PROFILE
Player name: Dee
Characters played: None
Character Name: Meera Ranawat
Age: 20
How long They've Been in the Deck: 20 years
Suit/Rank: Four of Spades
History: Born and raised in Spade Castle, Meera knows very little about life outside the Deck. Her early life is a bit of a blur, as her mother did her best to keep details of that time from Meera's recollection. She tells her daughter that her father was a foolish man from another suit. He had a high rank, but did not know when to keep quiet about sensitive intelligence. In the end, his tongue led to his downfall. Secrecy, privacy, Meera's mother insisted, were imperative to living a long, healthy, happy, successful life. Meera nodded as if she understood. She was only a child; what she drew from the story was that her father had been a great man who never told any lies, but he was gone now.
As her mother was already a Nine when Meera was born, the girl led a fairly charmed childhood. She was expected to learn how to serve her betters in the castle once she came of age, but for the time being she was treated with courtesy. She enjoyed playing with the other Spade children, but at the end of the day, what she really wanted was to fall into an encyclopedia. Life outside the Deck was so interesting, though she didn't romanticize it the way some of the other girls did. Meera had no interest in visiting the places she read about. That would be quite redundant. So long as the libraries weren't lost, she could visit Africa and Antarctica and Mongolia any time she pleased.
Meera didn't pay much attention to her mother's status before she came of age. It was then she noticed that her mother was simply treading water. She didn't seem to want to challenge the face cards. Meera asked what the matter was. For as long as she could remember, her mother had stressed the importance of progress. Always forward, always moving. And that was when Mrs Ranawat broke- as much as a Spade can break, that is. She told her daughter that she wasn't strong enough to keep dealing with constant competition. She had since placed her hope in Meera. She knew that Meera could go further than she'd ever dreamed to. It sounded almost like a deathbed wish, though Mrs Ranawat wasn't going anywhere.
The speech got results. Though still a Four, Meera is working harder than ever. She's ingratiating herself with the higher ranking Cards in her Suit, serving them as best she can. She's devouring every book she can lay her hands on. She's begun to try to train herself in the martial arts, but even Meera admits that's probably a lost cause. She wants to put herself in an ideal position before she strikes.
Personality: Meera is an energetic, precocious young woman. She's almost incapable of letting a statement pass without responding, no matter how mundane it is. Comment that grass is green and she'll start feeding you 'interesting' facts about many types of vegetation that qualify as grasses which aren't green at all. She'll go on to tell you where they're found, what they're used for, etc. Meera is a shameless know-it-all. The only thing she doesn't seem to know is how tiresome she can be.
Fond of puns and other rusty forms of humor, she's a complete social embarrassment to her mother. It would be one thing if she was quiet, but her tendency to nudge her way into conversations in which she doesn't belong is a problem, especially in Spade society. She remembers her courtesies, of course, but she's always dancing on the edge separating refreshing from rude. Meera believes in honesty above all else. That's not to say that she'd tell the Queen that she has an ugly blemish on her upper lip, but she does have a strict policy against lying. Her mother hopes that the years will sap the moral righteousness out of her, but at twenty, it seems Meera is only becoming more principled.
Still, she's clever and ambitious and just champing at the bit to skyrocket through Spade ranks. Self-assured, Meera knows she possesses the instincts and the work ethic needed to revolutionize her court. She will have her chance to show everyone that the reading she's done, the long hours she's spent educating herself in truly important matters haven't been wasted. In her mind, Meera is a gift to her community and they'll accept her, whether they want to or not.
Character's Goals/Ambitions: Gaining power in her Suit is Meera's ultimate goal. While it would be nice to rank as a Jack or a Queen, she's smart enough to know she'll never be able to hold a position like that. Her talent is too lopsided; perhaps she'd make it through one or two challenges, but she knows she's no staying power. What Meera really wants is to be appointed as Ace. With the King or Queen's attention, she'd be able to achieve great things.
Appearance: Meera is on the short, stocky side. She isn't bothered by the extra weight she carries around, but on occasion people can be so cruel, can't they? In order to avoid any unnecessary nasty remarks, she dresses in long skirts and baggy sweaters. Her dowdy style can make her look decades older than her age, but as a consolation prize she's always very, very comfortable.
Every thought that passes through that girl's head registers on her face. In many ways, Meera is a Spade poster child, but when it comes to slyness, she's a great big belly-flop. She'll insist her lack of etiquette ties into her unwavering belief in honesty, but really she just can't help but roll her eyes when something stupid has been said, can't help but cackle when she likes a joke, and can't help but look like she's thinking of ripping out your jugular with her teeth when she's offended.
Character PB Mandeep Dhillon
Writing sample: She liked sitting amongst the gargoyles while she enjoyed her afternoon tea. The cook never managed to shoo Meera out of the kitchen before she'd stolen an extra sandwich. She put in the work, the lowly Spade told herself as her short legs swung to and fro over the edge of the battlements, why shouldn't she reap some benefits? Nobody would remember all those sandwiches she'd nicked when she was sitting pretty in the throne room, whispering in royal ears. Thoughts like that made the crusty bread a little softer, the mustard a little less vinegary.
It was nice to sneak up here, where nobody could find her, and look at the other castles. They were all prettier than the Spades', but even that brought a smile to her lips. She was the one enjoying all that work they'd put into the fancy masonry and bloody crystal walls. With her knees tucked up under her chin and her sandwich forgotten (but noted by the pigeons), Meera thought about a Four of Hearts or Diamonds or Clubs sitting high in their own castle staring forward. What would they see? A hundred ugly gargoyles sneering in their faces.
Spades always had the right of it.
How did you hear about us? An ad on InsaneJournal.
Characters played: None
Character Name: Meera Ranawat
Age: 20
How long They've Been in the Deck: 20 years
Suit/Rank: Four of Spades
History: Born and raised in Spade Castle, Meera knows very little about life outside the Deck. Her early life is a bit of a blur, as her mother did her best to keep details of that time from Meera's recollection. She tells her daughter that her father was a foolish man from another suit. He had a high rank, but did not know when to keep quiet about sensitive intelligence. In the end, his tongue led to his downfall. Secrecy, privacy, Meera's mother insisted, were imperative to living a long, healthy, happy, successful life. Meera nodded as if she understood. She was only a child; what she drew from the story was that her father had been a great man who never told any lies, but he was gone now.
As her mother was already a Nine when Meera was born, the girl led a fairly charmed childhood. She was expected to learn how to serve her betters in the castle once she came of age, but for the time being she was treated with courtesy. She enjoyed playing with the other Spade children, but at the end of the day, what she really wanted was to fall into an encyclopedia. Life outside the Deck was so interesting, though she didn't romanticize it the way some of the other girls did. Meera had no interest in visiting the places she read about. That would be quite redundant. So long as the libraries weren't lost, she could visit Africa and Antarctica and Mongolia any time she pleased.
Meera didn't pay much attention to her mother's status before she came of age. It was then she noticed that her mother was simply treading water. She didn't seem to want to challenge the face cards. Meera asked what the matter was. For as long as she could remember, her mother had stressed the importance of progress. Always forward, always moving. And that was when Mrs Ranawat broke- as much as a Spade can break, that is. She told her daughter that she wasn't strong enough to keep dealing with constant competition. She had since placed her hope in Meera. She knew that Meera could go further than she'd ever dreamed to. It sounded almost like a deathbed wish, though Mrs Ranawat wasn't going anywhere.
The speech got results. Though still a Four, Meera is working harder than ever. She's ingratiating herself with the higher ranking Cards in her Suit, serving them as best she can. She's devouring every book she can lay her hands on. She's begun to try to train herself in the martial arts, but even Meera admits that's probably a lost cause. She wants to put herself in an ideal position before she strikes.
Personality: Meera is an energetic, precocious young woman. She's almost incapable of letting a statement pass without responding, no matter how mundane it is. Comment that grass is green and she'll start feeding you 'interesting' facts about many types of vegetation that qualify as grasses which aren't green at all. She'll go on to tell you where they're found, what they're used for, etc. Meera is a shameless know-it-all. The only thing she doesn't seem to know is how tiresome she can be.
Fond of puns and other rusty forms of humor, she's a complete social embarrassment to her mother. It would be one thing if she was quiet, but her tendency to nudge her way into conversations in which she doesn't belong is a problem, especially in Spade society. She remembers her courtesies, of course, but she's always dancing on the edge separating refreshing from rude. Meera believes in honesty above all else. That's not to say that she'd tell the Queen that she has an ugly blemish on her upper lip, but she does have a strict policy against lying. Her mother hopes that the years will sap the moral righteousness out of her, but at twenty, it seems Meera is only becoming more principled.
Still, she's clever and ambitious and just champing at the bit to skyrocket through Spade ranks. Self-assured, Meera knows she possesses the instincts and the work ethic needed to revolutionize her court. She will have her chance to show everyone that the reading she's done, the long hours she's spent educating herself in truly important matters haven't been wasted. In her mind, Meera is a gift to her community and they'll accept her, whether they want to or not.
Character's Goals/Ambitions: Gaining power in her Suit is Meera's ultimate goal. While it would be nice to rank as a Jack or a Queen, she's smart enough to know she'll never be able to hold a position like that. Her talent is too lopsided; perhaps she'd make it through one or two challenges, but she knows she's no staying power. What Meera really wants is to be appointed as Ace. With the King or Queen's attention, she'd be able to achieve great things.
Appearance: Meera is on the short, stocky side. She isn't bothered by the extra weight she carries around, but on occasion people can be so cruel, can't they? In order to avoid any unnecessary nasty remarks, she dresses in long skirts and baggy sweaters. Her dowdy style can make her look decades older than her age, but as a consolation prize she's always very, very comfortable.
Every thought that passes through that girl's head registers on her face. In many ways, Meera is a Spade poster child, but when it comes to slyness, she's a great big belly-flop. She'll insist her lack of etiquette ties into her unwavering belief in honesty, but really she just can't help but roll her eyes when something stupid has been said, can't help but cackle when she likes a joke, and can't help but look like she's thinking of ripping out your jugular with her teeth when she's offended.
Character PB Mandeep Dhillon
Writing sample: She liked sitting amongst the gargoyles while she enjoyed her afternoon tea. The cook never managed to shoo Meera out of the kitchen before she'd stolen an extra sandwich. She put in the work, the lowly Spade told herself as her short legs swung to and fro over the edge of the battlements, why shouldn't she reap some benefits? Nobody would remember all those sandwiches she'd nicked when she was sitting pretty in the throne room, whispering in royal ears. Thoughts like that made the crusty bread a little softer, the mustard a little less vinegary.
It was nice to sneak up here, where nobody could find her, and look at the other castles. They were all prettier than the Spades', but even that brought a smile to her lips. She was the one enjoying all that work they'd put into the fancy masonry and bloody crystal walls. With her knees tucked up under her chin and her sandwich forgotten (but noted by the pigeons), Meera thought about a Four of Hearts or Diamonds or Clubs sitting high in their own castle staring forward. What would they see? A hundred ugly gargoyles sneering in their faces.
Spades always had the right of it.
How did you hear about us? An ad on InsaneJournal.