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August 20th, 2022

BIO- SIMPLIFIED





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Incipimus Iterum

PERSONALITY

LIKES
    Wild swimming, photography, long walks in parks, lemon sherbet fudge, dark spiced rum, blackberry sorbet, listening to vinyl records, long bubble baths, Spanish food, big woolly jumpers, candles, getting the train, the occasional bit of gillyweed, the muggle cinema.

DISLIKES
    Being cooped up inside, being too warm, silence, paperwork, laundry, curly kale, overly floral scents, high heels, being in muggle cars, banana flavoured anything, being asked by her mother why she hasn't found a nice boy to settle down with, being asked by her mother why she has not given them grandkids yet.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Aloof, no-nonsense.

OVERALL PERSONALITY:

Like many people, Gemma unquestionably possesses layers that define her character. To those on the outside, she may exude a sense of independence, yet this only scratches the surface of her true essence. Life's challenges may have compelled her to cultivate a tough exterior in response to taunts about her lineage, but that does not overshadow her profound sensitivity to the world and her genuine care for it. This depth of feeling is a significant driving force behind her passion for photography. Through this art form, she not only captures the world's beauty but also utilizes it as a means to channel her inner pain and frustrations.

STRENGTHS

+ CONFIDENT
If there was one thing that could be said about Gemma, it is that she is confident of her abilities and in her sense of self. As a result of this, she is not afraid of putting herself out of her comfort zone, especially at work, and trusting her instincts on how to approach the new and unusual problems that have a way arising. Even on occasions where things might not completely go to plan, she see’s it as a good learning exercise and tries to use it to learn how to do the task differently next time, so she can continue to grow.
+ CARING
As much as Gemma might try and pretend that she doesn’t care about anything or anyone (with the exception of her brother), she in fact has quite sensitive to the emotions of those around her. Having been let down in her life so much by her parents, she is particularly attuned to picking up negative feelings in others, especially when they might feel rejected or let down. She does not advertise this though, for fear of people for thinking she is soft though. Instead, she tries to support these people to try and find their inner strength, and to see that they are good enough.
NEUTRAL

= INDEPENDENT
Having spent large parts of her life feeling like she was an outsider, Gemma has found herself slowly moulded by time into an independent person. She is the type of person who is not afraid of being by herself, and knows how to push herself hard without seeking external validation. She respects herself and has no issue with saying no to people if she thinks they are taking the piss. However, it does come with the counterbalance that she will listen to people’s input, she doesn’t often follow other people’s advice, that’s if she even bothers to give the illusion that she even listened to you in the first place. Despite its many advantages, her independent nature can occasionally give her a somewhat aloof demeanour, which she doesn't intend to convey.
= SELF-PRESERVATION
This trait has been a double-edged sword for Gemma, with both positive and negative implications. Living in a house where a significant portion of the inhabitants view her mother as a abomination has always been at times….challenging for her. While there were instances when she yearned to speak up more, Gemma learned the art of choosing her battles wisely. Though her school days were far from easy, she acknowledges that her ability to discern when and where to assert herself made it a lot more manageable. Furthermore, Gemma is not hesitant to distance herself from individuals she believes could potentially disrupt her way of life. Regrettably, her excessive caution has, on occasion, led her to withdraw from well-intentioned individuals out of fear, or because she has misunderstood their motives. This cautious approach has occasionally caused her to miss out on meaningful connections.
WEAKNESSES

- AMBITIOUS
Unfortunately for Gemma, the one thing she has very much inherited from her parents, much to her annoyance, is her ambitious streak. Not content with simply being, Gemma is constantly pushing herself to go harder and faster, in the past to the detriment of friendships and relationships. She is the type of person who gets frustrated if she does not feel as though she is progressing in her ambitions, or even making steps towards a goal of some variety. As much as she would never truly admit it, part of her ambitious drive is rooted in her desperate need to win the approval of her parents, despite everything they have done for her.
- STUBBORN
One of Gemma’s worst traits by far most certainly has to be her stubborn nature. Far too used to being independent, Gemma is not always the best person at asking for help when she needs it. There are often times when even when she knows she is in the wrong about something, she will double down, hoping that the other person will back down before she does. It is at its very worst when Gemma is hurt or sick in anyway, as she will literally crawl into work when dying of flu then admit that she *might* need a sick day.

OCCUPATION DETAILS

Being a freelance photographer, Gemma picks up a range of different jobs at a variety of places, to help make that rent payment. Some days she might be photographing a Quidditch match, other days she is at the Ministry taking pictures for their PR department, and the next she might be photographing a social function. Ultimately though, she would love to one day to earn enough money on her own to open her own gallery and be able to make money selling the pictures she wants to be taking.

APPEARANCE

Height 5ft 2.
Build Petite.
Hair Shoulder length dark brown hair. Typically styled in loose waves as she cannot be bothered to do anything particularly fancy with it day to day when not at work.
Eye Colour Brown
Usual Manner of Dress Typically found in a combination of Bell-Bottom Jeans and tops with a floral or paisley pattern, Gemma exudes a carefree and easy-going bohemian vibe in her fashion choices.
Other Answer

HISTORY

CHILDHOOD
Born and raised in a snug cottage nestled on the fringes of a quaint village of Barnton, Gemma enjoyed a comfortable, financially middle-class upbringing with her parents, and later her younger brother. Having both Muggle and Pureblooded grandparents who played equally significant roles in her early years, Gemma often thought herself lucky at a young age to be given the opportunity to step between worlds effortlessly, learning of the wonders of the muggle and wizarding world simultaneously.

However, this idyllic existence bore its share of challenges. Gemma's family grappled with the weight of prejudice, a burden that stemmed from her parents "mixed marriage." While their union may have been sanctioned by law, it was glaringly evident to Gemma, from an early age, that certain corners of the wizarding world clung to deep-seated biases against Muggleborns, and unions like that of her parents were met with disgust by many.

Though the comments and insults stung, Gemma developed a resilient spirit in her youth, finding comfort in the anticipation of Hogwarts, a place where, according to her parents' stories, she would finally belong. With her head held high, she charged ahead, firm in the the belief that life would become better once she stepped through the hallowed doors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

HOGWARTS
Excitement at being among people who were supposed to be like her, quickly descended into something more akin to cold and foreboding dread when she actually started talking to people in her house. She a girl who had grown up with a foot in both the magical and muggle worlds, while a lot of her new housemates knew nothing outside of the Wizarding World. Sure, she was hardly alone, and she was definitely not the first outsider in her house in that way, but it did not make it any easier for her to get by. It also made it very hard for her to try and make many meaningful connections with people in her own house, when so many of them seemed to be trust fund babies who had all known each other for years.

That wasn’t to say that they were all awful to her. A lot of them were nice enough, polite and cordial to the point of it almost being painful, in fact. As painfully polite as some of them might have been, it did not stop her from hearing the whispers about her mother and her lineage occasionally behind her back. So, with what few friends that Gemma managed to find herself with in her house and outside, she kept her head down and kept going, focusing on her own hobbies and passions, and surviving school as best as she could.

POST-HOGWARTS And survive she did, until eventually the end of school quickly came upon her and she found herself with a whole new set of problems. Growing up between two worlds, she felt the intense alure of disappearing into the muggle world, far away from the prejudice she had experienced at times at school. Her mother though, had different plans for her daughter, and encouraged Gemma to sign up to work at the Ministry like she and her father. Of course, attempting to be a good daughter, Gemma took up a job working in the administration pool.

It was a good job, and she really did try her best to get on there to please her parents. Unfortunately for all involved, Gemma only made it 6 months into that job before she told her boss she’d rather take an unforgivable to the face then have to spend another day being treated like some nameless, faceless piece of office equipment by some of the pompous guys who worked in the Ministry.

Not completely without a plan though, Gemma decided to try and make a go of turning her hobby of photography into something that resembled a career. Eager to make a living, she began taking on various photography assignments while also working a different service industry jobs. Some days, it was a Ministry PR photo campaign, and other times it involved capturing moments from a Quidditch match to sell to the Daily Prophet. Though it was far from glamorous, it brought her a sense of fulfillment she had never experienced during her time at the Ministry.

Most importantly of all, over the course of a few years, Gemma managed to turn more of a profit from her diverse photography work. Eventually, she reached a point where she could move out of her parents' home and bid farewell to her other part-time job. Since then, she has never looked back and has continued to push herself forward, working harder and pushing herself more. Her ultimate goal is to explore the world, capturing its wonders through her lens and eventually publishing a book filled with images from her journeys. Until that dream becomes a reality, she remains dedicated to seizing whatever photography opportunities come her way.

PLOTTING/CONNECTIONS

  • THE BROTHER: Her younger brother, someone who truly understands Gemma inside and out, and remains a steadfast presence in her life. His exact age, house, and profession can vary, but what truly matters is the enduring strength of their sibling bond. Even as adults, they maintain a close and supportive relationship. He stands as one of the few voices of reason that Gemma consistently heeds, unwaveringly relying on his advice and guidance.
  • THE CO-WORKER/S: While Gemma may technically be a Freelance Photographer, the nature of her profession takes her to various locations for different assignments. It would be great if Gemma has a few friends she has picked up along the way through her work.
  • THE ENEMIES TO FRIEND: Gemma doesn't harbor hatred towards this individual, but she finds it challenging to endure prolonged time in the same room with them. There's an inexplicable aspect of their demeanor and expressions that thoroughly irritates her, often resulting in heated disagreements between the two of them.
  • THE FRENEMIE/S:
    • OOC INFO Tori | GMT | Tori3639 | Conor Leslie
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