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Post by Sorcha Adams on Mar 23, 2014 23:28:39 GMT -6
Sorcha Adams
FACE CLAIM: Anne Hathaway
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AGE: 25
GENDER: Female
ORIENTATION: Bisexual
POSITION: Security
POWER: Werejaguar
Sorcha has the ability to shift her physical form between human and humanoid, melanistic Jaguar.
Strengths: The sheer size of Sorcha in her shifted form is a strength in and of itself. Standing at 7' she makes and imposing figure. Add her teeth and claws on top of it and she becomes all that much more intimidating. The added weight and muscle mass gives her more strength than she has in her human form. She retains some of the boosted senses her jaguar form affords her, though they are only slightly stronger than a normal human's.
In both forms she has gained an additional tissue layer in her eyes that allows her to see in the dark. In her Jaguar form she has a larger field of view and better depth perception in direct light than her human form. Her sense of smell is much better in her jaguar form, as is her hearing.
Her feline nature has given her some additional flexibility in her human form and has taught her to carry herself lightly so that she can move about very quietly when she desires to do so. Her human nature allows her feline body to process slightly larger amounts of non-meat foods while in her Jaguar form than a regular obligate carnivore. She has a much stronger craving for raw or undercooked meats than she used to and thanks to her feline half she can more easily process it in her human form.
Her black pelt allows her to blend more easily in the dark and in shadowed places, though her size may hinder this ability depending on the environment. Her claws allow her to deliver damage and make it even easier for her to climb various surfaces. Her teeth make it difficult to chew non-meats but they've perfectly sufficient for biting and tearing meats or opponents.
Her fur gives her an advantage in the cold weather should she be in a secure area like the school grounds. Her fur helps to insulate her body heat and she doesn't have to worry so much about wearing additional layers if she's capable of lazing around the academy in her feline form. She also doesn't have the aversion to water that most domestic cats do and doesn't mind taking a dip in the nearby lake and then drying out in the sun when it gets warmer outside.
She is capable of walking either on her two back legs or on all fours. Her proportions are better suited for moving on all fours than her human form is, though she prefers to remain bipedal. It's slightly awkward to move on all fours but it affords her a boost of speed when she needs it.
LIMITATIONS:
Sorcha only has the two forms to shift between. She cannot shift into a normal Jaguar, nor can she change aspects of her human appearance (ie. shifting just claws, teeth, a tail, etc.) without shifting completely. Once a shift is triggered it has to run it's course and cannot be stopped or reversed until complete. A full shift can take up to just over a minute to complete depending on how hard she's pushing it, which can potentially become problematic if a situation calls for a quick reaction.
While her size can be an aid to her it can also be just as much a hindrance. Doorways aren't often built for someone as large as her when shifted and doors are an ever present danger for her tail
Unlike the stories about were creatures Sorcha does not depend on the phases of the moon for her shifting ability to work. Nor is she a murderous, bloodthirsty beast while in her non-human form. However, in times of high stress or when the fight or flight reaction kicks in it can become more difficult to suppress the impulse to shift. On the rare occasion she can be pressured into shifting without fully intending to, though it is often a last ditch resort when her instincts kick in and use the shift as a way to protect herself.
While she can more easily process non-meats and uncooked meats in her two forms respectively, she can still overdo it. If she eats too many non-meats while in her Jaguar form or too much undercooked meat in her human form she can and often will become ill. She has spent long enough monitoring these levels that she can tell when she's has enough relatively easily, but there's always the occasions when she splurges and winds up regretting it.
Along with her feline half came the increased urge to hunt and chase. This can get her into trouble sometimes, particularly with pet owners or people out for a morning jog.
Because Jaguars are more active at night and most active at dusk and dawn she tends to have some trouble with normal sleeping habits. Naps during the afternoon are normal for her and she spends a good portion of the night trying to find ways to entertain herself while the rest of the academy is asleep. Taking up a security position at the Academy allows her to wander around at night with some kind of objective so she doesn't get herself into too much trouble.
SIDE-EFFECTS:
While shifting back and forth she can experience some sensory overload and deprivation respectively. While she retains a portion of the added strength in her hearing and smell in her human form it's still no where near as strong as when she's shifted into her animal form. Because of this she can often feel cut off from these senses to some extend when shifting back to human and slightly overwhelmed by the added strength when shifting into her feline form. The longer she's spent in one form or the other the more disorienting the shift in senses becomes.
Triggering shifts between two forms rapidly is draining and not entirely comfortable. In order to prevent too much physical fatigue Sorcha tries not to shift more often than she's comfortable with or than is necessary.
HEIGHT: Just about 6' in human form and 7' while in jaguar form
HAIR COLOR: Brown
EYE COLOR: Yellow, often covered with large sunglasses. She has colored contacts, but they're expensive and can get irritating so she saves them for special occasions.
MISC: Her earlobes and cartilage are pierced on both sides and she can often be found wearing jewelry in both forms. She files her fingernails down to points to mimic the claws she doesn't possess while in her human form.
During the warmer weather shorts and a light-weight tank top or bandeau are Sorcha's preferred pieces of apparel. Her shirts will often have open backs or sides, allowing her to cover all the necessary parts while wearing as little fabric as possible. She doesn't like wearing clothing but understands it is a necessary evil when living in a school full of underage, hormonal teenagers so she puts up with it but wears as little covering as she can manage without getting reprimanded by the rest of the school staff.
Sorcha's temperature has tended to run high ever since her mutation manifested, allowing her to shed more layers in cooler weather than the normal person might be able to. When it becomes too cold her her shorts and tank tops she resorts to jeans and simple tee-shirts. She'll never be caught wearing a winter jacket if she can help it, preferring to stick to heavier sweatshirts or her fur.
She goes barefoot whenever and wherever possible and settles for sandals when she has to have something on her feet. She has a few pairs of sneakers that she wears when the weather forces her out of her sandals, though she draws the line at wearing socks with them.
For her feline form she keeps a supply of over-sized apparel in her dorm, also shorts and tank tops or bandeaus. It's not necessary for her to clothe herself in this form, but she needs some covering for when she shifts back. There's also the issue of those damn teenagers again and a woman walking around naked in any form is bound to cause distractions for any number of reasons once the fact is realized.
Formal occasions will see her in a simple dress and possibly in kitten heels, though she almost always looks out of place when she has to wear these things. She will not wear dress pants or suits for any reason.
Sorcha always goes commando unless an occasion calls for formal wear.
She also has a penchant for anything that shines. She can often be found wearing an array of jewelery to satisfy her desire for things that glitter, most often donning necklaces and several hoops in each ear. She forgoes rings for the most part as they cannot be worn during a shift. Others may find their jewelery mysteriously missing if it catches her eye and is left unattended.
PERSONALITY: Like a typical cat Sorcha tends to be the solitary type. When she wants attention she'll actively pursue it but otherwise she's perfectly content to spend hours by herself tucked away in a quiet corner or out on the school ground basking or napping in the sun. She prefers to spend her time outdoors whenever possible, only retiring indoors when necessary.
When meeting new people she tends to be somewhat standoffish, but once she gets to know someone she warms up the them fairly quickly. She will happily accompany friends on adventures and is probably a little too willing to get herself into trouble if it means she can have some fun in doing so. She enjoys being the center of attention like any feline does and can get a little uppity if she's not getting the amount of attention the thinks she should be.
She has a territorial streak in her that can sometimes cause tension between herself and others. She doesn't hesitate to tell someone to back off if she feels they're crossing some kind of boundary that she's set or interfering with a claim she's made. She has a bit of a temper and when it flares she can get rather nasty. She's not afraid to get in a fight, nor is she afraid to shift if it means winning that fight. She is a sore loser.
Sorcha considers herself to be a free spirit. She's the definition of a wild child and abhors being stuck in one place for too long. She prefers to be outdoor and when she isn't settled down for a nap she wants to be on the move and exploring whatever she finds. She enjoys parties and get-togethers because of their usual high energy. If she doesn't get the chance to go into town she'll be content to laze around the Academy, but only if she's not stuck inside at the same time. She'd rather be roaming around the grounds in one form or another.
Because of her nocturnal nature she's a fan or barhopping and clubbing when most people would be asleep. The dim lighting and alcohol allow her some freedom with her sunglasses as it's often too dark for anyone with a buzz going to notice their strange color in passing. She's also not above taking a stranger home for the night if she thinks she can get away with it. She's not overly attached to the idea of relationships and treasures what freedom she has so the occasional casual hookup is more her style.
SECRET(S): Sometimes she catches herself hissing or growling when in human form when she's upset. She'd probably accidentally purr as well if her vocal cords could support it. She pretends it doesn't happen but it's embarrassing when it does and would rather people not know about it.
Sorcha is very mildly claustrophobic. While she won't go into a full-blown panic attack if shut up somewhere, she can get increasingly agitated and occasionally hostile.
FATHER: Christopher Adams
MOTHER: Cathrine Adams
SIBLINGS: N/A
WORTHY MENTIONS: N/A
CHILDHOOD: Sorcha had a relatively normal and largely uneventful childhood. Born to a middle class family as an only child in a stable household. She tended to be a bit of a wild child and was often spoiled by her parents because she had no siblings to share the attention with. She enjoyed being the center of attention, a trait that has stuck with her.
ADOLESCENCE: As an older child Sorcha never cared much for her studies and being stuck in school for several hours a day. She preferred to be outside getting dirty and going on her own made up adventures. Her parents had largely given up on trying to change her behavior. As far as they were concerned as long as she wasn't flunking an classes, used her manners and wiped her feet before she came though the house they were content enough. She spent most of her free time outdoors exploring and occasionally chatting up the people she passed.
Her aversion to the indoors was amplified the morning she caught sight of her reflection and noticed the two bright yellow eyes staring back at her. She was still forced to go to school despite her apprehension, a pair of sunglasses necessary to cover her eyes whenever possible. Being unknown to the general public, a mutant attending school gained a lot of unwanted attention and even bullying for Sorcha. She made up a lie about migraines so she could keep her sunglasses on in class, but even that made her stand out and targeted her for some of the bolder kids to pick on. Anyone who happened to catch a glimpse of their new color only added to the problem and once or twice a fight broke out over it between her and another student between classes. Sorcha quickly learned how to throw a punch and started avoiding people she passed. She spent even more time outdoors away from her parents and her friends, pushing the limits of her curfew more and more. She felt like she needed to escape. She wanted to embrace this new part of herself, but with all the trouble something as simple as a weird eye color was causing she wasn't so sure it was a good thing.
The first time she shifted scared the hell out of her. It wasn't long after her eyes had changed color and mercifully it wasn't while she was in school. The mixture of the stress she was feeling and the changes that came with puberty were just enough to kick start the main aspect of her mutation and she found herself in a completely different body, scared of what had just happened and what was going to happen but at the same time feeling strangely freed and excited. Once she had figured out how to change back several hours later she began to calm down and the excitement had a little more room to take hold.
Barely a few days had passed after the shift when someone from the Academy located and collected her. With their reassurances her fear was rapidly dissipating and the anticipation for what was coming grew.
ADULTHOOD: Since graduating from Bellefonte Sorcha has continued to live on the property. She had briefly considered attending college mainly because that's what everyone always pressured her to do, but ultimately she decided against it. Another several years stuck in classes didn't appeal to her so she took up a security position at Bellefonte instead so she could keep her residence, make some money while she was at it, and come and go as she pleased within reason. Eventually she'd like to start traveling, but for the time being she's content to stay at the school for a while longer.
SAMPLE: Spring was coming. Sorcha didn't need a calendar or a weatherman to confirm it, she could feel it in every fiber of her being. The air smelled different, it felt different. Spring had a different charge to it than Winter did and sitting on the edge of the seasons changing was like waiting for a thunderstorm to break.
She was pushing her limits more and more with how long she could stay awake at night and into the afternoon. The days she had security duty seemed to drag. There was a building excitement and anticipation and she didn't want to be tied down to any one spot. She was constantly becoming distracted by the migratory birds returning and increasing in number daily and the impulse to chase them and any other smaller mammal that wandered onto the grounds was steadily growing. She settled for chasing and coercing some of the younger kids into wrestling matches whenever they were up for it. She made sure she was nice about it and let them win most of the time. She just needed to expend some of her energy.
As the weather slowly got warmer she was spending more and more time in her feline form, basking in whatever sunlight she could find while her fur largely protecting her from the chilly breezes that were just cold enough that a light sweatshirt wouldn't cut it. Winter had kept her indoors for the most part and now that it was finally on its way out she was craving the freedom of warm weather and taking every advantage with it that she could.
She would have a day off in her security schedule before the week was through and she'd be able to go into town without having to worry about being back earlier than curfew. Heading to one or two of the local bars sounded like a fantastic idea and exactly what she needed to help dispel some of the building anticipation and frustration over the weather's painfully slow progress.
USERNAME: Sorcha, though Issie in the chat box is fine
AGE GROUP: 25
EXPERIENCE: Nearly ten years
WHERE DID YOU FIND US? Invited by existing users
Note: Original Jaguar image by Dark Natasha
