[ application | taxonomites ]
YOUR NAME: Kerry
PERSONAL JOURNAL: boxeddreams
E-MAIL: fontcroire @ gmail.com
AIM: fontcroire
CHARACTERS IN TAXON: (if applicable) None
CHARACTER NAME: Helen Magnus
CANON: Sanctuary
MEDIUM: (tv/movies/books/comics/etc.) TV Show
BIRTHDAY/AGE: (if applicable, characters in taxon must be 16+) 160 (at canon point) / August 29 1850
CANON POINT: 316 Awakening - just after Nikola's been injured
WHY THIS CHARACTER AND CANON POINT?: I could gush for an eternity over Helen and still probably not actually answer this question. The short of it? I love playing her. She's fascinating, intricate and is a puzzle that even Sherlock Holmes probably couldn't solve - you can see reasons, reactions, motivations but even with it all together never quite know exactly why. She frustrates the most brilliant of people, inspires others and has quite a story to tell. She's a 160 year old Victorian who has seen more than you ever could and been through an extraordinary amount with extraordinary people. She's buried friends, colleagues, lovers and she keeps on fighting.
I love playing her because of everything - the depths that you can reach to, the little pieces of wonder and new heights that can be found. She's a bundle of everything and keeps everything just as well bundled. (See what I mean about the gushing?)
She's fascinating; there is more to her than can ever be known and what she does she does it despite everything because if she didn't then who would? She can be your saviour and your worst nightmare all in one.
The canon point? Well, other than the previous one I wanted meaning it would leader to her death in Taxon I thought I'd abandon that. The start of Awakening leads to new places, ideas and treasures. It's also where one of her oldest friends is injured and almost to death. At that point she's currently assessing him, damning him for not listening to her as well as wondering what the hell to do. She's about to hear his 'final request' when she's brought to Taxon - infuriated and scared for him.
So why this point? So much has happened this series and here things are finally a little calmer and somewhat more on track. Parts of the world was nearly destroyed, someone began killing abnormals, they discovered a secret part of the world and Helen died, only to be revived and then cured to save from dying again. And then in house events had some disasters until finally this... a relaxing exploration to an ancient tomb, only to have a disaster once again occur. It's not an easy life.
PROGRAMMED POSSESSION: The Old City Sanctuary | external image | internals | All of the data, files, equipment etc will be there but the Sanctuary residents will not be
ABILITIES/WEAKNESSES: Abilities: Helen possesses the abnormality of longevity which has permitted her extended lifespan and youthful appearance - as told by James Watson she hasn't changed since spring of 1886. She's also a medical doctor in multiple fields - teratology, xenobiology and cryptozoology (as well as human medicine) and in the 19th Century was known for being on the leading frontier of medicine, and continues that today with her work into abnormals.
Helen is also a polyglot and speaks many languages (more than we'll ever know). In canon she's shown speaking seven languages (including English) and is also knowledgeable in Ancient Vampire, forms of Sign Language and Latin. Due to her position in the Sanctuary Network (including her travelling and setting up Sanctuary's in other countries) it can be assumed that she is knowledgeable (to a passable level) in various other languages - especially those where her Sanctuary's are located.
Due to being injected by the Source Blood (blood of Sanguine Vampiris - ancient Vampires) Helen received (or possibly activated) her abnormality of longevity. Along with this Helen possesses a heightened immune system (a toxin that was designed to infect abnormals she was immune to due to the effects of the source blood) and it is possible that she also possesses a heightened immune system in general - to colds and other illnesses. That isn't to say, however, that Helen is immortal or fully immune - due to molecular acceleration (through a vortex allowing travel through time and space) Helen was exposed to this vortex, causing her to become ill with radiation sickness - a very potent form that would have killed her in a matter of weeks. Helen is also human, meaning that she can be killed. The source blood also allows Helen to go by with very little sleep. Although she does still require it, unlike the vampires, she only requires a couple of hours a night (2-4 depending when she last slept) - although Helen often goes without that when things are busy or of a pressing nature.
Weaknesses: Helen's first, and main weakness is that she is still human. Despite the Source Blood and her abnormality she is still human and susceptible to injury and death. She can be killed by normal means (and has been previously) and despite her heightened immune system can still become ill (for example radiation sickness).
Another of Helen's weaknesses is her compassion. If Helen cares about you (which is likely if you don't anger her nor piss her off - with exceptions) it will cloud her judgement somewhat and she will place saving your life above anything else - especially her own life. Two of her sorer subjects for this are her daughter (Ashley) and her former lover (John Druitt). In the case of Ashley she would do anything to save her. When offered the trade of Ashley's life for the Sanctuary Network Helen declined, as although Ashley is important to her and she wished to save her she couldn't sacrifice her work - but she did this with a plan in mind to save Ashley (and doubts that the Cabal would have given Ashley to her). After Ashley died she remarked (when seeing visions of her) that she was her life, even going so far later as to find a way to end her longevity so as to be able to die of 'normal' ageing. In regards to John? Despite what happens and what he does she is unable to kill him. Speaking of him, particularly negatively, despite his actions will result in an unpleasant look from Helen or provoke some irritation in her. Despite her attempts to hate and revile him for his actions it is hard to fully cut off all other feelings for him. He is the one person that she has truly loved and it's possible that she still feels that love for him - something that she will never admit nor wish to act on due to the pain, anger and their (especially his) past. It is these feelings that make Helen prefer to help him rather than put an end to him, especially after Ashley's death - she was their remaining connection and now he is her remaining connection to Ashley and she couldn't bear to lose them both (especially not after the losing Nigel, James and then almost Nikola also). Additionally to this, Helen will place the lives of both abnormals and humans above anything else, preferring to stun or sedate something rather than kill it - her gun is more often stocked with tranquilliser rounds than bullets. Helen will only kill something as a last resort or in the face of extreme danger.
One other thing that Helen seems to do badly with is looking after herself. Despite caring for others and the role that she takes within the Sanctuary and in others life Helen is spectacularly terrible at looking after herself - something which is exacerbated in a crisis. Helen often has to be reminded to eat - which sometimes still becomes forgotten due to the crisis - and often refuses to sleep whilst something is happening or until she knows that all of her residents are safe and/or asleep themselves.
PSYCHOLOGY/PERSONALITY: One of the first things to know and remember about Helen is that she is first and foremost a Victorian woman. While she may not hold high many of the standards expected of a woman from that time, it doesn't change her upbringing and overall demeanour and whilst she has adapted to integrate herself with the changing times she is still the same woman at heart. She is a particularly private person, a mix from her need for privacy in her work, her experiences but also due to her upbringing. Helen doesn't talk freely about her feelings and will take care of others before herself. If Helen does talk about herself or her past it is usually in brief detail and the conversation is rapidly cut short if it takes a turn into matters that she is unwilling to discuss. Even those that Helen considers herself friends with know very little about her life, barring her long-standing friends.
Etiquette is something that Helen holds to the highest regard and will let you know should something that you do or say cross her boundaries into disrespect or bad etiquette. A testament to this was in an alternate timeframe when, even though the world was ending, Helen requested that the young girl that she was with told her her name - stating that “proper etiquette would be to offer your name in return”. Helen also has a lot of pride for herself and her work and does not take kindly to anyone demeaning that or her authority. She's an intelligent woman and very loyal - if she cares about you or you're a friend she will protect you and will do so regardless of any other influences. Helen employs a strong "do no harm" ethic due to her status as a medical doctor and her wish to protect any abnormal and person. She is unwilling to harm or even kill any individual without a spectacularly good reason, often placing her own life in danger above that of whom she would rather save, an example of this being John Druitt whom she has tried to save for over a century despite his actions towards herself and others.
In her work Helen employs some strict sensibilities which aide in protecting both her work and her patients. While she may not relax often, and only takes a weekend long break every seven years, Helen does know how to relax and enjoy herself. She knows how to make light of a situation and has a distinctive sense of humour, though it's only seen when the time is appropriate. As well as being protective over people’s lives she is also protective over their beliefs or interests. Helen has long understood the personal dangers of the job, the lack of being able to communicate it to others (“dinner parties are hell”) and allows her staff the relaxation and personal time that they so need. Her protective nature is also very compassionate and though it may be hard for Helen to relate to others she does truly try.
Helen is a strong woman both physically and mentally. It takes a lot for Helen to lose control over herself in a situation or to act rashly or without calm. One thing, or rather person, which does alter this is Helen's daughter Ashley. Whenever Ashley is in danger, or even when she was kidnapped by the Cabal, Helen fought for her and even placed her work in danger to rescue her daughter. Another individual who causes Helen to lose clarity in situations is John Druitt. Despite his actions Helen was unable to fully sever her feelings for him or truly hate him due to their past, instead burying them deep. Whilst Helen may have feared John when he first came back into her life, his actions and events that unfolded have shown that he will not hurt her or the Sanctuary. While she may not fully be able to trust him, Helen is able to place enough trust in him to allow him to help. Her own actions of wishing to help him shows that she does still care for him also, whether or not she will admit it.
Due to Helen's extended life she has seen the world change many times and knows that she will again. Though she keeps herself apprised of global affairs, mainly to protect the abnormal community, Helen herself is less involved with them than she was in past years. Political affairs also hold less of an interest to Helen and, unless she is specifically asked, she will keep away from them. When Helen is not researching abnormals she makes time to present lectures on varying abnormal theories, though she has been told that her lectures are rather boring.
HISTORY: Helen Magnus @ wikia
ARRIVAL POST: She was stunned. Helen wasn't quite sure what to refer to the feeling as but that was what it became. She had to resist the urge to audible gasp as the setting in front of her fully worked its way through her mind.
The tomb, the chamber... Nikola. All were gone and replaced with... the room seemed bare if not for the pedestal in the center of it, a device that she couldn't quite see seated upon it. Helen looked back in front of her to where the cavern's walls her been - to where Nikola had been sat in front of her.
He was dying. The blood was there on her hands reminding her that it was real and not some imagination. An ancient tomb of the vampires dictating their conflict with the Praxians... she'd seen it... they'd been there. He hadn't listened to her, the damned fool; he'd been more concerned with his pride. And now he was paying for it - especially now that she was no longer there.
"Bloody hell." She couldn't help but exclaim aloud, the fear and sadnesses emanating in her voice. She'd almost lost him once before when he'd been turned mortal - in essence she'd been the last of the Five. And now he would die there. Alone.
Helen finally rose, slowly, pressing a closed hand to her face and unconsciously she held her breath.
John was gone, Adam dead. She'd have known John's teleport and this wasn't it, nor was it a vortex of Adam's - that technology had died with him.
She couldn't remove the image from her mind of Nikola, laid there and holding everything in in a vain hope of prolonging his life. She hadn't known how to save him - hadn't had the equipment with her to do so - and how would he be able to do it without her? He'd been finding it hard enough to stay conscious...
"Damn." Her voice was just as quiet, just as pained. "Bloody... bastards." She couldn't word it, could barely organise her thoughts. Pushing slowly past it, trying to focus on something else Helen dropped her hand, looking around her environment. There were no doors of an obvious nature but that didn't mean that there wasn't one. With determination in mind she walked to one of the walls, pressing her hands to it and feeling around on it, looking for something that was out of place.
"Come on Nikola." He had better not die on her... without her. "Don't you dare."
(If you'd prefer/require another sample due to the lack of speech I'd be happy to provide you with one! I know that it says five lines of speech but... Helen's caught in a moment where she wouldn't be talkative. So... would this link help?)
ADDITIONAL SAMPLE: (This is from a later canon point:)
Helen felt defeated. It had been a long day - though to her that had extended to the past few months. They had experienced time that no one else had. It was exhausting enough to think about. Even though she had known that minutes weren't even seconds it didn't stop those things from happening. And there hadn't been triumph without the risks, and losses.
Ravi.
Helen closed her eyes, her heart pulsing with a heavy beat. He'd been a good colleague and a dearer friend. Though she had lost many that she'd known over the years - it came not only with her life but her being - it did not become any easier. She would damn herself if, one day, she ever found it easy to lose someone.
So much had happened in her life. One hundred and sixty long years had past but it seemed that these past three years had been the most active of them. So many memories, good and bad. So many troubles, more so than joys. And even more losses. She could recount them all and yet she knew that Ravi was not the last of them, not for a long time. If they hadn't succeeded? There would have been far more.
When Will had asked her if she'd blamed herself the answer had seemed obvious. How could she not? The actions that they had started, everything that they'd been through. There had been so much and they had barely considered the repercussions of it all, especially not then. It had been a different time. They'd been doing their duty, even fixing something that they had started. There was so many things that Helen was now beginning to link to them, to The Five. Had they been wrong? Even in the beginning, when there had been no certainties, when everything had been a simple experiment... they had never considered the risks or the consequences. Then they had only been experimenting on their lives but that had soon changed. They created the notorious Jack the Ripper.
They may have changed the ages, or rather Nikola, but they had created so much turmoil just by their being. Five individuals who should be long dead. And now that Five had dwindled. First Nigel, through age. Whilst each of them had gained a small essence of longevity, none was to last like Helen's. James had been next, though only kept alive by his failing devices. Helen believed that, knowing little about John's whereabouts, that Nikola would be with her till their bitter ends, but even that seemed not to last. Nikola, outdone by his own ingenuity, though finally put right by her own.
And then, for a point, it seemed as if she would be the only one. The last of The Five. The last abnormal. The last being. She had lived and outlived so many and she was to be the only one that would survive when the world was torn apart.
How could she not blame herself? Forcing the fire elemental underground, causing abnormalities in Carenten? That was her idea and their doing. They hadn't checked since, wishing to keep their distance from that moment. Though they may seem wise through their years, Helen still found those foolish traits in them. Those foolish traits that had defied belief and respect for their own lives.
Those foolish traits that had started this.
And she was now the only one left to carry this. John was on the other side and Nikola had little cares. And Helen... she carried it all and would until the end.
PERSONAL JOURNAL: boxeddreams
E-MAIL: fontcroire @ gmail.com
AIM: fontcroire
CHARACTERS IN TAXON: (if applicable) None
CHARACTER NAME: Helen Magnus
CANON: Sanctuary
MEDIUM: (tv/movies/books/comics/etc.) TV Show
BIRTHDAY/AGE: (if applicable, characters in taxon must be 16+) 160 (at canon point) / August 29 1850
CANON POINT: 316 Awakening - just after Nikola's been injured
WHY THIS CHARACTER AND CANON POINT?: I could gush for an eternity over Helen and still probably not actually answer this question. The short of it? I love playing her. She's fascinating, intricate and is a puzzle that even Sherlock Holmes probably couldn't solve - you can see reasons, reactions, motivations but even with it all together never quite know exactly why. She frustrates the most brilliant of people, inspires others and has quite a story to tell. She's a 160 year old Victorian who has seen more than you ever could and been through an extraordinary amount with extraordinary people. She's buried friends, colleagues, lovers and she keeps on fighting.
I love playing her because of everything - the depths that you can reach to, the little pieces of wonder and new heights that can be found. She's a bundle of everything and keeps everything just as well bundled. (See what I mean about the gushing?)
She's fascinating; there is more to her than can ever be known and what she does she does it despite everything because if she didn't then who would? She can be your saviour and your worst nightmare all in one.
The canon point? Well, other than the previous one I wanted meaning it would leader to her death in Taxon I thought I'd abandon that. The start of Awakening leads to new places, ideas and treasures. It's also where one of her oldest friends is injured and almost to death. At that point she's currently assessing him, damning him for not listening to her as well as wondering what the hell to do. She's about to hear his 'final request' when she's brought to Taxon - infuriated and scared for him.
So why this point? So much has happened this series and here things are finally a little calmer and somewhat more on track. Parts of the world was nearly destroyed, someone began killing abnormals, they discovered a secret part of the world and Helen died, only to be revived and then cured to save from dying again. And then in house events had some disasters until finally this... a relaxing exploration to an ancient tomb, only to have a disaster once again occur. It's not an easy life.
PROGRAMMED POSSESSION: The Old City Sanctuary | external image | internals | All of the data, files, equipment etc will be there but the Sanctuary residents will not be
ABILITIES/WEAKNESSES: Abilities: Helen possesses the abnormality of longevity which has permitted her extended lifespan and youthful appearance - as told by James Watson she hasn't changed since spring of 1886. She's also a medical doctor in multiple fields - teratology, xenobiology and cryptozoology (as well as human medicine) and in the 19th Century was known for being on the leading frontier of medicine, and continues that today with her work into abnormals.
Helen is also a polyglot and speaks many languages (more than we'll ever know). In canon she's shown speaking seven languages (including English) and is also knowledgeable in Ancient Vampire, forms of Sign Language and Latin. Due to her position in the Sanctuary Network (including her travelling and setting up Sanctuary's in other countries) it can be assumed that she is knowledgeable (to a passable level) in various other languages - especially those where her Sanctuary's are located.
Due to being injected by the Source Blood (blood of Sanguine Vampiris - ancient Vampires) Helen received (or possibly activated) her abnormality of longevity. Along with this Helen possesses a heightened immune system (a toxin that was designed to infect abnormals she was immune to due to the effects of the source blood) and it is possible that she also possesses a heightened immune system in general - to colds and other illnesses. That isn't to say, however, that Helen is immortal or fully immune - due to molecular acceleration (through a vortex allowing travel through time and space) Helen was exposed to this vortex, causing her to become ill with radiation sickness - a very potent form that would have killed her in a matter of weeks. Helen is also human, meaning that she can be killed. The source blood also allows Helen to go by with very little sleep. Although she does still require it, unlike the vampires, she only requires a couple of hours a night (2-4 depending when she last slept) - although Helen often goes without that when things are busy or of a pressing nature.
Weaknesses: Helen's first, and main weakness is that she is still human. Despite the Source Blood and her abnormality she is still human and susceptible to injury and death. She can be killed by normal means (and has been previously) and despite her heightened immune system can still become ill (for example radiation sickness).
Another of Helen's weaknesses is her compassion. If Helen cares about you (which is likely if you don't anger her nor piss her off - with exceptions) it will cloud her judgement somewhat and she will place saving your life above anything else - especially her own life. Two of her sorer subjects for this are her daughter (Ashley) and her former lover (John Druitt). In the case of Ashley she would do anything to save her. When offered the trade of Ashley's life for the Sanctuary Network Helen declined, as although Ashley is important to her and she wished to save her she couldn't sacrifice her work - but she did this with a plan in mind to save Ashley (and doubts that the Cabal would have given Ashley to her). After Ashley died she remarked (when seeing visions of her) that she was her life, even going so far later as to find a way to end her longevity so as to be able to die of 'normal' ageing. In regards to John? Despite what happens and what he does she is unable to kill him. Speaking of him, particularly negatively, despite his actions will result in an unpleasant look from Helen or provoke some irritation in her. Despite her attempts to hate and revile him for his actions it is hard to fully cut off all other feelings for him. He is the one person that she has truly loved and it's possible that she still feels that love for him - something that she will never admit nor wish to act on due to the pain, anger and their (especially his) past. It is these feelings that make Helen prefer to help him rather than put an end to him, especially after Ashley's death - she was their remaining connection and now he is her remaining connection to Ashley and she couldn't bear to lose them both (especially not after the losing Nigel, James and then almost Nikola also). Additionally to this, Helen will place the lives of both abnormals and humans above anything else, preferring to stun or sedate something rather than kill it - her gun is more often stocked with tranquilliser rounds than bullets. Helen will only kill something as a last resort or in the face of extreme danger.
One other thing that Helen seems to do badly with is looking after herself. Despite caring for others and the role that she takes within the Sanctuary and in others life Helen is spectacularly terrible at looking after herself - something which is exacerbated in a crisis. Helen often has to be reminded to eat - which sometimes still becomes forgotten due to the crisis - and often refuses to sleep whilst something is happening or until she knows that all of her residents are safe and/or asleep themselves.
PSYCHOLOGY/PERSONALITY: One of the first things to know and remember about Helen is that she is first and foremost a Victorian woman. While she may not hold high many of the standards expected of a woman from that time, it doesn't change her upbringing and overall demeanour and whilst she has adapted to integrate herself with the changing times she is still the same woman at heart. She is a particularly private person, a mix from her need for privacy in her work, her experiences but also due to her upbringing. Helen doesn't talk freely about her feelings and will take care of others before herself. If Helen does talk about herself or her past it is usually in brief detail and the conversation is rapidly cut short if it takes a turn into matters that she is unwilling to discuss. Even those that Helen considers herself friends with know very little about her life, barring her long-standing friends.
Etiquette is something that Helen holds to the highest regard and will let you know should something that you do or say cross her boundaries into disrespect or bad etiquette. A testament to this was in an alternate timeframe when, even though the world was ending, Helen requested that the young girl that she was with told her her name - stating that “proper etiquette would be to offer your name in return”. Helen also has a lot of pride for herself and her work and does not take kindly to anyone demeaning that or her authority. She's an intelligent woman and very loyal - if she cares about you or you're a friend she will protect you and will do so regardless of any other influences. Helen employs a strong "do no harm" ethic due to her status as a medical doctor and her wish to protect any abnormal and person. She is unwilling to harm or even kill any individual without a spectacularly good reason, often placing her own life in danger above that of whom she would rather save, an example of this being John Druitt whom she has tried to save for over a century despite his actions towards herself and others.
In her work Helen employs some strict sensibilities which aide in protecting both her work and her patients. While she may not relax often, and only takes a weekend long break every seven years, Helen does know how to relax and enjoy herself. She knows how to make light of a situation and has a distinctive sense of humour, though it's only seen when the time is appropriate. As well as being protective over people’s lives she is also protective over their beliefs or interests. Helen has long understood the personal dangers of the job, the lack of being able to communicate it to others (“dinner parties are hell”) and allows her staff the relaxation and personal time that they so need. Her protective nature is also very compassionate and though it may be hard for Helen to relate to others she does truly try.
Helen is a strong woman both physically and mentally. It takes a lot for Helen to lose control over herself in a situation or to act rashly or without calm. One thing, or rather person, which does alter this is Helen's daughter Ashley. Whenever Ashley is in danger, or even when she was kidnapped by the Cabal, Helen fought for her and even placed her work in danger to rescue her daughter. Another individual who causes Helen to lose clarity in situations is John Druitt. Despite his actions Helen was unable to fully sever her feelings for him or truly hate him due to their past, instead burying them deep. Whilst Helen may have feared John when he first came back into her life, his actions and events that unfolded have shown that he will not hurt her or the Sanctuary. While she may not fully be able to trust him, Helen is able to place enough trust in him to allow him to help. Her own actions of wishing to help him shows that she does still care for him also, whether or not she will admit it.
Due to Helen's extended life she has seen the world change many times and knows that she will again. Though she keeps herself apprised of global affairs, mainly to protect the abnormal community, Helen herself is less involved with them than she was in past years. Political affairs also hold less of an interest to Helen and, unless she is specifically asked, she will keep away from them. When Helen is not researching abnormals she makes time to present lectures on varying abnormal theories, though she has been told that her lectures are rather boring.
HISTORY: Helen Magnus @ wikia
ARRIVAL POST: She was stunned. Helen wasn't quite sure what to refer to the feeling as but that was what it became. She had to resist the urge to audible gasp as the setting in front of her fully worked its way through her mind.
The tomb, the chamber... Nikola. All were gone and replaced with... the room seemed bare if not for the pedestal in the center of it, a device that she couldn't quite see seated upon it. Helen looked back in front of her to where the cavern's walls her been - to where Nikola had been sat in front of her.
He was dying. The blood was there on her hands reminding her that it was real and not some imagination. An ancient tomb of the vampires dictating their conflict with the Praxians... she'd seen it... they'd been there. He hadn't listened to her, the damned fool; he'd been more concerned with his pride. And now he was paying for it - especially now that she was no longer there.
"Bloody hell." She couldn't help but exclaim aloud, the fear and sadnesses emanating in her voice. She'd almost lost him once before when he'd been turned mortal - in essence she'd been the last of the Five. And now he would die there. Alone.
Helen finally rose, slowly, pressing a closed hand to her face and unconsciously she held her breath.
John was gone, Adam dead. She'd have known John's teleport and this wasn't it, nor was it a vortex of Adam's - that technology had died with him.
She couldn't remove the image from her mind of Nikola, laid there and holding everything in in a vain hope of prolonging his life. She hadn't known how to save him - hadn't had the equipment with her to do so - and how would he be able to do it without her? He'd been finding it hard enough to stay conscious...
"Damn." Her voice was just as quiet, just as pained. "Bloody... bastards." She couldn't word it, could barely organise her thoughts. Pushing slowly past it, trying to focus on something else Helen dropped her hand, looking around her environment. There were no doors of an obvious nature but that didn't mean that there wasn't one. With determination in mind she walked to one of the walls, pressing her hands to it and feeling around on it, looking for something that was out of place.
"Come on Nikola." He had better not die on her... without her. "Don't you dare."
(If you'd prefer/require another sample due to the lack of speech I'd be happy to provide you with one! I know that it says five lines of speech but... Helen's caught in a moment where she wouldn't be talkative. So... would this link help?)
ADDITIONAL SAMPLE: (This is from a later canon point:)
Helen felt defeated. It had been a long day - though to her that had extended to the past few months. They had experienced time that no one else had. It was exhausting enough to think about. Even though she had known that minutes weren't even seconds it didn't stop those things from happening. And there hadn't been triumph without the risks, and losses.
Ravi.
Helen closed her eyes, her heart pulsing with a heavy beat. He'd been a good colleague and a dearer friend. Though she had lost many that she'd known over the years - it came not only with her life but her being - it did not become any easier. She would damn herself if, one day, she ever found it easy to lose someone.
So much had happened in her life. One hundred and sixty long years had past but it seemed that these past three years had been the most active of them. So many memories, good and bad. So many troubles, more so than joys. And even more losses. She could recount them all and yet she knew that Ravi was not the last of them, not for a long time. If they hadn't succeeded? There would have been far more.
When Will had asked her if she'd blamed herself the answer had seemed obvious. How could she not? The actions that they had started, everything that they'd been through. There had been so much and they had barely considered the repercussions of it all, especially not then. It had been a different time. They'd been doing their duty, even fixing something that they had started. There was so many things that Helen was now beginning to link to them, to The Five. Had they been wrong? Even in the beginning, when there had been no certainties, when everything had been a simple experiment... they had never considered the risks or the consequences. Then they had only been experimenting on their lives but that had soon changed. They created the notorious Jack the Ripper.
They may have changed the ages, or rather Nikola, but they had created so much turmoil just by their being. Five individuals who should be long dead. And now that Five had dwindled. First Nigel, through age. Whilst each of them had gained a small essence of longevity, none was to last like Helen's. James had been next, though only kept alive by his failing devices. Helen believed that, knowing little about John's whereabouts, that Nikola would be with her till their bitter ends, but even that seemed not to last. Nikola, outdone by his own ingenuity, though finally put right by her own.
And then, for a point, it seemed as if she would be the only one. The last of The Five. The last abnormal. The last being. She had lived and outlived so many and she was to be the only one that would survive when the world was torn apart.
How could she not blame herself? Forcing the fire elemental underground, causing abnormalities in Carenten? That was her idea and their doing. They hadn't checked since, wishing to keep their distance from that moment. Though they may seem wise through their years, Helen still found those foolish traits in them. Those foolish traits that had defied belief and respect for their own lives.
Those foolish traits that had started this.
And she was now the only one left to carry this. John was on the other side and Nikola had little cares. And Helen... she carried it all and would until the end.