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Character Survey
Body and Appearance
1. Describe the character's height and build. Is she heavyset, thin, short, rangy?
M'ahina is max height for Miqo'te, which puts her around 5'4”. She's got a small frame and is relatively slender, though she is also quite top heavy (nsfw)
2. How old is she?
20 at the start of ARR; I play her up to 25ish depending on how you want to interpret the timeline, since the whole time bubble thing is stupid.
3. Describe her posture. Does she carry herself well or does she slouch?
She usually stands fairly straight but her body language is pretty casual; most often she has her hands in her pockets, or she'll hook her thumbs into her belt loops.
4. How is her health? Is she fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities?
In shape and needlessly energetic. She'll get a minor cold or headaches here and there sometimes, but nothing super major.
5. How does she move? Is she clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid?
Very fluid and graceful; her tail gives her almost impeccable balance, plus she's a trained dancer so she is also very coordinated.
6. How attractive is this character physically? How does she perceive herself in the mirror?
She is quite pretty! She has a fairly healthy self-image; she doesn't look down on herself or want to change much, but neither does she think she's the most gorgeous girl in the universe. She is not above flaunting herself to someone she finds attractive and is pretty unshy about showing skin. ( ref image )
7. Describe her complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred?
Clear, light, with just a hint of bronze. She gets lots of bruises from fighting but doesn't tend to scar a whole lot.
8. Describe her hair: color, texture, style.
Straight, sleek, dark brown, with juuuust a hint of fluff. She keeps it medium length; she likes tying it back sometimes but it gets too hot for when it's long because it's on the thick side. She also never goes without at least one flower in her hair.
9. What color are her eyes?
Heterochromia! One blue eye, one green eye, with slanted pupils like a cat. She is very proud of her eyes because her mother always told her they were a sign of luck / prosperity, and she seems to have been right because there's a lot that M'ahina gets through with STUPID SHEER LUCK rather than smarts. See: anything involving technology.
10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features?
Tail floof! Very Important. And of course the cat ears. She has orangeish tabby stripes on her cheeks and forehead which are smooth to the touch, as they're just a natural part of her skin. They do not appear anywhere else on her body.
11. What are her chief tension centers?
Temples and the the top of her head; the Echo makes her prone to headaches. She hates them. Her ears are also quite sensitive so sounds that are too sharp, too loud, or even simply too new for her to know how to filter out can sometimes hurt her, though she's not as bad off Renda Rae.
12. What is the character's wardrobe like? Casual, dressy, utilitarian? Bright colors, pastels, neutrals? Is it varied, or does she have six of the same suit?
M'ahina tends to eschew the practical in favor of looking stylish, and she genuinely cannot stand pants. She can and WILL run around in tunics and half-dresses that barely cover her, and she prefers linens and cotton and heavier fabrics, let alone full armor. She isn't above using armored gauntlets on ONE arm, but the legs must be free. Whatever is light, breathable, and gives her the fullest range of motion. If you run downwind of her it is almost guaranteed you will get a face full of ass. That being the case, her style is more feminine and flirty than overtly sexy. As colors go, she prefers earthy, foresty tones; teal, green, brown, gold.
13. Do her clothes fit well? Does she seem comfortable in them?
Yes! Nothing is worse than having to constantly adjust your clothes, let alone in battle. Most of garments are custom made especially for her, either through commission or just as presents from Tataru,
14. Does she dress the same on the job as she does in her free time? If not, what are the differences?
She pretty much dresses the same universally, though she might wear slightly nicer dresses outside of battle sometimes – wouldn't want to risk ruining finery.
15. You knew it was coming: Boxers, briefs or commando?
Depends on whatever mood strikes her. Usually it's a pair of bloomers with stockings, she might also wear regular bikini briefs or a thong, but while she is okay with the entire world seeing her butt, she never actually goes commando.
Speech
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse?
Fairly high-pitched; see this for in game example.
2. How does she normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does she talk easily, or does she hesitate?
Pretty evenly, moderate volume level. Her tone is usually sweet and enthusiastic.
3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics?
She grew up in Gridania, so she has a pretty standard Eorzean accent (read: British). No real accent quirks.
4. What language/s does she speak, and with how much fluency?
Just Eorzean! Thanks to the Echo she can understand and by understood by anyone, however. Ultimate cheat code! Spoken only, she can't actually read other languages. She's learned a little bit of clicks and whistles that Miqo'te use to signal each other in hunting, but they are just that, signals, not the actual Huntspeak the tribes once had.
5. Does she switch languages or dialects in certain situations?
Nope!
6. Is she a good impromptu speaker, or does she have to think about her words?
Thinking is a very dangerous pastime that she will take no part of, thank you!
7. Is she eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change?
Somewhere along the middle! When it comes to friends she somehow knows exactly what to say; when it comes to anything pertaining to HER she tends to fall silent or dismiss it with a joke.
Mental and Emotional
1. How intelligent is this character? Is she book-smart or street-smart?
More street smart. She is quite average in all regards, though given most of her close friends are scholars, she does tend to look comparatively stupid sometimes. She can parrot things the Scions have told her, but ask her to elaborate and she'll just shrug; her expertise is in music and archery. She knows enough to keep her wits in dangerous areas, and loves picking up bits of local culture and cuisine, and apart from that she mostly relies on luck.
2. Does she think on her feet, or does she need time to deliberate?
To reiterate: thinking = bad. Very bad. She tends to go with the flow and does whatever seems to feel right in the moment, and if it's not something where she can just act on her gut and HAS to deliberate, she has smarter people than her for that and relies on them instead.
3. Describe the character's thought process. Is she more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical?
Very, very intuitive. She thinks on her feet and listens to her gut. She CAN come up with solutions to problems, but only when it's a matter of creativity rather than logic. Universally when asked for her opinion, he solutions have never quite fit inside the box. She knows that she cannot make perfect choices and that sometimes sacrifices need to be made for the greater good, that sometimes it is wholly necessary to get her hands dirty, but deep down she's a hopeless idealist and it does hurt her a bit when she's forced to do things like that.
4. What kind of education has the character had?
Pretty average. Although she was technically born to a moon cat commune she wasn't around long enough for any of it to be deeply ingrained in her, and did most of her studying in the city. Although study is a loose term. She tended to play instead of complete her assignments and usually tried to bat her eyelashes to get out of trouble from it because she knew she was a cute kitten. She was a menace.
5. What are her areas of expertise? What, if anything, is she interested in learning more about?
Archery, dancing, music, poetry, hunting. She's also a hobbyist culinarian and really likes flowers. But the primary thing she is always interested in learning is more so new people and new places.
6. Is she an introvert or an extrovert?
Yes.
So on the one hand, M'ahina feels more energized when she's socializing with other people and engaging with new situations, and if she MUST be alone then she has to be doing something that doesn't necessarily force her to engage with herself. Using creative juices = yes. Self-reflection = hell no. Yet while she is open to lots and lots of socializing and partying and human interaction in general, she is actually quite closed off emotionally and directs conversations away from herself at all times, and since she is usually so happy and cheerful she tends to get away with it.
7. Describe the character's temperament. Is she even-tempered or does she have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven?
Let's just say this girl needs some therapy. Externally she is usually bright, sunny, very eager to please. Internally, she's kind of prone to loneliness and melancholy and needs to distract herself using people or new situations at almost all times, and the harder things get for her the more she will purse this, to increasingly reckless abandonment. She considers moments where can't maintain a smile failures, and if she lets the mask fall too far in front of anyone she gets very upset and might avoid them for a while or double back in an obnoxiously cheerful way to compensate for it.
That being case, after the events of Shadowbringers she's become a bit more at peace with herself and and her own desires and has become willing to reflect a bit more than she has in the past. And after the events of Endwalker, she's more willing to be open with the Scions in particular as she she's come to realize they know her MUCH better than she thought, and because she's almost lost the chance so many times she doesn't want to squander it anymore.
8. How does she respond to new people or situations? Is she suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic?
Very enthusiastically! She's excited to get to know people, excited to help them, to see them smile!
9. Is she more likely to act, or to react?
Definitely more reactive. It is unusual for her to make any plans; she just kind of goes with the flow and does whatever everyone else tells her to.
10. Which is her default: fight or flight?
Fight; the moment she senses any undue tension she's probably drawing her bow. Cornered? Drawing her bow. Deep down, she doesn't like this side of herself, but she hasn't it examined it very closely either.
11. Describe the character's sense of humor. Does she appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks?
She likes teasing people, and she also enjoys just a touch of absurdist humor. Just a touch! Usually involving spouting some kind of inane line at inopportune moments, such as near death.
12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does she deal with them?
Possibly, but I'm not under any impression her world has any MH resources so instead she just gets to go kill gods and stuff, it's fine probably.
13. What moments in this character's life have defined her as a person?
- The death of her parents caused her not only grief, but culture shock and a feeling of isolation ; she never quite realized until then until she never strictly had a group she belonged to.
- Leaving home to join the Adventurer's Guild made her feel useful and like she had something to contribute for the first time in her life.
- Joining the Scions taught her how to be (... partially) responsible for once in her life, and gradually like she finally found a new family.
- The Dragonsong War taught her the value and the meaning of sacrifice, and of making difficult choices.
- Journeying to the First forced her to think about what she wanted to protect and what kind of legacy she wanted to leave behind.
14. What does she fear?
Being left alone, losing her friends again, failure, isolation
15. What are her hopes or aspirations?
She doesn't actually have any grand dreams; her only real desire is keep traveling and keep the people important to her safe,
16. What is something she doesn't want anyone to find out about her?
What she's REALLY like underneath it all, the emotional strain that her adventures put on her sometimes, that sometimes she secretly resents the politics but she endures it to please and protect people, that part of her is scared her aversion to boredom might turn her into Zenos one day.
Relationships
1. Describe this character's relationship with her parents.
Very positive. Her parents both adored her more than life and spoiled the sin out of her. They let her get away with pretty much anything so long as it wouldn't put her in mortal peril, and smothered her in attention. Her parents were both somewhat controversial within the community for varying reasons so the family was super close knit. But when war came with Garlemald, they both got involved with the Grand Companies and had to spend less time with her, and she got a little resentful. Then, of course, they died in Carteneau. Not understanding the weight of their duty, or being able to say goodbye before they died is one of her DEEPEST regrets, but good luck getting her to talk about it. It's something she hasn't even told the Scions yet.
2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like?
Only child!
3. Are there other blood relatives to whom she is close? Are there ones she can't stand?
Her aunts took her in after her parents died, but they ended up not getting along well at all. Her aunts wanted to teach her discipline; M'ahina wanted to do whatever she wanted, and she was also still grieving, so it was just a really poor match all around. They didn't know what to do with her and scolding her just made her resent them more. As an adult M'ahina can appreciate that circumstances were complicated and that they were really doing their best for her, but she still has never met them again and considers that chapter of her life closed; she thinks meeting them again would just be too awkward for everyone and she does noooot like emotional tension (or at least not when she's personally involved).
4. Are there other, unrelated people whom she considers part of her family? What are her relationships with them?
She pretty much considers all of the Scions her found family and loves all of them to death; they're like siblings or aunts/uncles to her. House Fortemps she also considers family and Edmont in particular has become a father figure to her.
5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet?
There's two potential candidates for this BUUUT I think there is a clear winner in Ardbert. The circumstances of their meeting was kind of painful, but when they met again later and started bonding he was basically exactly what she needed. He talked, he made her laugh sometimes, he prevented her from being alone at some of the most painful moments of her life, and on top of that, he understood in a way that nobody else could. His journey was so close to her own that he intrinsically got the things she usually tried to hide without asking, most especially the loneliness and the weight on her shoulders. And the stories of Ardbert and his companions became VERY important to M'ahina. She ended up getting protective of their legacies, and it made her consider her own. He also kinda, y'know, repaired her soul, so that's pretty neat! And, my personal narrative is that once their souls merged, something about her feels a bit more whole now, like she can unconsciously sense another presence within her even if she can't speak with him anymore, and she feels less alone and less scared of being trapped in her own thoughts now, so she's finally ready to grow up a little thanks to him.
6. Does she have other close friends?
I guess the special mention here would be Aymeric; while she did become close to all the leaders to a degree, her relationship with Aymeric felt more personal than professional, and he (along with Haurchefant) felt like one of the few people who accepted her without wanting her to prove herself as an adventurer to them first. But unlike Haruche, who kind of ended up her brother, Aymeric ended up a more "normal" friend. Sort of. (She politely ignores some of the semi-romantic undertones because that's a whole can of worms she is absolutely not dealing with).
7. Does she make friends easily, or does she have trouble getting along with people?
If M'ahina had her way she'd probably annoy the entire planet into being friends with her.
8. Which does she consider more important: family or friends?
Yes.
9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has she been married more than once?
Single, never married!
10. Is she currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse?
Nope!
11. Who was her first crush? Who is her latest?
First crush: probably some random neighborhood friend when she was very young. At the moment, she doesn't have any, as she's been way too busy for way too long and her life has constantly been Complicated.
12. What does she look for in a romantic partner?
Short of it? She doesn't. She pursues casual relationships, not committed ones. She won't hook up with anyone she has any semblance of a professional relationship with, and though she likes feeling intimate with people, once such a partner gets a little *too* close to her, she tends to back off. She tends to unconsciously pursue types she knows she'd never have a long-term future with because of insecurity and fear of abandonment, but also because she knows deep down she'd pick continuing to travel over a partner, and she's scared of being potentially pushed to that choice. The obvious solution would be to just date someone who could travel with her, but she tries to insist that's impossible.
She's not a very bright girl in some regards.
13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does she relate to them? If no, does she want any?
M'ahina doesn't ever want children; she thinks that would make her adventures too difficult and she doesn't think she'd have time to care for them. Which is a surprisingly sensible position coming from her.
14. Does she have any rivals or enemies?
/sweats
15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does she fall on the Kinsey scale?
Probably around a 1? She would pretty much identify as "heterosexual with rare exceptions"
16. How does she feel about sex? How important is it to her?
Loves it! It's fun, and she likes feeling connected to people, and she is super-duper okay with using it as an expression of friendship rather than romance. That being said, because of her weird romantic hang-ups, she mainly has forays with other adventurers or Free Company types she can sorrrttt of see often and travel with occasionally, but who will eventually get pulled away from her, or that she can easily back away from if shit gets too real / she gets scared. Did I mention this girl is a mess, lmao
17. What are her turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?
Beliefs
1. Do you know your character's astrological (zodiac of choice) sign? How well does she fit type?
UHHHH I honestly have no idea anymore, I think I originally gave her a birthdate that might be associated with Azeyma but it got changed in one my excursions using fantasia and I don't recall the original date. The one it's on currently I *believe* would make her a pisces which is like ... fairrrr I guess?
2. Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in her life?
She grew up having both Azeyma and Menphina as patron deities through her parents. like most Eorzeans she acknowledges all twelve deities and isn't going to get offended if someone tries to bless her with another one. Given what she's learned, part of her does wonder if the twelve are actually real, but she figures that so long as nobody is summoning them with crystals it's probably fine. It's not that big of a deal either way. This opinion might change with the new alliance raids but we shall seeeee.
3. Does this character have a personal code of morals or ethics? If so, how did that begin? What would it take to compromise it?
Not really, as that would require too much thought in her actions. She tends to do things situationally and does whatever seems the best choice in that exact moment, rather than contemplating that she could NEVER do X or Y thing. She doesn't like harming people, for example, but she will if it seems to be the only choice in that moment.
4. How does she regard beliefs that differ from hers? Is she tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent?
She's usually curious and happy to listen to them. She doesn't tend to take any issues with differing beliefs UNLESS they're actively used to harm others.
5. What prejudices does she hold? Are they irrational or does she have a good reason for them?
She grew up with some negative associations of the beast tribes due to primal summonings and border disputes, but learning more of the tribes and how tempering works, she's mainly cleared up he misunderstandings.
Daily Life
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is she rich, poor, comfortable, in debt?
She's comfortable. She makes decent money adventuring and treasure hunting and so forth but tends to be a biiiit spend happy with it on armor and weapons and food and such.
2. What is her social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected her?
She's been a bit of everything; nobody, hero, villain. In a general sense she doesn't care too much about how much fame or notoriety she has or even necessarily her reputation, but she really does not enjoying learning when decisions she thought were correct or the best she had at the time have hurt people just as much as they've saved them. She doesn't always mind being frowned upon so long as there's a chance to change someone's mind—unless it's personal, then she gets deeply uncomfortable and blames herself.
3. Where does she live? House, apartment, trailer? Is her home her castle or just a place to crash? What condition is it in? Does she share it with others?
She has a little cottage in the Lavender Beds that she has filled with flowers and places to nap, though she rarely returns to it because of her busy lifestyle. It's easier for her to keep to tavern inns.
4. Besides the basic necessities, what does she spend her money on?
Food, snacks, tea, alcohol, armor, weapons, fashion, flowers... It's fine!
5. What does she do for a living? Is she good at it? Does she enjoy it, or would she rather be doing something else?
Adventuring is pretty much her calling and the only thing she's ever been able to stick with in her entire life, though at times she wishes she could go back to JUST having silly adventures and not having to worry about the heavier responsibilities that eventually came with it.
6. What are her interests or hobbies? How does she spend her free time?
At this point, if it involves people, SHE IS THERE. She likes singing, dancing, playing instruments, food, drinking, partying, flirting, treasuring hunting, dungeon diving, slaying marks, and just in general trying to avoid responsibility and boredom (though as times goes on she's getting ... shockingly willing to suck it up and do more tedious things).
7. What are her eating habits? Does she skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods?
A girl loves her some eats and does not discriminate. Though, she does prefer tea to coffee; the latter she tends to waaaay oversweeten.
Associations
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is her favorite:
1. Color? Teal
2. Smell? Fresh flowers; petrichor
3. Time of day? Sunrise
4. Season? Spring
5. Book? no idea lol
6. Music? Neal Morse Band – Bird on a Wire -- basically a song about embracing freedom instead of allowing yourself to be stuck in the same place
7. Place? Probably Gridania; for as much as she travels, for better or worse it has rubbed off on her the most.
8. Substance? Tea with rose petals
9. Plant? Sunflowers or yellow daisies
10. Animal? I mean. Cat. Lmao
END