Post by Starfire on Feb 11, 2012 15:31:57 GMT -5
STARFIRE
"How many okarins does it take to hogie a morflark? Fimbar!"
THE BASICS;;
NAME: Koriand‘r.
AGE: Sixteen.
SEX: Female.
CODENAME: Starfire.
ALIASES: Kory Anders, when taking on a human identity, Star, among her comrades, and little Bongorf by her guardian,
AFFILIATION: Teen Titans.
STATUS: Integrating into human culture.
CANON: Yes.
PLAYBY: Starfire.
THE GOOD STUFF;;
(OPTIONAL IMAGE)
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:
Most people don’t really see Starfire for what she really is. At least, every since she arrived on planet Earth, she had perceived the way earth boys looked at her and had concluded that they weren’t really looking, they were merely staring almost mindlessly at her. At what exactly she wasn’t sure. There was a lot of things the young Tamaran didn’t understand about the world that she inhibited but the thing that puzzled her the most was the constant staring she would receive from humans. It was strange and uninviting and, although the alien could bend steel like nothing and take on deadly beam rays, there was something offsetting about the way guy’s would pause to give her that look. Often times she had to wonder whether she had somehow provoked this attention- had she said something wrong? Had she done something she shouldn't have? It was the sort of look that made the crawling of the skin possible.
In her world, her people weren’t allowed to look at her like that- they weren’t allowed to look at her at all, much less directly in the eyes and X’hal forbid they even touch her. Not without her k'norfka, Galfore, tearing the soft tissue that connected ones shoulder blades to their arms. It took a few comments and a brief explanation from her teammate to make her understand that the strange looks was in fact out of admiration. From what she could tell, the males that she would come across found her ‘pretty’ though, that too was a confusing word that needed explanation. Pretty, much like the word nice, did not translate well in Tamaran. Starfire lived in a place where pretty meant being able to crush a number of enemies without falling to the ground in defeat and to be attractive was to bear a body full of battle scars much like Galfore. She hadn’t known it then (and even now she seldom is aware of it) but on Earth it just so happens that she falls under the narrow perception of ideal beauty captured by the media. What with her slender build, her golden, sun-kissed skin, ruby red hair that falls to the small of her back and her jade eyes, it is no surprise. One might venture to say that there is something exotic about her; something otherworldly and strange and sometimes fascinating when combined with her immense strength. But then sometimes people just forget how alien she really is. She is unique when compared to a typical earthling (and that is without including her eight stomachs) but not strange enough to appear extraterrestrial unless you were to peer at the soft shade of green that surround her iris.
Despite how she may appear, it is only in the way that she portrays herself that separates her from the rest of the humans on earth. When she walks, she does so with the dignity and the strength of a warrior princess. She doesn’t slouch (which she finds to be a sign of weakness and disdain in her planet), and she doesn’t bow her head so willingly. She is the second princess of Tamaran and as such, there is a certain air about her- although the severity of her dignified position is dampened by how awkward she is when tackling human culture. Always, her back is straight, eyes front, and every gesture and movement is done with purpose and precision. Such as it is, her mannerism has swayed since she arrived in earth and there is a strong sense of carefree attitude that overshadows her princess demeanor.
There is no denying her pride when looked into her dark green eyes. Time and the events in her home planet have not been able to extinguish that. It is a trait that every Royal family possess, and yet, hers is different. Her gaze is much warmer, and currently less concealed by a guarded veil. Those eyes of hers are always so expressive and lively, like she is thoroughly examining the sight of even the most commonplace household item in a gaze of fascination. (She couldn’t help but examine a simple lily for hours that one time she went to the park).
Coupled by her appearance is the traditional attire of her family. Steel plates used to cover the length of her arms, abdomen and legs, showing little skin, with an assortment of purple leather (or what would appear as leather) shirt, skirt, and boots. However, since her stay in earth, she had stripped her metal armor in an attempt to appear more approachable towards others.
PERSONALITY:
Starfire is, in many ways, strong. Not just physically but emotionally, too. Though sensitive, she very rarely allows herself to crumble under the pressure of her new life on Earth. In fact, as a guest to the planet, Star has found an appetite to learn new things; cultures, behaviors, traditions, languages- she‘s had a thirst for the peaceful green land she inhibits and with her new found curiosity comes this love of exploring humanity and every phenomenon unique to Earth. Like, for instance, did you know in Tamaran the sky doesn’t cry? That was perhaps the most interesting thing of all when she first arrived on the planet; confused and hostile at first. Admittedly, a little rain (and thunder) had scared the warrior princess into tears- but she would not allow herself to leave Earth. Not when the sky would scream in flashes of booming thunder and from its outcry a shower of crisp water droplets glazing the ground. Or when her friends wouldn’t understand the difference between a Gwarfnok and a Finbar and would simply stare at her in confusion. Nor when she felt deep down this yearning to go back to Tamaran. She didn’t leave when it became painstakingly obvious that she was a stranger in a whole new world.
Everything was scary- their costumes of touching was something that she had not been familiar with, or their ability to express this thing called ‘happiness‘. She didn’t know what a smile was, not fully. That is until it became apparent that expressions, such as turning the corners of your lips upward, was just another form of language that she had mastered over the course of her stay. Adjusting to her new lifestyle was equally difficult and to this day it can be hard. Despite her obvious displacement, she never gave up trying. There was always a question to ask, and once she was done bothering the closest willing (or unwilling) teammate, most notably Robin, she would continue to pursue the next mystery.
Earth customs are far different from her own and the words ‘On my world‘ became a frequent phrase used to express the dividing lines between her planet and earth. When she’s not exposing herself to her teammates lifestyle, Starfire loves to share her own traditions, especially the ones she cherishes the most. That rarely goes well.Because she has been exposed to oddities beyond her imagination, this has allowed her accept people for who they are rather then what they look like. She treats everyone, even those less deserving, with a level of integrity and patience up until they threaten her friends. Though not particularly violent (unless circumstances call for it), Star is ruthless and isn’t afraid to flex her own muscles to save what she values most. The only exception to this is when she is forced to fight against her own teammates, in which case she will hesitate.
POWERS AND/OR ABILITIES: Starfire’s physiological form allows her to absorb ultraviolet radiation to use that energy for flight. She can fly up to speeds ten times faster than light though, her ability to maintain flight rest on her emotions and being happy. If distressed, she won‘t be able to lift off the ground, and even if she could, it would be greatly hampered until she faces what troubles her. She is also resilient to the vacuum of space, cold weather, and radiation to certain extent. If consistently exposed, especially when she‘s already worn, her resilience will waver. But most importantly, Starfire’s trademark power is her dark green star bolts that she shoots from both her hands and eyes and her extraordinary Tamaran strength. Star can also learn languages through lip contact.
WEAKNESSES: While her emotions play a strong role in successfully brandishing her powers, it can also become a handicap. When something bothers the very core of her emotions, she will lose her control. She relies on being angry when fighting, and a sense of happiness or urgency when flying. Her emotions have to be brimming on the surface in order to give her the strength to take on her enemies. Because she is strong, and resilient to normal attacks, Starfire’s reflexes suffer partially with the misleading notion that few things could truly harm her.
GOALS: Her current goal is to maintain peace on Earth and care for the well-being of her teammates. This, however; has not stopped her from venturing back to her Tamaran to check on the situation.
HISTORY:
Koriand’r, or rather Starfire by Earthling standard, is an alien princess of planet Tamaran, in the system Vega. She was born and raised by her k'norfka, Galfore, in the occasional absence of her parents. Starfire is second in line for the crown next to her older sister Blackfire, though she shows little interest to inherent any powers over her people. She lived a relatively peaceful life, or as close to peaceful in a war-torn world of Tamaran. Her only companions growing up were her older sister, her younger brother, and K’norfka. Any interaction with her parents were minimal as they spent their time and energy keeping peace with neighboring worlds, or protecting their planet from invading outsiders. Growing up being a princess was not difficult, it was the principals, however; that determined that she would not have any physical contact with anyone outside of her family. There wasn’t a time when she didn’t feel lonely within the large hallways of her glorious kingdom. The people that her parents governed were set in different casts, and few were allowed to speak to her unless it were matters that concerned her or her family but even direct contact was met through a long line of advisers that passed messages from the outside world. Had she lived her life without any misdealing from her sister, she would have surely grown up without any knowledge of earth and married a chosen suitor to continue the line. For that, Starfire is grateful that her sister was so treacherous.
Despite the circumstance, Starfire kept close to her siblings. She idolized Blackfire though, she would hate to admit it but there would be times when she felt herself being overshadowed by her greatness. She was, to say the least, a little jealous that she wasn’t the fastest, or the strongest. Wildfire, her little brother on the other hand, was her favorite companion and she often sought out his company in order to keep boredom at bay. While her family wasn’t as close as say that of the ones she’s seen portrayed on television in planet Earth, she can’t deny that her love for them was strong and requited. Love just isn’t the same as an Earthling and sometimes can be misinterpreted as hostile when seen through the eyes of an outsider. They generally scream, hiss, and glare to show an over enthusiasm at first, followed by a strong, bone-crushing hug. It is simply their way, and if that wasn’t odd enough, Starfire has a long list of customs, such as burping so that no one may steal your Gnorfko and reciting the poem of gratitude, all six thousand verses to show her appreciation.
The tradition of Tamaran are old and very few times challenged by royalty. It is a tradition that descends generations of war and blood bath. Many Tamarans found themselves living in the comfort of the rule of Starfire’s parents that is until the day that the mighty Gordanian’s attacked her planet. That was two years ago. The tension between Tamaran and Gordanian grew greatly. They sought territory, dominance and slavery from her people. Fearing that this harm would reach their children, Starfire’s parents devised a plan to allow the youngest brood to escape the premises before things got out of hand. That was the last time Starfire saw Wildfire again. She knew little of what was to come and feared that she wouldn’t be able to defend those that she cared for. She was only so young, and even though she was exposed to training in her planet, just like everyone else, her strength alone would not be able to overcome the numbers and the technology used in firearms. Blackfire proposed this to her; if she allowed herself to get captured in exchange for the safety of Tamaran than Blackfire would save her from the Citadel- it was an agreement that she found herself agreeing too. Anything for her people, she had thought then. With her enslavement and the peace restored to Tamaran, Starfire had not counted on her parents dying of grief. Even her Gnorfko, once powerful and strong, could not help but to fall into a deep depression.
Starfire’s life inside the ship of the Gordanian was unbearable, she couldn’t sleep, she couldn’t eat, she had been probed, tortured, and bent to her very breaking point and by the time that she was left to her own thoughts, Starfire, couldn’t help but to think about the ongoing of Citadel. From all the rumors that she had heard from passing whispers, she knew it was as promising as death. It was the sort of exposure that drove her to fight in a frenzy of anger, panic, and desperation. When she did escape, hissing and growling like a feral beast, the young princess took to space and dived into the closest planet available while destroying anything in her path. Her anger was mixed with confusion and it didn’t take long for her to run ramped on the street of Jump city where she soon met with Robin, Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy. They did more for her that day than she can ever imagine; and what‘s more, it was something that to this day she feels needs repaying. Since her first encounter with the team, Starfire had stuck by their side not just as a friend, or a teammate, but as family.
THE NITTY-GRITTY;;
SCREENNAME: Betts
Time spent roleplaying: Hm, a year?
Other Characters: N/A
RP Sample:
It was strange waking up in the morning to see the golden sphere of the sun at the very edge of what looked like the world. Strange because she had not anticipated waking up this late into the afternoon. No day was ever the same. For months now the young Tamaran had adjusted into this sporadic routine when living with the Teen Titans. Sometimes she would wake up, mostly at night, to the sound of blaring alarms and within seconds she would find herself hitting the streets of Jump City accompanied by her team. Other times, the signals and flashing lights would not go off but in its absence, the warning bells would be replaced by raised voices and jeering from her roommates. No doubt invoked by their video games. Sometimes, there wouldn't be that. Living with them was unpredictable but regardless of what would happen, or how the day would start, Starfire could count on spending time with her friends. There was something about seeing the same faces, and hearing the light banter being exchanged that brought this warmth to her heart and in that particular morning she felt it bubbling inside of her. She was looking forward to hearing the endearing green changeling do 'the smack talk' with Cyborg. She wanted more than anything to persuade Raven to do the 'shopping of the mall', and she had hoped to do training with Robin.
That morning had not been met with alarms. In fact, it was quiet for a change. Her blanket had been wrapped around her shoulders when she walked towards the window. Her eyes were glued in admiration of what she saw. It was a most glorious day! The kind that inspired social hangouts.
A thought sneaked pass her silent stupor and she couldn’t help but smile. She quickly did away with her morning garments to replace them with her trademark uniform; all the while containing fits of silly giggle and squeals. When she ventured outside her chambers, floating as she did when overcome by happiness, Starfire was pleased to find that no one had stirred from their slumber. Robin, she had thought, must have been awake at this hour. Her thoughts lingered on him and how she couldn’t help but picture the mysterious boy with the domino mask being capable of sleeping. He would surely be buried in work or doing the ‘hitting of the gym’ at this hour. Raven, on the other hand… as hard as she tried, she just couldn’t draw any conclusions for her morning activities. It seemed that when she wasn’t sleeping, she was either meditating, or reading but for all she had gathered, Starfire couldn’t understand why anyone would do any of those activities when the sun was poking out as glorious and as beautiful as any lunar stone she’s ever seen. Beast Boy and Cyborg would be asleep, she deducted. They had a tendency of playing video games pass the hours of the night until early morning.
With that in mind, the young Tamaran did her best to contain her excitement but somewhere between exploring the cabinets, and clawing the inside of the fridge for food, she had overestimated her ability to stay quiet for long. There was the clatter of kitchenware, the bright humming of a Tamaranian tune, and the occasional ‘AH-HA!’.
This was certainly a most glorious day to celebrate!
The kitchen had been coated with white flour, mustard, ketchup, random condiments, and strange scents once the oven had its good twenty minutes of heating the concoction that she made. She wasn’t sure how things worked around here. The technology was far behind her own but it took her a few curious button pressings to get it started. By the time everyone would rise from their beds, she was hoping to have it all set up. Her limbs were all animated and she grew faster in her motion. She was popping down next to the oven, pulling out the food that resembled one of Tamaran’s delinquency- or as close to it as chicken, a meatloaf, two week old pizzas, octopus leg, could be-, zipping towards the cabinets to fetch spices, and appearing back in the table hoisting a load of food. She did not forget that Beast Boy could not stomach the fleshy meat, so she too made sure to add an extra serving of tofu for breakfast.
It was a morning to remember, she thought. Today she was going to celebrate another year with the team. As she roamed about the kitchen, she half marveled whether she should take out the Tamaran pipes to wake them up in song. Surely, that would be a good gesture, no? She was all smiles when she zoomed into her room trying, once again, to keep quiet. She didn’t want to stir anyone up, not until she was done with her musical piece.
