BASICS
Name: Delaney Orchid Byron. Nicknamed Laney
Gender: Female
Age: 20
Sexual orientation: Bisexual.
Born/hometown: Beverly Hills, California
Occupation: Actress/singer/celebrity
LOOKS
5'7", 120lb, long blonde hair, pale skin, blue eyes, star tattoo on her side. She is slim but athletic. Her nose, lip and ears were pierced, but Laney took them all out at the start of the outbreak, so now just has tiny scars there instead.
PERSONALITY
Laney's been used to getting whatever she wants her entire life, and is struggling to adjust to a world where her name and face mean nothing any more. The loss of so much power has humbled her and made her doubt her self-worth, but she still displays occasional flashes of A-lister temper tantrums, particularly with people she knows well. She hasn't had a chance to indulge her celebrity party lifestyle, and most of the time she keeps to herself, and is embarrassed if people recognise her. When they do, she feels under pressure to contribute and prove her worth.
EQUIPMENT
As she was onstage when the outbreak began, Laney wears a black leather jacket with inch-long metal studs on the shoulder, skintight black leather jeans, studded belt, and biker boots. Under the jacket she wears layered vests, and has a red hoodie in her pack.
She usually carries - and knows how to use - the easily concealed Kel-Tec P11, with 10 rounds in the magazine. At the start of the outbreak, it's in her pack in the dressing room, along with a bottle of water, hoodie, a couple of chocolate bars and a full make-up kit.
HISTORY
The only daughter of a famous 70s rocker and his third wife, Laney has grown up in the glare of celebrity as her mother eked out every advantage of her famous - and short-lasted - connection. She first appeared in TV commercials at the age of three, and by five was starring in the Disney Channel show, Laney's Street. By 8, she was appearing in children's films, and in Hollywood blockbusters by 10. By 14, she'd moved into music, but soon became frustrated with the clean image her record company insisted she keep, and started to act out, getting drunk, swearing at concerts, all the things normal teenagers do - except normal teenagers' mistakes aren't reported by a slavering celebrity media. Her mother - by now divorced - sent her to live with her father, who told both Laney and the hordes of celebrity reporters who dogged her every step that he'd done far worse at her age.
Within a month of her turning 18, a sex tape of Laney and another girl was released online, she and her father together beat up a paparazzo, and she was arrested for driving under the influence of marijuana. Her record label dropped her as a result, and Laney formed a band so she could play the music she liked. She refused her father's offer to sign her to his record label, trying to make it on her own merits. Of course, her huge celebrity meant disproportionate attention for her band, and even more reasons for serious rock critics not to take her seriously.
The band were getting booed offstage as a novelty act at a music festival when the outbreak began.