Ashley Boyd doesn't need no glass slippers (![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} changemylife_) wrote,@ 2012-10-09 21:48:00 |
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Name: Nathalie
Age: 24
Email/AIM:
Timezone: US - Eastern.
IN CHARACTER
Name: Princess Cinderella "Ella" or Ashley Boyd (if you're Ruby -- actually, Ash if you're Ruby). She'll answer to both. And boy won't that end up confusing?
Fandom: Once Upon a Time
Age: Ashley is 19. Let's go with that.
Point in Canon: Post 1x22
Alignment: Hea - Neutral, neutral. Let's go with that. She obviously wants team Heaven to Win (they're good right? ... hmm) but she's not going to go running around hunting things (unless some obscure reason she HAS to). She just wants attention off her and the people she cares about as safe as possible. However, she will go against the popular demand if that means 'as possible' keeps on happening. She won't go around making deals she can't get out of
Powers (If any): No powers. She's a mom who will do anything to keep her baby, hell her loved ones, safe. Even if that means entering shady deals and knocking out powerful men. Do you really wanna mess with this? Really, even if all you read is that 'she's a mom', that's all you'd need to know
Personality: We all know the story of Cinderella sweet, kind, and impossibly innocent. She had a blue dress, glass slippers, and went to a ball. She ended up marrying a prince, lived happily ever after, and that was the end. There isn't much to her than that. That isn't exactly the entire truth. While Cinderella's wholesomeness and humbleness, at least thanks to Disney, are one of the first things that come to people's mind - this Cinderella has other traits. This Cinderella was borne of deep loneliness. She had no magical animals to watch out for her and keep her company. It was mostly her and the incessant orders and cruel demands of a stepmother who she once thought should've loved her (this is a part, no matter the version, we're all familiar with). Because of this loneliness and this family she was stuck with, she grew up quick, and she grew up a little tougher - if not harder - than a girl of her birth should have. Yet because of her circumstance, being so restricted to the household, Ella (as she prefers to be called) grew up sheltered. Some could go as far as to even call her naive and they would NOT be wrong. A hopeful, optimistic girl, she always held on to the thought that she deserved better. It might have seemed opportunistic of her, her stepmother certainly would have said so if she ever caught Ella sighing in the direction of the fireworks let out by the castle, but Ella wouldn't let those negative thoughts stop her feeling that there was more in life in stored for her. That isn't to say there weren't doubts. There were. There was always a hesitance when she'd get told off over them but she'd bounce back quickly. This was an ability that didn't leave her when she became a princess and had people who could primp her ego, or do the bouncing for her. Rumpelstiltskin come to collect on a deal? What does she do? Plot a plan to go on the run and protect her new found family - even terror couldn't get her down.
Ashley is those doubts. Unlike Ella who was constantly told not to want better, constantly having it drummed into her head by the actions of her step-family, and still wanted, desired, demanded - Ashley bought into it. That she wasn't better, couldn't be better, shouldn't hope for better and that she would fail. That she wouldn't be good enough. Although, Ashley Boyd - despite Mr. Herman believed of her - was a responsible ... ish, who actually did fairly well in school, she didn't believe in herself. Ashley lacked Ella's hope. In a world with no fairy godmothers or evil imps (as far as she knew) how could she? When people thought she should stay down and even pay her to go away? Ashley did retain Ella's ability to keep going even with adversity. Without the rosy hue of faith and dreams to pillow her, it became more of a mindset of 'put one foot infront of the other' rather than 'things will get better, they just have to'. On the one hand, she was less likely to willingly (if callowly) jump into shady deals to improve her life. On the other, Ashley was more likely to be shuffled into things that made her miserable just thinking about it.
Despite, most others and Ashley's own, lack of faith she did do well for herself. As said before, Ella is tenacious and Ashley just ... perhaps there's just a part of her that doesn't know how to give up on herself. She is capable of taking care of herself. She took night classes and got a job. A job she was poor at but one none the less. And while she might need a push, she is just as capable as Ella of taking dangerous (reckless) action to ensure that she comes out - if not ontop, but better in a situation.
While, Ashley's motives could be said to be noble than Ella's for changing her life (she wanted to keep her baby). Ella has shown herself capable of sacrifice and putting other's before herself. She was so very prepared to leave Thomas, to leave the family and community that love had won, to protect them all from her bad decisions. Even if that meant being alone again. Both Ashley and Ella make foolish decisions but they both strive to make things right and Ella refuses to allow others to pay her price (... but princes you love can be so convincing, even when you fear that you know better).
Both Ashley and Ella are loyal, a curse cannot change that; they are also quick to be honest to the ones they love. They may have secrets (and dirty shame) but it doesn't take much for them to open up. They both carry that need of wanting to belong, to be part of something, not necessarily big but with love. Ella was more aware of it than Ashley - who was kept steady by Ruby's faith in her and found peace in the love of her little family.
Love, oh, how love is always a key factor. Ella wanted a better life, Ashley just wanted easier. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, neither is a bad thing on it's own. Ashley still had that innocent understanding that things like love and getting what you want should make things simpler. Something that Ella was just beginning to learn, and felt the hollow truth of in a cold castle after Thomas' disappearance, wasn't always the case. Love made things easier to deal with. It gave you backbone and will to weather; however, it didn't make things simpler.
Finally, Ella matured a lot as a princess. For one she grew rightfully wary of magic. For two she didn't jump into things. She made certain to read everything her name would be signed to, Thomas', and would always gently - sweetly - suggest that the king do so as well ... even if it was someone they trusted. It became automatic. She was never fond of the idea of Thomas going off to battle/even patrol/or distant lands because she knew how easily she could lose him but she learned to let him go. It could be said that she didn't have a choice but she didn't want to be that person who held onto tightly. It was easier said than done but she did succeed most times in her trying. He had to do what to do and she wished him safe. However, she made sure to know his schedules and what he was up to. It was stress to know that he was in danger but at least she was a princess aware. She was a princess involved in her lands, her and Thomas and Christopher's lands. Ella wasn't just spouting details to impress Rumpelstiltskin when they'd set about to trap him. She actually knew those matters and kept well aware. Snow and Aurora weren't the only political princesses. She wasn't going to sit pretty and make herself sick while she waited for Thomas to come home. Or find herself bored while "men talked men things". It tied into her always being used to having responsibilities - so what was some more (at least she liked where she was now) beyond the regular princesses? - but it also connected to the kingdom was her home now. She would take care of it and protect it. To the best of her abilities.
Brief History: Once Upon a Time there was this rather well to do merchant (he wasn't the richest in all the land but he wasn't bad off) who married the woman that he loved. It wasn't very long until the two of them had a beautiful baby girl who they called, Cinderella - Ella for short. They loved Cinderella with all their hearts, just as much as they loved each other; however, love doesn't stop life from happening as much as it tries. In the early years of Cinderella's life, she lost a mother that she barely even remembers. Yet that was okay, well as okay as those matters ever are, because she had her father. Her father loved her but it was difficult taking care of a child - especially a little girl (what did he know of how to raise one properly?) - on one's own. Particularly when one's work required one to travel. Therefore, in his and her best interest, he married. He was very much less, if at all, in love with his second wife. She seemed a good woman and had two little girls. Clearly she knew how to care for a home and a child.
For a while, everything seemed to be all right. Nevertheless, instead of getting better matters only became worse. Cinderella's beloved father also came to leave her. Instead of leaving her in a home of love, however, he unwittingly left her to a wretched life style. Where she was alone and with no one who understood her loss but herself.
For some time Cinderella looked after herself and the house - and whatever else her stepmother (or stepsisters) ordered her to do - on her own. There appeared to be no end insight to their poor treatment until a fairy godmother came to visit her. She promised Cinderella a chance for something better before that cruelly was snatched away from one Rumpelstiltskin. To say she was livid was an understatement but she far demanded, likely manipulated into it by being underestimated (also her own naivety and thirst for betterment), that he give her what was promised to her. Give her a chance. And he did when she signed a contract.
After meeting Prince Thomas at the ball they got to know each other and fell in love. She met and got to know his friends, Snow and Charming, and came to view them as her own - see them as her friends as well. She and Thomas married. King Christopher and Thomas became a family for her. Everything seemed perfect until Rumpelstiltskin returned demanding his debt paid. Only he didn't want gold or jewels or her wedding ring. He wanted her yet conceived child.
Shocked, Ella harbored a fear inside of her and planned to run away when she discovered she was pregnant. Everything would have gone well if not for the blasted weather. Thomas discovered her packing and she eventually told him the truth. He, Charming, and the dwarves and the blue fairy, came up with a plan. It was a good plan to entrap Rumpel but it had to do with magic. Which, Ella was rightfully worried about, because in the end although they ended up trapping Rumpel - all magic has a cost - and she ended up losing the love of her life.
They left one world separated and ended up in one world broken.
In StoryBrooke she grew up Ashley Boyd: with no mom, a dad who ended up dying on her
Ashley decided that meant breaking and entering, macing the very much feared Mr. Gold, and going on the run. Thanks to Emma, Ruby, and Henry's help (and faith in her) Ashley was actually able to have the happy ending she never had in the Fairytale World. She came to believe in herself and her capability of raising her daughter. On her own. Luckily, that wasn't necessary as Sean (Thomas) left his father's stronghold and took on a job. They were going to, finally, be a family.
Sadly, that wasn't as easy as Ashley first thought. Love, like last time, wasn't made easy by life. He was constantly working and she barely got to see him. They barely got to spend time together, the three of them, with the baby. Heck, she barely got time to herself. Yet she still loved him and was still very loyal to him. She still did her best with their life. It wasn't all for naught, however. Sean ended up proposing to her.
Wedding plans were slowly but surely on their way to happening. All of that seemed to pale in comparison to when the spell broken. She remembered. She remembered him and he remembered her and, she had him. She had him again and Ella (Ashley) was never letting him go.
Or so she wanted. Magic (or mystical seals) never seemed to care about what she wanted, not really.
Played By: Jessy Schram
SAMPLES (Must be for the character you wish to apply for.)
Third Person: "She'd stop fussing if you would stop making those faces at her." Ella had meant to sound chastising. She really had. However, the underlying resigned amusement had ruined that along with her wry smile as she lifted little Alexandra and went to the kitchen. Thomas, he was Thomas now and all he would ever be again to her (as much as Ashley adored, no, loved Sean), had taken to only letting their daughter go when she had to sleep, eat, or when he needed to go to work - because even with people remembering there were still bills to pay. It'd only been a day and people had cars that needed repairing. It really had only been a day and that's why she didn't blame him, couldn't really. And even months from now she still wouldn't been able to do that.
She'd thought he'd lost him for ever. As Thomas he was seeing Alexandra, the name he picked he reminded her with a proud crow (like she'd needed that reminder - what had Ashley ... she been thinking?), for the first time. She was sure there was more to it than that. He didn't need to say it for her to know it. He blamed himself for what happened as Sean and no matter what she said that wasn't going to change that, at least not straight away. So she just let him, watched him. How couldn't she? Back ... home, at the castle, she hadn't thought she'd ever get to see, watch, any of it. Ella couldn't get enough of watching them together any less than Thomas could with her and the baby.
Ella could even feel his eyes on her as she headed to the kitchen. She added a little sway to her steps. One that came naturally whenever he was near and that she exaggerated just because she could. She almost giggled.
She did giggle in fact but it became mostly caught in her chest, stuck in her throat as the world seemed to change just as she stepped into their small kitchen. It wasn't ... wasn't possible? Wasn't possible! Ella could feel the tears in her eyes and had to breath against the panic that had gripped in her bones. She didn't want to startle Alex. She was a mother now and had to act -- it didn't matter as she had been gripping a bit too tightly and her daughter wailed as she squirmed with discomfort.
"I'm sorry!" She gasped. "Shhh." She began rocking the child, not dressed properly for this cold weather. Ella gathered her sweater around her baby as her eyes madly looked left and right as she tried to figure out what happened. Tried to think who she could grab and shake down for answers. Because this could not be happening. They were happy! They'd found each other again! This couldn't be happening again. Had she done something wrong? Had something not been finished, gone missing? Why was this happening to them again?
Her mind went to Rumpelstiltskin but that didn't make sense. Ella wouldn't even pretend to understand how the man's mind worked but since losing Thomas, even before that at her wedding party, she had tried to make herself more educated. She had some familiarity with the ... being. Ashley might not realized just how easily she had gotten out of things but Ella did. Ella knew enough to know he would have never let her be in peace, he would have come to collect as soon as the spell was broken if not before, if she had still been in his debt in either world. She didn't owe him anything ... and the curse hadn't been him.
So, what was this?
First Person (Comm post style.): [Filtered against Evil, Katherine, Jerry
So, from one ending world to another? I guess the pit stop in Storybrooke was nice.
This shhh is Awesome, btw.