MENTOR:
Mentor Name- Marcus Hastings
Age- 37
Gender- Male
Race- African American
Brief History- Marcus joined the NYPD when he was 20, after spending a year training to be a police officer. To him, being a part of the force was a necessity and he let little in his early life detriment that. Every trial allowed him to push himself a little farther, come a little closer to his dreams. The dreams that belonged to a lot of great men and women. He married young at 26, and is still to this day with her, although there life has been turned upside down on more than one occasion. He rose through the ranks in homicide, but due to his recent shoulder injury. Marcus has been withdrawn from the field and put on a desk job, most likely for the rest of his career.
Where they're from- New York
Fandom their from- Beauty and the Beast.
CHARACTER #1
Name- Esme Rousseau / Esmeralda
Age- 23
Gender- Female
Appearance- Esme is as a many saw her in France, a jewel that is untouchable- a forbidden conquest many wished to have as their own. A beautiful angel-- with a statuesque body of delectable curves and proportionate muscle, which would seem out of place if it weren't for her strong facial features. A pointed chin and a sharp jawline, her lips full and pouty, naturally a pale pink, but is usually colored a deep red that stands out against her skin. Her hair is thick curls of ebony, that shine a deep brown in sunlight. Complementing her medium bronze skin, flawless and smooth as freshly spun silk. Striking and vivid, the temptresses greatest ally being her emerald green orbs, framed by dark lashes. Amongst all beauty, hidden from eyesight is the result of ignorance. Her beauty was a foreign delicacy in France, one that men lusted for and women hated her for having, this fear of the unknown lead to the scars; burns that will never fade, crawling from her feet to her knees, a collage of pink and light purples and whites that will never fade away.
Backstory- There are two sides to her story, one that she wrote and the one written once the curse whisked her away to Storybrooke. Esmeralda's mother was of another realm when she found herself in the world of 15th Century France, trapped with no way out, she moved in on a rather free spirited noble, who appreciated her advances. While it was unappreciated, the wife had to accept her husband's mistress, but not the child that would spring from their cozy relationship- Esmeralda. She was a bastard child, a useless baby girl born to the mistress of a noble, which did not make her friend of the upper class. In fact, it may have been what doomed her in the first place. It mattered not to her mother, who was showered by the noble with gifts of money and dresses and property, but Esmeralda had nothing. She was an outcast of society and so she turned to herself, leaving her life as the bastard child behind by the time she was twelve.
The world is wicked to a child, especially one as young as she is, but Esmeralda always found a way to come out on top. The girl who they could not beat down, no matter how many times people stole what little she made or the whispered rumors of her name, nothing could stop her from belief. In herself and the people she found herself close to, even if they are outcasts themselves, but they fight everyday to bring down Judge Claude Frollo. He is a man of unprecedented strength, with a clutch over the country iron as the swords soldiers march with in his name. He is also cruel and unpredictable, willing to do everything he can to keep him on top and those who threaten him, on the bottom.
Now the movement Esmeralda joined took her in, the people were kind and open, she had never known kindness like this. They taught her to fight in the shadows, hunt without being seen-- she was finally apart of something bigger than herself, the Gypsy's was what they deemed themselves. Not everyone came home after every mission and plot, not everyone who left the woods came back to their families. No matter how many times they pushed, they were pushed down a little harder, so as their numbers dwindled, Esmeralda could not watch her new, and only, family fall victim to the stake. Quasimoda, a deformed, but compassionate friend, warned Esmeralda that her plan was too dangerous. She is seventeen, young an fierce, but no match against the armies that protect Frollo from harm-- willing to kill and die for him. She would not have it, claiming him to doubt her skills, and she knew she should have listened, but Esmeralda could not stand by any longer.
Swift as the wind and waves, Esmeralda stalked the halls of Claude Frollo's impressive home, nothing could have prepared her for what was waiting for her. Within the room, Esmerelda found herself cornered by Frollo himself, his eyes dark and face young-- she could go a little farther and consider him to be handsome. Entranced by her, he found himself intrigued, daring her to continue to play such a dangerous game with him. Judge Claude Frollo was cruel, but he was also convincing, offering Esmeralda a deal that she could not refuse. He would put an end to the persecution of outcasts, the Gypsy's, for her hand in marriage. Esmeralda did not grow to love him in the year of their marriage, but she did find herself intrigued by him as he with her, wrapped in the game that he loved to play. In that year, Esmeralda had begun to seek the company of another, the Captain of Frollo's guard, Phoebus. They were not romantic, just as her relationship with Quasimodo was platonic, so is this one with Phoebus. He is merely a friend to her, the only person she talks to other than Frollo.
Early one evening, Frollo, who had discovered the friendship between his wife and the captain, sentenced Esmeralda to be burned alive in a jealous rage. Esmeralda tied to a stake as clusters of hay and kindling lie beneath her feet, her own personal pyre that would surely be the death of her. So as the flames licked her legs and screams tore their way from her throat, Esmeralda lost track of time until a man, cloaked, freed her from the grasp of a fiery end. Once safe in the woods and healed enough to walk, Esmeralda awoke to find Quasimodo above, his face grim. He spoke of Frollo's rage and how he searches still for Esmeralda-- who is still bound to him in marriage. Speaking to her friend, Esmeralda desperately wanted to stay with him and her family, who have watched from afar in hope to save her from the marriage, but how could she ignore the danger. So when he offered her a way out, Esmeralda took it.
Within the Enchanted Forest, Esmeralda found herself at the base of a castle, and within the stone walls, she was faced with another challenge. She had travelled to a realm in a war of its own, only this one includes magic. When the curse hit, Esmeralda faded into no more than a character, and left her as Esme Rousseau. A beautiful woman who was injured in a house fire, a dancer, trapped in the life of a bartender until the curse was lifted.
Personality- Esmeralda was never given a choice to be a dainty daughter of a rich noble, she hardly even knows the man, so she grew up strong. She is feisty, fearless, independent, strong willed, and determined. Capable of things many men can only dream of doing-- she defends herself, her friends and family, having no trouble in doing so violently if that's what it takes. Quick witted with her words, with a cheeky side that loves a challenge has lead her to be a flirt (mostly in Storybrooke). There is a softer side to her strong personality, full of raw compassion and a willingness to befriend people. All Esmeralda wishes to see is a world of justice and equality for everyone, where one man is not the puppeteer and everyone else-- puppets. All coins are two sided and so is she, Esmeralda is stubborn as a yak, unable to give in even if she knows she is wrong. Which turns the disagreement into a way to prove a point. Esmeralda is also a tad too flirty, giving the wrong message to men and women alike, it is not her intention, just an aspect of her personality.
Magic/Powers- N/A, she originally comes from a world that does not have magic.
Weapon of choice- A bow; a swift killer that has the ability to attack from a distance and when a foe chooses to venture too close, the ability to become a blunt weapon.
Strengths- Esmeralda is trained in combat with experience, making her an equal opponent to many different people. She is also a tad too clever with words, her own and the twisting of others. Her last strength and advantage would be her beauty, she is a stunning girl with a strong influence over those attracted to her-- manipulation is the deadliest weapon she has, a means to an end, survival.
Weaknesses- Esmeralda is opinionated, stuck in her beliefs, unable to accept any others, although she can attempt to see things their way. As a lot of people in Storybrooke, she is trapped in her past, unable to let go of the fact that she left them alone with no way to know what happened. She is guilt ridden over the unknown of Frollo's promise, does he still uphold his end of the deal or did that turn to ash in the flames. Finally, her mindset, Esmeralda is the person who would sacrifice the one for the many, even if it is a friend. Save the masses, convincing herself that it has to be right even if it hurts her.
Captured- Unexpected that is what her kidnapping was to Esmeralda, she hadn't done anything wrong, in fact quite the opposite. She has spent her time in Storybrooke with the intention of aiding the protection of Emma, loyal to her alone and a friend to the many, although her closest companion is Jefferson. Having always found his madness to be intriguing. Esmeralda travelled to many realms with them, and even saved a sorcerer by the name of Merlin. Now, maid of honor at Emma's wedding, it all seems to be falling into place until the curse hits. Now Esmeralda had hoped they would go together, but that is not the case, in fact it is the opposite. She is alone and trapped in a small cottage, an old hag brings her a shining red apple every so often, but Esmeralda continues to refuse the temptation. She blames this to be the work of the Black Fairy, but unknown to her, it is the work of powers much greater.
Greatest Fear- Losing who she really is in Storybrooke, her entire life was based on survival and suddenly, she had peace. Sure there is trials, but nothing like her life before, everything seems so simple. Esmeralda worries she will lose touch with the pieces of herself built on that instinct of survival.
Insecurities- Her burns, they are the stain she never wanted and a weight she hates to bear. Scars build strength, but for her-- it was the first time she was in the grasp of death.
Loved Ones- Esmeralda does not have a significant other, a small truth, she has never loved anyone in a romantic way. She has cared deeply for someone, but that is another story. So her closest loved ones would be her makeshift family with the Gypsies and her friends, Quasimodo and Phoebus. They were there when she needed them most and Esmeralda will never be able to repay them for that.
Realm they are from- Presently in Storybrooke (human realm), similar to another realm, Esme is originally from a realm trapped in 15th Century France, but travelled to live in the Enchanted Forest.
Fandom they are from- Once Upon A Time
Token- Esmeralda didn't get to keep much from her life before the Enchanted forest and Storybrooke, so it would have to be the two gold anklets she has had for years.