Name: Syrena Astrid
Age: 18 // More years than she dares to count in reality.
Race: "Ha...you humans would call me a mermaid, but I think a more appropriate name is...Siren.
Gender: Female
Description:
In human form Syrena is average height, around 5'5" and slender of build, weighing little more than 113lbs. Her skin is pale, her cheeks flushed a gentle pink, with a delicate heart-shaped face and soft bow lips, that are a lighter pink in colour. It is her almond-shaped eyes that are her most defining feature in this form, as they are the colour of the ocean, a deep bluey green that seems to sparkle like emeralds and are framed with the thickest of eyelashes. A wave of golden hair cascades down her slim shoulders, ending in the middle of her back. During her time as a human she is usually adorned in flowing dresses of fine materials, her feet completely bare. Shoes never grace her feet, as she simply cannot comprehend their meaning.
However, the moment her skin touches salt water she morphs into her mermaid form. In this state she cannot be described as anything other than beautiful. A dark, eerie beauty. Although her facial features remain largely the same, something alters them to seem sharper and more stunning than before. Her hair forms a shining halo around her head and it literally appears to shine. And though her eyes retain their wonder, it is her tail, which is the same colour as her eyes, that is her most defining feature. The same length as her legs (trust me, she's measured), her tail is covered in diamond shaped scales that glimmer and reflect any light, as does her pale body. In this form she wears little more than a bikini top, covered in sequins to keep the illusion of sparkle.
That is Syrena before she begins to sing. That is Syrena when her human mind and her mermaid mind are still battling for control. Her mermaid conscious will always win when she is in salt water, it has the upper hand. And without question it will sing. And when that happens, her features twist into a menacing monster, still alluring, but dangerous. It is a sight to see, the beautiful features of this young woman/mermaid switching to something that can only be described as that of a predator and completely terrifying. That is, of course, if you are still conscious or in the right state of mind to understand what you are seeing. Oh, and if you aren't already dead that is. At full alluring capability she has been known to capture her victims and well...you can guess the rest.
In human form Syrena avoids contact with anyone. It would not do to become close to anyone only for her to be tempted to destroy and potentially eat them in her mermaid form. Although not particularly quiet (because she is quite sure of herself) she keeps herself to herself whenever she can. She gives off an air of innocence and naivety, though most know that this is not the case at all. Right now, she is close to no-one, but holds her indifference to this. Even in this form she is quick to anger and become a dangerous entity, with her fury only provoking the singing. In short, as a human she is suppressed by her mermaid form and the darkest that comes with it. However, in her mermaid form she is even more distant, unless she wants something. Then she whacks on the beautiful charm, bats her eyelids and speaks softly. This is usually when you can say goodbye to your life. Otherwise, she remains aloof and snaps at anyone who attempts to speak with her, especially the Cirque crew and performers as she knows that her tricks would never work on them.
β¦β¦β¦ this is how it is
Quite simply Syrena's job in the circus is a singer. However, deep down it is much more than that. All of her performances are conducted within her tank, within which she swims to attract the audience's attention, tossing her hair and giving a perfect smile. And then, perching upon a rock, she opens her mouth and sings. It is a sound like no other. But, it comes with its downfall, well not as far as Syrena is concerned, as it entrances and entices people towards her. Now the audience is in a complete stupor, men and women alike staring open-mouthed at her. And that's when the fun begins. She has the audience performing tricks to the sound of voice, doing things that their fear would have prevented them doing, much to the amusement of their friends and families, who are no longer the subject to her voice as she focused her attention. At the end of her performance, human Syrena normally has to step in to prevent mermaid Syrena killing her victim.
All for me!
β The water...especially salt water. Even human Syrena feels herself drawn to it and she cannot remain without it for very long.
β The Ringmaster. He saved her and for that she will forever be in his debt. But not only that, she loves him, as though he is family to her.
β The sunrise. It sounds odd, but it reminds her of the ocean, her true home. Often she would watch as the sun rose over the horizon, reflecting on the shimmering water below it.
β Singing. It is her passion, though as human she will avoid it as much as she possibly can, for fear of what it could do.
What?! No!
β The rest of the Cirque. Well, as a mermaid she despises them. In that mind she is far more beautiful and talented. As a human, avoidance is the key.
β Fire. No mermaid likes fire and what it brings. It terrifies her beyond belief, making her a shivering wreck.
β Herself. If that were at all possible. Human Syrena cannot stand the being she is in the water, but it is little more than her nature. There is nothing she can do to prevent it.
β Children. They have no place the performances. They should only be reserved for adults, not pestering little children.
β¦β¦β¦ looks can be deceiving
During the seventeenth century a discovery like no other was made on the South coast of a little Island known as the British Isles at the time. To many it would have seemed like nothing, but to the fisherman who had been tugging his boat onto the beach it was a miracle. But miracle or not, he approach with caution to the form that had washed up just meters from his old boat. A naked young woman lay among the seaweed, a halo of shimmering golden hair surrounding her. Seemingly unconscious, the man inched closer, extending the toe of his boat to push at her legs. When she didn't move, he knelt in the sand beside her, pushing a handful of hair from her face to take a better look. A gasp left his lips.
"Well I 'ever did see anythin' so 'eautiful. And troublin' also. Best get 'er to chapel, see what can be done." Tugging his fish nets from the boat, he proceeded to roll the young woman onto them and carried her into the centre of a local village. But he never made it to that chapel. Instead, he bumped into his neighbor who marveled over his catch.
"Should sell 'er ye should...Caught 'er afer all did't ye?" He proposed, arching an eyebrow as he glanced over at the market place. Reluctantly the old man agreed to his neighbor's plan, hoping that once he opened his mouth no-one would come forwards.
"Listen 'ere all of ye! Got a right good'un 'ere for ye. 'Eautiful youn' fish woman." The words resounded loudly around the marketplace, into silence. No-one could quite believe what he had just said. But nodding his head, the old man continued. "'Aw it meself I did...These legs just....'ppeared from a tail. I'm tellin' ye the truth."
Disbelief echoed now, many shaking their heads and turning away in disgust. The things people would do to get a sale these days.
"20 Shillings for her." Looking up in surprise, the old man's eyes settled on a hood figure towards the back of the retreating crowd. Even without seeing his face, he knew it was the mysterious gentleman who owned most of the property in the area. Shaking his head, he was about to refuse when the offer was upped. "40 Shilling. Final offer my kind sir." Slowly, considering his options, the old man nodded his head and accepted the money, handing over the girl to the man.
And that was how Syrena Astrid came to England, without any memory of her life in the sea. The man cleaned her up himself, though it was improper for a gentleman to do so, then dressed her in the finest silks and waited by her beside for her to regain consciousness. When she did, all hell broke lose and she gravely injured the man who had brought her and then taken care of her. However, he recovered and when he did he offered her a job in his home as well as giving her the name she still holds. She entertained him and often she thought about singing her way out of the mansion, but never did she have the heart to leave him. He had been far too kind to her and her human mind was developing more and more and her mermaid mind was more under control. When he grew older, without wife or child, she became his Mistress, though he never seemed overly interested in her beautiful form. And then, suddenly he passed away. Without an heir, the estates were sold on, Syrena with them. The other staff had noticed the lack of aging and whispers ensued.
Men came for her, locked her in a dark place without water for days. Then when she had given up all hope, she was brought before an audience and forced to perform with her talents. Again she was sold, this time to the highest bidder. And so Syrena passed secretly from private collection to private collection, her hatred building of this world. Abuse was rife from her owners if she didn't perform to their standards and as they treated her worse, her mermaid mindset began to overtake the human one. She became darker and more closed off, even in the human form. She believed she would die in such a state. Until the Ringmaster came. He brought her from one such auction and offered a life of relative freedom, so long as she sung. How could she refuse?
β¦β¦β¦ here's a secret Human Syrena wants to desperately remain in a human mindset and to be normal as well as to have relationships and friendships like other people.