[application] aliunde
Character Information
Name: Oerba Dia Vanille
Fandom: Final Fantasy XIII
Point Taken: after receiving her Eidolon
Housing: here
Personality:
A cheerful, energetic girl, Vanille comes off as somewhat childish and naive upon first meeting her. The way she talks, walks, acts - it all oozes perkiness and gaiety. Her extreme enthusiasm often mixes with her inquisitive nature, creating a strong curiosity to explore new places in any kind of situation. She always puts a positive spin on things and tries to stay optimistic even when things are looking bleak. To Vanille, good can come out of every situation if you just look hard enough. A little hope never hurts, after all, and a good joke can go a long way. Vanille hates to see anyone in poor spirits; friendly and outgoing, she considers it her duty to cheer others up if they can't do it themselves.
As such, Vanille has no problems making friends (though it remains to be seen if people have as easy a time calling her friend), and once she makes a connection with someone, she finds it very hard to let go. Coming from a society that deeply values friend and family relationships, Vanille is very attached to her friends and would do anything she could to protect them, putting others' feelings and wellbeing before her own if need be. She worries about her friends constantly and dislikes seeing them hurt or distressed.
Yet despite her cheery disposition, Vanille is wracked by insecurity. She may put on a brave face, but inside she is often afraid, and actually cries very easily. Not wanting anyone to see her like that, Vanille disguises her fear with courage, her guilt with innocence. She would just keep her secrets hidden away forever, letting it eat her up inside, rather than cause her friends any pain. But more than not wanting to hurt her comrades, shame was what kept Vanille silent - shame that she lied, that everything was her fault and there wasn't anything she was able to do to fix it.
Eventually her guilt grew too strong to contain. Caught in her web of lies, Vanille confesses to everyone that she's caused such suffering to, unable to think of any other way besides death to atone for her crimes. But, to her surprise, they forgave her. At first she can't believe it - why would they just forgive her for everything she's done? But that's what friends do, she realizes. They're a family now, the only people they can really rely on in their struggle against the fal'Cie, and they promised to stick together through thick and thin. Vanille is not alone anymore, and her determination is renewed. She couldn't just give up without a fight when she had a new family to protect.
Though she may seem weak, Vanille's strength keeps her going, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. It would be so easy just to give up, to let fate run its course, but (with a little help from her friends) she overcomes her shame and guilt and keeps on driving forward, her hopefulness no longer a mask to hide behind, but something she can finally feel without restriction.
Weapon/Abilities:
Vanille's weapon is a peculiar type of rod, consisting of an antler-like headpiece on a stick with four long-wired hooks that hit enemies much like a whip or an elaborate fishing rod. Because of this she specializes at long-range fighting. Furthermore, as a l'Cie she is quite effective at using magic, with strong offensive capabilities as well as proficient healing and status-effect skills.
Background:
To avoid spoilers, I'll just drop a couple of links here. If you'd like more, I can write something up!
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Samples
First Person:
Hello, is this thing on?
[she gives it a shake, as if that will help]
Better? Right, now can anyone tell me where I am? Just a little information would be nice, I'm not even asking how to get home.
[no matter how much she misses it. she sighs softly.]
What am I supposed to do...
Third Person:
Oh, how Vanille had missed the feeling of grass beneath her feet - real grass, vibrant and alive. Not like the grass on Cocoon, which felt strange and artificial to her. She took a deep breath, reveling in the familiar air. Behind her, Fang yelled not to wander too far ahead, but Vanille ignored her friend for the moment, jogging down the sloping hill to stand at the edge of a sparkling blue lake. You just didn't get colors like these up on Cocoon, Vanille lamented, crouching down and dipping her fingers into the cool liquid. Even the feeling of Gran Pulse's water against her skin was better than anything one could find above. Though maybe she was a little biased about these sorts of things.
She could hear the others making their way more slowly down to the lake shore. If only they'd hurry up, so she could point out how wonderful everything was here. Lost in thought, she didn't notice the rippling of the water until a monster burst out from beneath the surface, barreling into her and sending her sprawling across the ground. Hope was shouting her name, tone worried, but Vanille quickly composed herself, tugging her rod free from her belt and turning to face the fish-like creature that had knocked her over.
"Ooh, what was that for?" she exclaimed, brandishing the weapon in front of her. The monster let out a shrill cry, fins flaring angrily and teeth bared as it readied itself for another charge. "Don't think I'm afraid of you!"
Fang appeared at her side, spear in hand and smile on her face. "Less talk, more action," she suggested, laughing, and Vanille nodded determinedly.
"We'll show ya!" she taunted the already angered creature, and here, beside Fang and the others in this beautiful place overrun by monsters, she truly felt at home.