Rose

Rose Martin
Companion in Training

Quote: "I'm sorry, the only thing I serve men is tea."

Physical Description
Still in that transitional stage of life (about eleven), she is all legs, but she has full control over them. She stands like a true ballerina, with her back straight, head up and hands draping in front. Her hair is golden red, with curls falling down past her shoulders and usually left loose and flowing. Her eyes are blue and clear, but the most striking thing about them is their confidence. Coupled with her ne'er-do-care smile, she can give the air of someone who has the 'Verse in the palm of her hand, even if she is terrified inside.

Personality/Roleplaying Tips:
*An all-girl tomboy; she'll dance a minuet and then play full-contact football in the same dress.
* She's a perfectionist in anything the Guild says is Companion work.
If they say jump, she'll keep jumping till they say to stop.
* Loves the attention and friendship of boys. Something about them
puts her at ease.
* Her voice hasn't lost its country twang and it alternates between
high and low often.

Skills/Abilities:
* An avid dancer, primarily of ballet, though she can do almost any
form.
* Has a natural knack for watching and mimicking, be it dance steps or
behaviors, making her a rather good actress, whether or not it's
necessary.
* Fairly good at music, though she struggles with singing and many
instruments.
* Is lousy at mathematics and really struggles to understand machinery.
* Reads and writes at a middle school level.
* Can ride a horse, shoot a pistol and spit as well as any boy.

Private Motivation (not known by most characters):
* She believes becoming a Companion is the best way she can become great at a wide range of glamorous and exciting things.
* Rose "knows" what Companions do behind closed curtains, but tries not to think about it. It will be quite awhile before she is old enough to be sexually involved, so she concentrates on the tasks at hand. Secretly, she hasn't entirely reconciled her conscience with the sexual aspect of her work.
* She wants to be admired for her beauty and talent and admires anyone who exhibits them, in whatever form that is.

History:
Rose Martin was born on Greenleaf, the daughter of a general store clerk and his teacher wife. Her brother Josiah was born when Rose was eight. While she lived a normal childhood in the countryside, learning to shoot and ride with the boys, she always found herself looking in through the windows of the upper class when they rode into the city. The first time she looked through the window of the Dance Conservatory, eight-year-old Rose was enthralled. For weeks and months after, she rode off to the city on her own and watched the dancers practice. She would memorize every step and then practice on her own in the fields outside of town. She kept it a secret - boys would make fun of her, she thought - until her mother saw her. Her mother knew she had talent and a great deal of determination. On Rose's ninth birthday, her parents blindfolded her and whisked her away to her "surprise present": an audition for the Conservatory. Despite the obvious uneducated mistakes, the Conservatory Dame recognized the raw grace and granted Rose a scholarship to attend full time. A little over a year went by, with Rose constantly practicing anything anyone would teach her. She loved it, but then she saw a Companion for the first time. They were only passing through on their way to a "real" planet, but Rose became the shadow of one and the Companion answered her never-ending questions about her life and work. The Companion mentioned the "Little Rose" to her friend in the Guild upon her return home. A few months later, a delegation from the Guild was passing through town, looking for the newest and brightest to enter the Academy. Even at the tender age of nine and a half, Rose knew what she wanted and she worked hard to prove to the Guild she was worth their notice. They noticed, and a few weeks later, Rose was on her way to the Academy. Her father gave her a small pistol in a locked box ("in case those fellas get out of hand") and a sturdy hat for rainy days. Her mother gave her a bracelet that had been passed down since the first of their family settled in Greenleaf. Armed with these and as good of clothes as her family could afford, Rose arrived at the Academy. Despite being the only Greenleaf child chosen, she has found herself to be a bit of a wildflower in the Guild's manicured garden. An opportunity arose for her to travel throughout the 'Verse, learning about different cultures and interpersonal relationships, since she saw so little of it in her small town in Greenleaf. She hopes that proving herself in "the Field", as it were, will show the Guild what she's worth and bring her that much closer to her license.