Part 1: The Basics
1. What is your full name?
Edith Steinlen.
2. Where and when were you born?
Astoria, Queens. June 22, 1984.
3. Who are/were your parents? (Know their names, occupations, personalities, etc.)
George and Janet Steinlen. My mother was a waitress then "house wife" if you could call her as much. She didn't really like me and wasn't what you would call maternal, she was a bit more concerned with botox and handbags than me. My father was originally an electrician, and later invested in a restaurant that definitely paid back in the end. I think he's where most of my personality comes from, he was always willing to help the people around our neighborhood, and he let Janet walk all over him.
4. Do you have any siblings? What are/were they like?
No. I was the only mistake.
5. Where do you live now, and with whom? Describe the place and the person/people.
A brownstone in Williamsburg, with Anthony my (non-tale) best friend since middle school. He's an artist that currently is going to SVA on his parents money and a casual Muslim. Our brownstone is small but nice, with a small backyard that's more garden than patio, and the interior is something akin to an organized explosion of Pottery Barn, Ikea, and an artist's studio. My most prized possession within there is the six burner stainless steel Wolf range that Anthony bought me for Christmas two years ago. The only pets we have are a slew of finches in antique cages and an outdoor cat that adopted us and usually lives in our yard in the igloo we bought for it.
6. What is your occupation?
Culinary student, and a house keeper(I guess). I tend to take charge of more than the usual duties though and often wind up taking small catering jobs....primary occupation is taking care of the Griffin family.
7. Write a full physical description of yourself. You might want to consider factors such as: height, weight, race, hair and eye color, style of dress, and any tattoos, scars, or distinguishing marks.
I'm pretty much your average looking Jewish girl. I guess I have a pixie-ish build? I'm pretty tiny all over, though I could do without my hips. I guess it'd be safe to say that I find myself pretty, I have a nice mouth and I do like my eyes which are a nice amber sort of brown. My hair is chestnut in colour, and I keep it short and heavily layered.
I don't wear much make up, though I do have a sick obsession with Badger brand Chai Rose lip balm. As for my general style of dress I like to be comfortable though well dressed. Usually you can find me in jeans and sweaters, I love scarves! I have a trunk full that is entirely unnecessary, and I tend to only wear boots.
I have a few burn scars across my forearms from hitting hot pots, and a nasty jagged one on my knee that I'd rather not talk about. I have two tattoos currently, my newest one are chickadees that are on the ride side of my ribs, and the other is a small eye of Horus on my left shoulder.
8. To which social class do you belong?
Myself? I'm lower middle class.
9. Do you have any allergies, diseases, or other physical weaknesses?
No..not really. I can't eat raw apples without having a violent gastrointestinal response but that's just about it.
10. Are you right- or left-handed?
Right handed
11. What does your voice sound like?
Warm? I don't know, let me ask.
[...]
David said "rational". I guess I'm pretty soft spoken if not matter of fact. I try not be harsh.
12. What words and/or phrases do you use very frequently?
"Hon" and "Dear".
13. What do you have in your pockets?
Cellphone, Lip Balm, Debit Card, Metro Card...a recipe for baklava written on the back of a bakery receipt.
14. Do you have any quirks, strange mannerisms, annoying habits, or other defining characteristics?
I smoke like a chimney, though I despise American tobacco brands. Live on energy drinks...I guess I try too hard to take care of everyone.
Part 2: Growing Up
15. How would you describe your childhood in general?
My childhood in Queens was pretty fun, I used to hang out with Dad and go around to the shops and stuff with him. When I wasn't with him I was hanging out with the neighborhood kids running amuck and pestering the deli owners with this kid that called himself Skip. it was when we moved out to Long Island that it started to suck, everyone out there was so stuck up it wasn't until I got into my teen years that I began to meet cool kids again in my art classes.
16. What is your earliest memory?
Loukamades from the Titan Bakery....Pastrami from Mr. Selznick's.
17. How much schooling have you had?
Highschool, Culinary School.
18. Did you enjoy school?
It was fun, my highschool years were spent lounging around the art rooms for the most part, then I went to FCI and it's still alot of work but I enjoy it for the most part.
19. Where did you learn most of your skills and other abilities?
Pestering deli owners, experimenting in the kitchen, taking care of the house and cooking for myself.
20. While growing up, did you have any role models? If so, describe them.
Grace Kelly and June Cleaver..both of them were always just so poised, and warm and inviting. As if nothing was out of place in their worlds. Later on it was Nigella Lawson.
21. While growing up, how did you get along with the other members of your family?
My dad lost my respect as I got older..my mother never really did anythign to warrant it in the first place.
22. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A house wife. Like June Cleaver.
23. As a child, what were your favorite activities?
Dancing, singing, cooking, being sociable. I used to like to hang around the heels of the adults in the neighborhood to learn abotu what they were doing and keep them company.
24. As a child, what kinds of personality traits did you display?
Curious, sometimes too curious for my own good. I was pretty giving and very trusting of everyone.
25. As a child, were you popular? Who were your friends, and what were they like?
I got along with just about anybody, there were a few girls or boys that I clashed with but they were mostly the bullying type. As for who my friends were well it was just about everyone but my closest group of friends were the sort of misfits or outcasts that didn't fit into any cliques.
26. When and with whom was your first kiss?
Skip Blumenstein after temple one Saturday.
27. Are you a virgin? If not, when and with whom did you lose your virginity?
No. With Anthony, one night after we got back from the city later and particularly tipsy. After that we decided that romance was something not in the cards for us and it was better to stay best friends.
28. If you are a supernatural being (i.e. mage, werewolf, vampire), tell the story of how you became what you are or first learned of your own abilities. If you are just a normal human, describe any influences in your past that led you to do the things you do today.
From my past lives? I've learned that if someone displays hostile tendencies towards you it's best to just ignore them and leave them be lest you end up with the shit end of the stick.
Part 3: Past Influences
29. What do you consider the most important event of your life so far?
Holding the gallery opening which led to Anser finding me. Learning who I was answered so many questions that had been plaguing me since childhood.
30. Who has had the most influence on you?
Mrs. Tatabai, she was like my mother.
31. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Paying for FCI.
32. What is your greatest regret?
I can't think of any to be honest.
33. What is the most evil thing you have ever done?
Fed my mother enough laxatives to put her out of commission for the week of my sixteenth birthday.
34. Do you have a criminal record of any kind?
No.
35. When was the time you were the most frightened?
When I met Elisa.
36. What is the most embarrassing thing ever to happen to you?
I had been modelling for a friend and I went to go take a cigarette break by the hallway window. I walked back into the wrong studio after wards and flashed the poor boy that had been working in there.
37. If you could change one thing from your past, what would it be, and why?
I'd have moved out earlier. Less grief.
38. What is your best memory?
A week in Maine that I took with my boyfriend of the time. It was nice getting to place house together.
39. What is your worst memory?
Getting drowned in a past life. In this life? Hitting a deer and killing the poor thing.
Part 4: Beliefs And Opinions
40. Are you basically optimistic or pessimistic?
Neither. I try to look at the world rationally, and where I see something broken I try to fix it.
41. What is your greatest fear?
Death.
42. What are your religious views?
I don't really have any. I was brought up in a Jewish church, but it never really sat right with me. I like to think that the best you can do is be a good person, to treat people with respect and give charity and help where and when you can...and at the very least you'll live a richer life for it. It's nothing to do with spirituality, just being a decent human.
43. What are your political views?
I suppose I'm a democrat.
44. What are your views on sex?
To each his own, I suppose. I don't discriminate, and I don't like others to discriminate against myself. Personally I'm not a fan of casual relations...It might sound old fashioned, or silly..but I can't get physically intimate with someone unless there is an emotional intimacy already established. It's a highly mental thing for myself, and unless I trust and feel entirely connected to the person I'm going to feel self conscious and not have a good time.
45. Are you able to kill? Under what circumstances do you find killing to be acceptable or unacceptable?
Everyone is able to kill, it just depends on how easily. For myself, I couldn't do it unless a loved one or my own life was in danger.
46. In your opinion, what is the most evil thing any human being could do?
Make somebody else feel worthless. Even if that person is the most horrible person on Earth, everyone has some degree of reason for living. Nothing, not even violence is worse than purposely making a person think they've no reason for living.
47. Do you believe in the existence of soul mates and/or true love?
Sometimes my belief in it wanes a bit more than I'd like.
48. What do you believe makes a successful life?
Being able to take care of yourself and those around you.
49. How honest are you about your thoughts and feelings (i.e. do you hide your true self from others, and in what way)?
I can help others with their problems if they think I have problems of my own. So...well yes, I am pretty guarded. I dont like to appear helpless or in need of anything. It takes pretty desperate times for myself to reach out to others. Usually my worries just go to the birds though.
50. Do you have any biases or prejudices?
Only against bullies.
51. Is there anything you absolutely refuse to do under any circumstances? Why do you refuse to do it?
Hurt someone intentionally. Because there actions will get determine their demise in the end.
52. Who or what, if anything, would you die for (or otherwise go to extremes for)?
Anthony, Isaac, Alexa Jo, David, Eleanor..
Part 5: Relationships With Others
53. In general, how do you treat others (politely, rudely, by keeping them at a distance, etc.)? Does your treatment of them change depending on how well you know them, and if so, how?
I treat everyone like I'd wish to be treated until they give me reason to distance myself or otherwise. Generally I prefer to welcoming and nurturing, I like to feed people and make them feel at home. If someone slights me or a loved one..i tend to ignore them and though not mean..I suppose they can sense my dislike.
54. Who is the most important person in your life, and why?
Oh goodness I don't know! It's hard...I mean there is Anthony whose been there for me through everything and he'll always be there, but he isn't a Tale and so there is that entire side of my life that I have to hide from him. And then they is David who I see so much of myself in, and he really does get my deepest darkest secrets..and I do love him dearly, and we're nearly mutually dependent upon one another just to get through life. And then Isaac and A.J...oh goodness I adore them both, they are the closest thing to a family I have, and sometimes it feels like Alexa is almost as much my daughter as she is Isaac and that witch woman...and I want nothing more in life then to just see all of them well off and happy. It's just..oh hell, how do you expect something like that to be narrowed down to just ONE PERSON ANYWAYS!?
55. Who is the person you respect the most, and why?
Eleanor. She's wonderful, sweet, and seems to have everything together.
56. Who are your friends? Do you have a best friend? Describe these people.
My friends..well there are David and Isaac and Anthony who I think I've all gotten into enough for you all to have a good idea. Then there are my non tale friends, most artists or some kids from FCI they're your general New Yorker hipster intelligencia types of people that I've known since highschool or have met through Anthony; but I wouldn't say we have much more than a professional and superficial sort of interest in each other. I get along with most everyone, but since coming to the Pen I've made a similiar sort of connection with alot of Tales, nothing all to intimate, though I tend to talk to Al, Seith, Audra, Richie, Harrison, Caden and Miles a bit more than others. I guess I've been seeing and speaking to Seith a bit more since I've met him, but really I've never found myself so immediately comfortable around someone; I'm not sure what's up with him yet but I'm started to get the feeling it might lead me into some sort of trouble.
Elisa..well she is on an entirely different ground than everyone else. I've so much in common with that woman, she is ultimately nice and funny but I can't help but stand on guard whenever I'm around her. I try my best to stay as calm and collected as possible though.
Eleanor I guess is who you might call my best friend, we're very much so on the same level with what our idea of fun is, and she's the girl that I can turn to for just about any sort of problems. We're both there for each other no matter what.
57. Do you have a spouse or significant other? If so, describe this person.
No. Just a forming crush.
58. Have you ever been in love? If so, describe what happened.
It was my senior year of highschool, and I had fallen hard for this college boy named Robert. he was only a few years older than Anthony and I and we'd met him in the city. We started dating the summer before senior year and everything was just wonderful. Really and truly, we played house, we got along, I felt safe with him....I brought him home to meet my parents, and my mother must have said something to him while I was in the bathroom.
Regardless he made a hasty retreat as soon as I came out, asked me to forgive him and never returned my phone calls.
59. What do you look for in a potential lover?
Someone that I can connect with on a creative level, that has a sense of humour and a good appetite, somebody dominant and strong willed enough that I know that they can take care of me, that I can ultimately trust.
60. How close are you to your family?
I haven't spoken to them since my high school graduation.
61. Have you started your own family? If so, describe them. If not, do you want to? Why or why not?
Not yet. But I do want to, I'd love to me a mother it's something instinctual in me I suppose. And I guess if I had children to extend my maternal instincts out to I'd be less likely to force them onto others.
62. Who would you turn to if you were in desperate need of help?
Depends in the help I needed.
63. Do you trust anyone to protect you? Who, and why?
David, Isaac, Anthony, Eleanor.
64. If you died or went missing, who would miss you?
The people I feed.
65. Who is the person you despise the most, and why?
My mother.
66. Do you tend to argue with people, or avoid conflict?
Avoid conflict.
67. Do you tend to take on leadership roles in social situations?
Not usually, I mean not that I want to, but most of the time other people get to it before I do, so why not?
68. Do you like interacting with large groups of people? Why or why not?
Sure, I'm fine with large groups, and socializing. I'm not shy.
69. Do you care what others think of you?
Yes. Absolutely.