and no idea about how she had ended up here. The first thing that crossed the Belgian's mind was, this was one messed up, twisted place. God, what she would have given to be back home right now! She wished she'd never gone to America's stupid party and she wished she had never agreed to tag along in this stupid game of courage, or whatever it was called. Look at the situation they had all ended up in because of it! All of a sudden, a feeling of panic engulfed the European. She was sitting, alone, in a dark barn that was part of a manor filled with ghosts and monsters... and she didn’t have her trusty pistol crossbow, her weapon, in her hands. At that realisation, the Belgian instantly paled, her pupils dilating as worry began to sweep over her. Had she lost it? If that was the case, Emma Lambert was positive she was in deep trouble. Actually, she was far more than in deep trouble. She was done for. Almost instantly, she had forgotten about her pounding headache as another thought took over mind, obliterating any other minor concerns she had had before that point. The woman quickly stood up, hurriedly brushing the straw off her skirt before she began frantically scampering around the dark barn, rummaging through the straw and knocking over dust and cobweb coated objects that carelessly littered the stable floor. “Where is it? Where is it?!” Belgium muttered under her breath, the anxiousness lacing her voice clearly audible and growing with each passing moment. Adrenalin began fiercely pumping through her body, her pulse so high it felt her heart would explode inside her chest at any given moment. Emma bit down on her bottom lip to fight back the curses that were forming on her tongue. Now was not the time to lose her composure, she tried telling herself. She needed to stay as calm as possible in the situation. Clearly, though, she wasn’t doing a very good job at that. The woman took a step back from another pile of hay she’d just torn through and clutched onto her head, her breathing heavy and deep. “Come on Bel, think,” the Belgian hissed as she paced up and down the shadowed barn. “Where could it be? Did you look everywhere properly?” She paused, mid-step, and creased her brow in deep concentration. She’d gotten so worked up, she realised that she hadn’t even looked for the weapon in the most obvious place. With a frustrated humph, Belgium stormed back over to the pile of straw that she’d woken up only a mere few minutes earlier. It was such a stupid mistake. How could she have been such an idiot?! Sure enough, when she reached the slightly flattened pile, Belgium caught a glimpse of something, half hidden under the straw, glinting in the dim light. The object lay there, almost saying to her “Aren’t you stupid, getting all worked up like that?” The woman stood for a moment, staring at it with a mixture of frustration and relief. The next thing she knew, she lunged forward and frantically scrambled amongst the straw to pull out the pistol crossbow. Her fingers tightly wrapped round its cold handle as Belgium pulled it out, staring at it as though it was some precious treasure from an ancient era. And to her at this current moment in time, it was. It was the one thing that Belgium had left to cling onto. Maybe it was pathetic, but Belgium didn’t have anyone else. Her brother, Mexico, Hungary, Norway, Northern Ireland... they were all brief moments of comfort for her between the never ending, aimless walks down empty corridors, alone with nothing but the noises that followed her. The other nations had been there with her for only short periods of time. And in that time, she had been more relaxed. She felt no worries. But then, no sooner had they met, she had lost each and every one again. The one constant thing, the only thing she had with her throughout, was her weapon. It would keep her safe, Emma knew that. Right now, it was a friend to her as well. If she held onto it, it wouldn’t leave her. She’d be safe for just a little bit longer... It was funny; she had to admit; that an inanimate object could mean so much to someone. Belgium let out a heavy sigh as she held the crossbow tightly to her chest. She was just relieved to have it back again. Yes, she had over reacted, but the thought of losing the object was frightening. It was almost like at this moment in time, it was the last thing she had to cling onto. The last thing she had to protect herself with. It was at that moment when Belgium realised something for the first time since she'd arrived. Ever since arriving in the manor, she had been on edge. Anything would set her off, it seemed. She was far more nervous than usual. But, the fact was, this wasn’t like Belgium at all. Emma never usually would be this frightened by strange noises or supposedly “haunted” mansions. In fact, she had always considered herself to be quite brave in comparison to some of the other nations. She believed could hold her nerve better than Italy for example (for a moment her mind went to the Italian, and she wondered if he was in the mansion and, if he was, if he was alright). So, why was she suddenly so afraid? This wasn’t like Belgium; not in the slightest. The blonde woman gritted her teeth slightly as she lowered her weapon. This was getting ridiculous now. Everything was setting her on edge! The manor was messing with her mind. “Honestly, België,” a little voice inside Belgium’s head scolded her disapprovingly for her behaviour. “You’re a nation; you shouldn’t be scared by a Halloween prank or whatever this is. You’ve gone through far worse than this and survived.” That was true. She’d never really thought of it that way before. Why should she be scared of this place? She was a nation! Belgium had been through far worse than this. She had been invaded twice by Germany. She’d been under the rule of various other nations. She’d even fought her own brother for independence! And she was still here, still standing tall, proud and strong. In fact, she was a powerful country, no matter how small her size. You have to be pretty powerful to be one of the founding nations of the EU, right? But even so... There was still something nagging inside her, making her feel much less strong. Still a little tinge of fear she couldn't put out. It was a rather childish fear, like a fear of the dark (which Belgium had to admit, she was also scared of), but the female nation couldn't help but be afraid now she was alone. It was almost like she felt ten times more vulnerable without the company of anybody. Maybe it was the lack of laughter, or the horrible sensation when all you can hear is your own heartbeat, but all Belgium knew was that she was currently getting scared of something so trivial. But how could one who had been through so much, seen so much hurt and loneliness, be scared just by being alone? Emma had often wondered this much about herself. It was probably the most ridiculous fear any nation had. Yet, there was still something; no matter how childish Belgium thought she was acting by having such a fear, she couldn't help but still feel so afraid. Right now, the dark barn wasn't giving her much comfort. “At least I didn’t really loose you,” Emma Lambert said with relief to the crossbow in her arms. The nation smiled to herself and sat down on the mound of hay behind her, and continued gabbling away to the inanimate object she was clutching onto for dear life, as though it would slip away if she loosened her grip even just a little bit. “You’re not going to leave me any time soon, toch? I really don't know what I would do in this crazy place if you weren't here with me...” The woman trailed off, her eyes still glued to the weapon in her hands. Olive orbs widened as she suddenly became conscious of the fact she had just been having a conversation with a pistol crossbow. A wooden, lifeless object! A choked, horrified gasp escaped her throat and she suddenly dropped the weapon. Her hands flew up to her blonde locks and grabbed fistfuls of hair in panic. Bringing her knees up and tucking them under her chin, Belgium began to rock back and forth on the spot, her whole body trembling. “Ik word gek...” she muttered lowly, her eyes darting around the barn frantically. "Je deviens fou... Ich werde verrückt... I'm going crazy... I'm sitting here talking to a crossbow..." Belgium paused again, biting her lip as she stared at a corner that was shrouded in shadows at the far end of the barn. "And now I'm talking to myself! I need to get a grip and calm down!" The woman shivered and swallowed thickly as fear began creeping up her spine again. Her mind was racing, trying to work out if this was just some insane dream or reality. What was it again that Noorwegen had said to her earlier? “You do have a right to be afraid. This place is… more than what it seems. There is more than you can ever imagine even in your nightmares, Belgia…” Was this mansion really making her loose her own mind? She had never believed in demons and monsters before, but the fear inside her was growing constantly. And the stronger that fear became, the further and further away her sanity seemed. If there really was something here, something worse than their nightmares, could it really turn a girl mad? A shuffling behind her caused the nation's ears to prick up. Something else was here. It only took a second for her to react. She let out a screech and, in a flash, Belgium grabbed her crossbow. Without even thinking, she span round and fired a bolt into the darkness. A loud thud followed by a tiny whimper filled the air. It didn't take long for the silence to return. All that could be heard was Belgium's heavy breathing as the adrenalin that was pumping through her veins began to dwindle. Her knees shaking, Belgium slowly stood up and cautiously made her way to whatever she'd shot. She found the silver bolt impaling a large rat, no monster or demon in sight. The blonde let out an exasperated breath and ran a trembling hand through her hair as she desperately tried to suppress her nerves. One thing was for sure; the mansion certainly could turn a girl paranoid. The paranoia had cost her, though. She was now one bolt short, and if something else was there... The woman didn't think twice as she bent down and pulled the bolt out of the animal's corpse. Now was not the time to act squeamish over a dead creature. Her main priority now was to get out of here as quickly as she could and find the others. Then, they could all escape together. They could all go home and forget this ever happened. Yes, that was the best plan. Get out! Get out now! Suddenly, her feet were controlling her body, and she was running back in the direction she'd came. Her feet pounded on the dirty floor with a constant rhythm that mirrored the furious beating of her heart. Just up ahead of her, she could see it now drawing closer and closer. A large, old wooden door. The way out! Belgium picked up speed, causing the crossbow at her side to start thudding against her hip. But she didn’t care. She was so close... Almost there... The blonde didn’t even bother stopping, and she crashed into the door that was keeping her inside the barn. Ignoring the pain down her side, she grabbed and pulled at the handle. Nothing happened. Again, she yanked and the handles, but the door didn’t budge. Of course the door was locked. She shouldn't have been surprised, quite honestly. Everything was locked, leaving Belgium trapped. Alone. In the dark. Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful Now was not the time for sarcasm, though. Belgium had to get out! She couldn’t stand being stuck in this godforsaken place anymore! Slowly, but surely, it was toying with her mind. If she couldn’t get out, god knows what would happen to her. Belgium didn’t even want to think about what the consequences of that could be. “Somebody help!” Belgium screamed as the panic welled up inside her again and she suddenly dropped her crossbow and began pounding her fists against the door, praying that there was someone outside who could hear her. “I’m locked in! Please, let me out!” Please let somebody be there. Please let somebody let me out. Please! Of course, she wasn’t completely surprised again when nobody answered. Nobody was there. Luck really wasn’t on her side today, it seemed. Still, that didn’t stop her. She continued pounding on the door, harder this time. Her cries grew louder and louder, each word sounding far more desperate than the last. “Please! Please get me out of here! Let me out!” Now she could feel tears prickling the back of her olive eyes, the salty solution irritating her eyes and blurring her vision. Worry and anxiety was taking over her thought, muddling any rational thinking she might have had before. Her hands were burning in pain as tiny splinters of wood from the door began embedding themselves in her palms, causing tiny crimson drops of blood to start forming on her pale skin. Beads of sweat were running down her neck as the female nation’s body began trembling stronger than before. Her legs were feeling so weak; she could hardly hold herself up anymore. But still, she continued screaming. “Help! Help me!” her voice was growing hoarse, making the words scratchy as they echoed in the dead air. The tears were falling from her bloodshot eyes and tumbling down her cheeks now, leaving streams of red staining her face. "Can anybody hear me?!" Her whole body was burning in agony, her knees so weak it felt like they would give way at any second. Belgium’s hands were now turning a bright red colour; a mixture from the blood and the constant thumping against the heavy door. It was so solid and preventing her from any way out, it felt more like a giant brick wall to the Belgian woman. By now, Emma knew it was pointless. There was no way she could get out now. She was locked in and nobody could hear her. What was the point in trying now? Letting out a tiny groan, the Belgian hung her head in defeat, her hands falling limply to her sides. Her eyes glazed over as the tears fell to the floor, leaving tiny patched of water on the ground below. She felt completely pathetic. “Please...” she sobbed quietly, her lip trembling uncontrollably. She was all alone now, and she had to face the fact. “Please...” Her legs shook again, and suddenly the female nation’s knees gave out beneath her. Belgium didn’t even bother trying to fight gravity as she crumpled to the ground with a muffled thud, falling right next to the pistol crossbow she had carelessly left discarded on the floor. She was just so exhausted now, so tired... Her emotions had taken it all out of her. The blonde felt weak, pathetic. What a disgrace of a nation she was! The pain was mingling with a feeling of shame a a strange numbness that was starting to overcome her body. It was consuming her, leaving her feeling totally vulnerable. It was a strange sensation. Emma Lambert was suddenly overcome with the feeling that she just wanted to curl up and die. It was probably a much better thing than whatever the manor had in store for her anyway. There was just no point any more. “Come on België! You can’t just give up; you’re a nation!” the little voice in the back of her mind was scolding her again. “Stand up and fight! Don’t just lie there completely defeated! You're better than this!” Emma just let out a tiny, almost inaudible moan and pulled her knees to her chest, curling into herself. “What’s the point?” Belgium groaned as she wiped her eyes with the hem of her red coat. “I’m stuck here anyway. There's no way out. And I'm talking to myself again... I'll need to see a psychiatrist after all this.” If there is an “after this”. She shuddered at the thought, clenching her teeth tightly to stop herself from letting out another pathetic whimper. Oh, why did it all come down to this? Why couldn’t the nations have just stayed away from here? “België, listen to me.” Belgium rolled her eyes at her inner voice. “Well, seeing as you are me...” “België, just get a grip! Pick up your crossbow, stand up and stay strong! As I told you before, you’ve been through far worse than this and you survived.” The Belgian arched her neck and cocked her head back to stare at the crossbow lying inches away from the top of her head. The voice in her mind was right about that; she had been through worse things. Maybe, if she thought about it, she could still stand up and get out. Maybe she could get out of this manor alive. Maybe she could survive. A tiny smile appeared on her lips as she reached up towards the weapon before her. Her fingers wrapped tightly around the handle and she pulled the crossbow towards her chest. “Ja... maybe I shouldn't give in so easily. Just maybe...” Despite the protests of her shaking legs, ever so slowly, the woman pushed off from the floor with her free hand and pulled herself up to her feet. She winced at the stinging sensation of the splinters in her hand, but gritted her teeth and stood upright. At first, she stumbled a bit, feeling a little dizzy on her feet. It took a moment for the room to stop spinning, but pretty soon she had regained her composure and was holding the weapon out in front of her, ready to attack whatever might be lurking in the shadows. The Belgian sniffed and quickly wiped away the last few tears that stung her eyes with the back of her hand, keeping her eyes firm and focused. Her olive orbs scanned the area around her quickly. Nothing in sight, but she should remain alert. After all, she still couldn't see fantastically well in the semi-darkness. Taking a tentative step forward, eyes still darting around for any signs of... something, the female nation swallowed thickly and called out, "Is anyone here? If so, show yourself!" There was no way to back down now. The terror that was still causing her stomach to churn was what she was trying to fight back as she edge further and further away from the locked door of the barn. A part of her was screaming "Run and hide! Stop trying to act brave!" Yet the other was saying calmly, "Stand strong, don't back down." The conflicting emotions were hard to manage as they battled away inside her head. However, Belgium knew that right now, the best thing to do was to keep her composure. Do not break down again, because then you are at your most vulnerable. And when you’re vulnerable, you are an easy target. Emma Lambert swallowed thickly and took a deep breath in, trying to control her heavy breathing and sooth her nerves. Her eyes narrowed and her lips pressed together to form a tight line, making her suddenly look much harder than she usually acted. Don’t show the enemy (if there was an enemy) that you’re scared. They’ll take advantage of that, otherwise. “Do you hear me?” Belgium suddenly shouted, throwing her arms up in the air and gesticulating wildly. Honestly, she surprised herself with how loud her voice sounded. Already, it seemed and she felt ten times more confident. “Show yourself!” The blonde woman raised an arched eyebrow when all she was met with was silence. Maybe she was alone? Quite honestly, she would have much rather that was the case. Although, knowing this freaky, messed up place, she highly doubted it was. The blonde nation gritted her teeth tightly together and took another step forward. She was suddenly feeling a burst of courage. She could face whatever there was, and then she’d get out, find the others and they’d all escape together. Yes, she was not giving up now. Not now, no way. “Come out and fight me!” Belgium yelled again, her grasp on the crossbow tightening. Her lips formed a tiny smirk as she stood strong, holding her ground. The Kingdom of Belgium was going to stay brave and fight anything! She was not backing down now. “Come out and fight me!!” Additional Information (OOC): Name/Nickname: Amy Time Zone: GMT +1 hour (Slovakia) Contact Info: PMs, chatango: BelgiumChocolate, or Skype if you ask for it. Introduce yourself: Bonjour! I'm Amy; an overly patriotic Brit living in Eastern Europe who... enjoys Hetalia and SnK too much for her own good. XD Seriously, I just finished the anime of Attack on Titan and god I love it so much! ♥ I need to read the manga at some point. Anyway, it's a pleasure to meet you all, and I hope we can RP some time~ Have you read the rules? ...we lived in fear of the Titans and were disgraced to exist in these cages we called walls. |
Coding by Elruko, please do not steal.