Melanie Adriana Williams || "Mel" || Twenty-One [21] || Selkie || Pansexual
"All the stuff that comes with being a selkie. And, FYI, the "supernaturally good housewife" thing hasn't been around for quite a while now, if it ever really existed."
Mel, like all Selkies, has the ability to switch between two forms: that of a run of the mill seal, and a human. It's kind of similar to being a mermaid, she supposes, except that she's a lot less attractive while in her seal form than Ariel was when she had her flippers. She can be in the water without automatically changing back into a seal, but she has to actively be remembering not to do so- it's like holding your breath, minus the whole 'needing to breath for survival' thing. Also like other Selkies, Mel has the ability of seduction, which sounds about as vague as it is, really. People of the opposite gender, and some women if they are interested in other women, are typically naturally attracted to her- sexually, anyway. That actually fades with exposure, though; people get used to it, unless she's purposely vamping it up for some reason. This ability also grants her very mild ability to manipulate people mentally- doing what she wants can be very tempting to others if she wants it to be. That being said, her ability isn't extremely potent, and a very good sense of self restraint can protect people. Besides, she only ever uses her abilities on out-of-towners, really.
Skills
Excellent Poker Face || Surfing || Swimming || Skateboarding || Manipulating People || Cracking Tension || Sea Life Tends to Like Her || Dancing
Weaknesses
Weak To Extreme Heat || Allergic to Cats || Often Reckless || Irresponsible || Musically Challenged || When She Drinks, Drinks Too Much || Always Late To Events || Bad With Money || Terrible Cook || Bad With Longterm Planning
Fears
Fire "You would be too, if extreme heat made you feel like you were going to shrivel up and die."
Electric Storms "Lightning and water. You do the math, okay?"
Claustrophobic "I don't like small, cramped spaces. I need to be able to move and breathe."
{"Stop and smell the artificially scented roses."}
The Ocean || Sea Breeze || Surfing || Swimming || The Beach
Skateboarding || Basketball || Dancing || Climbing Things
Jokes || Comedy Movies || Puns || Cheesy Pick Up Lines
Marine Biology || Being a Selkie || Sea Life || Marine Life Conservation
Being Outside || Summer || Sunshine || Bikinis || Being Barefoot
Lemonade || Fruit Smoothies || Cranberries || Bacon Cheeseburgers
Flirting || Parties || Sex || Being Around Other People || Friends
The Terata Act || Discrimination Against Non Humans || Mob Mentality
Electrical Storms || Fire || Tight, Enclosed Spaces || Fear
Seafood || Ocean Pollution || BP Oil Company || Oil Spills
Winter || Snow || Bulky Clothing || Thick Boots || Knit Hats
Being Indoors || Boredom || Sitting Still [She Fidgets A Lot]
Long Classes || Lectures || Being Scolded || People Without Senses of Humor
Being Alone || Complete Silence || Bullying || Overly Sensitive People
{"Only the narcissistic truly know themself. So, naturally, I'm on a first name basis with Mel."}
Reckless: Usually
Quiet: Never
Playful: Usually
Good Listener: Sometimes
Loyal: Always
Sensitive: Rarely
Honest: Usually
Energetic: Usually
Sentimental: Rarely
Goofy: Often
Flirtatious: Usually
Flexible: Sometimes
Serious: Rarely
Mel is the sort of person whom people look to when they want to have fun, relax, or just hang out. She's a good time friend in that people typically only want to hang out with on her good days, or on theirs. This is because Mel knows how to have fun, perhaps a bit too much of it, and can be very determined about helping others unwind and goof off. Whether it be with a joke, by taking them somewhere, or with a silly face, she will do whatever it takes to bring up someone's mood. However, she is not the sort of person who people look to for advice on the future, unless the future involves trying to destress themselves or something along those lines. She doesn't do well in situations of high levels of stress, and has come to take a 'day-by-day' philosophy regarding life. She flirts, plays around, and describes her life as 'parties and bullshit'. A life of immediate rewards best fits this reckless girl, who prefers to ignore the future simply as a means for coping.
When it comes to Mel, she likes to keep things light and easy. The most serious she gets is regarding her loyalty to her friends, and outside of that she keeps things unsentimental and fun. The girl knows how to laugh at herself because she doesn't take much seriously, and because she's never been very sensitive- regarding herself and others, actually. It's not that she's rude- she just doesn't always think properly before she speaks at times, and sometimes forgets that not everyone thinks on the same wavelength as she does.
{"The thing I love about the past is that you can be praised for moving on from it."}
Like many other selkies, Mel was born in her seal form. She was a bit of a late bloomer as far as learning to shift into her human form goes, however, and did not learn to do so until she was around six years old. It was lucky that she managed to accomplish it around this point, though, for the normal laws about attending school applied to the town of Teraton, where she was born and raised. At first, she was incredibly awkward around non-selkie children. After all, she hadn't met any before, unless in her seal form, at which point she wasn't able to speak with them. She continued to be a rather socially incompetent child until she entered the third grade, and her mother began teaching her how to surf. She became good at it- very good. It was the sort of thing that built confidence, at least in her case, and as learning to surf at some point was not entirely uncommon in the beach town, she was able to form friendships with other children through it. This was the beginning of the creation of Mel as she is today- a social butterfly with somewhat unreliable tendencies.
Her development as a person happened rapidly following this point- it's as though she tripped over a step that most people had already crossed and immediately broke out into a sprint. Her previous awkwardness was all but forgotten by both she and her peers, who welcomed this new Mel with open arms. Of course, it helped, especially come high school, that her Selkie blood gave her an attractive exterior. She had grown up in this town, and was one with the salt air by the pier and the sprinkle of bars and clubs that could be found in it's tiny downtown area. Of course, despite rushing ahead, she never really thought much of the future. She was so enamored by things of the present, the sort who loved to focus on everything around her, and therefore left no corner of her mind available for thinking of the future, something which was not helpful when she reached junior year. There are a few universities throughout the US that were established as almost exclusively supernatural-schools, catering to the needs of the various species, but Mel opted to go to one nearby. She loves to travel, but also wanted to be able to live in town and work in the town's only night club.
Besides, she couldn't exactly afford to live far away, what with the payment for dormitories and such. She thus remained a recognizable member of the community, vibrant and perhaps a bit too outgoing than one ought to be. She's studying to be a marine biologist, with a vague plan to help with conserving the ocean, but can hardly imagine ever actually graduating. If she could, the young woman would remain young forever.
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