NAME: Kerry
JOURNAL:
boxeddreamsEMAIL: fontcroire @ gmail.com
AIM: fontcroire
WIKI NAME: N/A
CHARACTERS: N/A
CHARACTER NAME: Wilhelmina Harker
FANDOM: League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
CANON: Post-movie
WHAT THEY LOST: Her chemistry ability - this affects Mina due to the nature of her research; chemistry is a large part of her life, it is one of the reasons she was part of the League and something which she uses personally (to look for something to help with her vampirism). In terms of her loss Mina would still be able to understand chemistry and would retain all her knowledge of it but it would be her ability to produce anything which would be affected - anything that Mina would make would end up being poisonous rather than what it was supposed to be.
ABOUT THE CHARACTER:
Personality
Mina is a calm and collected individual, though some may see her as cold. Her iron will is what controls and prevents Mina's vampiric nature from showing and being dominant over her life. Mina explains her 'cold' demeanor as her being fearful of where unbridled emotion would lead. She has a sharp wit about her and is able to throw back challenging remarks and sarcasm with ease, something which is a testament to her intellect.
Mina has little patience for annoyances, as was shown with her early encounters with Mr Skinner, and is shown to hold high values and morals - though youth and sweetness aren't traits that Mina holds in a high regard, whereas self-assurity and bad manners are traits that she can't stand. As 'proper' as Mina is for her time there are elements of her that are a contrast to Victorian propriety, not least of all the fact that she is a vampire. Mina is a strong and independent woman, more so since the death of her husband, and has shown that - contrary to her appearance - she does not need a man to look after her. To the contrary, she's an intelligent woman who thinks logically, allowing little to dissuade. When angered, however, this becomes a different story.
Mina's vampiric, almost bestial, nature is a contrast to the woman who is normally presented to you. Her iron will is seen to dissolve and her thoughts - and more precisely her actions - are more aggressive and decisive, logic falling to a more animal will. It is rare that Mina is angered to such an extent, however, and generally irritations, annoyances and even light anger will be reflected back and dealt with by her wit and various caustic remarks. It is only in rare situations that the full force of her anger is seen and usually, when not requiring to feed, Mina only turns to her vampiric nature in a need for defense - or attack if that is the case.
Other than fearing what may become if her vampiric nature is left unchecked, Mina keeps her steel control over herself for another reason - although she may have now come to terms with what she has become, Mina is repulsed by what she is, particularly when it comes to feeding. Mina takes no pleasure in the killing of humans to sustain herself and does so only for necessity. It is her hope that one day she may be able to find an alternate solution. She has tried other methods before, mostly in terms of animal blood, and while they can sustain her they do not do so with as great an intensity. Between lovers, research and being approached to join the League, Mina kept herself mostly hidden - protecting others from herself; she fears seeing and feeling the same repulsion from others that she feels from herself. Mina doesn't relate well to others, a mix of her being a vampire and keeping herself hidden from others. Many things which would concern others - politics or general world views - have little impact upon Mina and her thoughts - she's seen the world change before and knows that she'll see it change many times again.
History
Mina's history, including dates and details not given or elaborated on in either Dracula or League of Extraordinary Gentlemen are headcanon. Due to certain conflicts between Dracula and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen there are some elements of Dracula that have had to be ignored (or twisted slightly) in order for them to fit with both canons - as Mina is originally of Dracula and later in League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
Mina was born Wilhelmina Murray, the only daughter in a small middle class family in 1841 in London. They lived comfortably and Mina spent the majority of her time with Lucy, her best friend through school. After school, Mina spent much of her time, and many summers, visiting her friend Lucy in Whitby. Mina was a smart girl, different to her peers through her ideas and had a wish to learn more. Mina learned reading, writing and shorthand and, when she was older, extended her skills into more education aspects and trained to be a chemist.
Mina met a young man by the name of Jonathan Harker, a bank clerk, during the early portion of her life. The two began a courtship and, in 1861, they became engaged. It was during a business trip of Jonathan's when things started to change - not only for the pair but also for Mina's friend Lucy, also. After Jonathan travelled to Transylvania on business Lucy began to fall ill. A man by the name of Van Helsing was summoned to care for Lucy, though his efforts were in vain as Lucy eventually died - something which Mina was unaware of due to being in Transylvania caring for Jonathan. It is not until after Mina and Jonathan, who had married in Transylvania, returned to England that they learned of Lucy's demise and then a much worse fate. It is with the help of Van Helsing that Lucy is finally put to rest after being slain, preventing her vampiric self from rising again.
After an offer from Van Helsing Jonathan began working for him as his assistant, with Mina aiding in various clerical matters, though things became problematic when Dracula returned - the man that they learned to be Lucy's killer and a vampire himself. With the aide of Van Helsing again, as well as their friends Morris and Seward, they fought a dangerous battle in their attempt to destroy Dracula. Their battle was successful but yielded several casualties - Jonathan was killed during the fight but Mina had been captured by Dracula. After having been taken under his influence Mina had been bitten, turning herself into the creature that they'd fought. Unfortunately Dracula's death didn't reverse the transformation. Scared for her fate, her friends and what this meant Mina fled - keeping herself hidden, hoping to keep under control the now bestial nature that lay within her.
Mina met a man named Dorian Gray five years later. In the short time that they knew each other they were together as lovers, Mina attracted to the power of Dorian and him to how interesting she was. Though she was unaware of Dorian's uniqueness, his own 'curse' and inability to age, Mina recognised that there was something special - different - about him. Their relationship wasn't to last and, for a reason still unknown to Mina, Dorian cheated on her. This betrayal broke Mina's heart, though that fact wasn't something that she wouldn't ever tell, and caused her to end the relationship.
Mina has taken other lovers since then, though Dorian's betrayal and her wish to protect both herself and others has kept relationships from properly blooming. In the time between then and when Mina would meet Dorian again, Mina spent much of her time working on her research - though she'd accepted what she had become it did not mean that she was happy about it nor enjoyed it, particularly when it came to feeding. Mina's research currently involves examining her own blood, as well as that of others and animals, as well as looking at chemical based alternatives to help with her need to feed. It's her silent research, not reaching out to other minds in fear of being found or for their repulsion, that has kept Mina's existance silent to that of the world - those that knew her would, most likely, think her dead.
It wasn't until the summer of 1899 that Mina would see Dorian again, her role in the League being that of two things - to entice Dorian into joining the League but also for her own special abilities. Mina's role in the League utilised not only her background in chemistry, and slight surgical knowledge, but her vampiric abilities also. Mina, although at first seen as only a distraction and a set back to the mission of the League, provided more than useful for the League - giving cover in a gauntlet as well as being able to quickly and efficiently take down the enemy. Even though it was later revealed that Mina's purpose in the League was so that Dorian would be able to steal her blood, Mina was a crucial part in preventing the power of the League from destroying the world - as well as in stopping Dorian Gray.
Abilities
Mina has the superhuman strength and speed that comes with being a vampire though she keeps it contained, preferring to go about fitting in as a human. When needed, generally in self defense, Mina will use these abilities. As a vampire Mina has the ability to fly, either herself or in bat-form, and can summon other bats to herself with a high pitched cry. In human form Mina's speed is that of any other human - at least that's how she prefers to keep herself in order to fit in. As a vampire her speed increases, more so with the more into her vampiric form that Mina goes (especially when flying or as a bat). Her speed and strength aide with her fighting skills as well as her agility, allowing Mina to easily clear great distances or to throw others the same distance. When flying Mina's speed is at it's quickest and her precision allows her to move easily from targets. When in full vampiric form Mina no longer looks human, her movements often too fast for her to be fully glimpsed also. Her skin takes on a more gray tone and, though a cliche, she would be described as a 'harpy'. As well this Mina possesses the vampiric healing and is invulnerable to most wounds and forms of death. In terms of injury Mina can heal almost any injury, providing that the weapon is removed - a blade through Mina's heart will kill her but only while it is still in place. Garlic and silver, while cliches regarding vampires, do not harm Mina - nor do crosses or sunlight (other than draining her abilities). There is little that can kill Mina due to her healing abilities - decapitation being one of the few methods that can, possibly even stakes. She also hasn't visibly aged since being turned. Mina is also a trained and very able chemist.
THIRD-PERSON WRITING SAMPLE: Mina had never thought of herself as helpless, many things had happened that she'd fought against, fought for and fought with and Mina had proven herself, her worth through all of them. She may be female but she was certainly not helpless, and she didn't need anyone to look after her. That seemed to change now, though - she still wouldn't call herself helpless but losing something, an ability... it changed something. Mina had lost everything once, those that she cared about but also herself - her life. It had been a long time since she'd thought about loss, since she'd thought that she could lose anything more but now... chemistry was her life, not only in her profession but in her personal life also. It was more than that for her, though - she'd relied on it for too long, looking for a cure or help where none could be found and now she felt lost, almost helpless. The words were there, the knowledge still too but the ability to create something was gone - everything turned to poison, to something far worse than her original ailment.
"It shouldn't be possible." For days since arriving Mina had tried, fruitlessly but she'd tried all the same. Her failures had only spurred her to try again, to raise past the disheartenment that she felt but now... Mina had to resign herself to the fact that it was possible - that it was gone. Tiredly Mina removed her glasses, placing them aside and looked... just looked at the chaos in front of her that she'd created. Even something simple, something unrelated to her own work had been impossible and now she was stuck, stuck in the place and with this change and with nothing to do.
"I've been hidden for too long." Mina gave a small sigh. She'd been focused for so long that she'd all but forgotten about anything else, other hobbies or skills that she possessed. Life now had a different meaning, it seemed that here she had everything to explore.
FIRST-PERSON WRITING SAMPLE: I've seen many things that could be viewed as strange, more as of late than in past years. I've seen too much to find them strange but not enough that I'm no longer surprised - depths of human cruelty will never cease to surprise me, especially not with the changing tide. I'd hoped that after the last few days that things may be quiet, even if only for a matter of days. I'm unsure whether to be worried or relieved that I have yet to see M's men, or anyone other. I do know one thing, though, however this was able to occur was done with frightening ability - Nemo's technology was incredible, as was M's, though removing memories or abilities? Truly frightening.
INTENT: Mina's a fascinating character in her reactions not only to others but to herself as well. I'd like to explore her behaviours more in Paradisa, different types of characters and to 'reintroduce' her to the world - she's been hiding for a long time, it would be nice to see what happens when she doesn't as well as the struggles from her loss and how the new situation and people will affect her.