Porrim Maryam

OUT of CHARACTER
Name: Jo
Other characters: Anna of Arendelle, Oceana

IN CHARACTER
Name: Porrim Maryam
Fandom: Homestuck
Canon point/AU: Current game timeline (Panem AU)
Journal: fusshionable
PB: Original art / Natalia Kills


History:

In this world, Porrim Maryam grew up not in a cave, tending to her alien species' young, but the privileged daughter of one of Panem's best and brightest scientists. He and her mother, a former escort for the Games, raised her to have the best of both worlds: brains and beauty. While she was as spoiled as any child of the Capitol, she was also taught not to take it for granted--her parents both had witnessed first hand just how fragile this world of theirs was, and instilled it in her to appreciate all she was given, "just in case". She studied hard in school, excelling in math and science especially where her father spurred her on; her mother, ever the fashionista, taught her to sew, to put together an ensemble like nobody's business. All in all, a well-rounded young lady whose worldview was perhaps a bit more level-headed than some of her more hotheaded peers.

As a teenager, Porrim found herself disgusted by the attitude of many of her male classmates, and men she encountered out in public--a sense of entitlement to women's bodies, to which she personally refused to submit. She became a fierce feminist as a result, and as she got older and discovered the underworld of the Capitol, the bidding system which so many of the Capitol's citizens utilized, she opposed that just as fiercely. The idea of being forced into a situation like that was stomach-turning, and though by default she grew up pro-Capitol, in her later teens and early twenties she began to question the system she lived in. Still, she was a sensible girl, smart enough to keep her mouth shut, lest she end up in traitor's prison before her twenty-first birthday.

Independent a creature as she is, Porrim found herself loath to live off her parents' wealth for long after she finished school. She immediately set her sights on becoming a Stylist. After all, she'd learned to sew as a child and had impeccable style and taste. She interned with a tailor, honing her skill and developing a style of her own. At twenty-two, she eagerly accepted a position as an assistant Stylist for District 11. At first, she loved the job; getting to assist in making each Tribute beautiful as possible, interacting with them one-on-one. But hours of thankless sewing, beading, and fitting made her realize that aligning her career path with her personal passions was not all it was cracked up to be, and when an opportunity came for her to advance, she made a smart move, and took up the position of Escort for District 5 instead. Sure, it wasn't quite as glamorous a job, but it allowed her to enjoy her passion for fashion without it being ruined for her by the daily grind. Plus, it allowed her to keep a comfortable lifestyle and stay current on gossip. And working closely with Tributes, who were increasingly tugging at her heartstrings, was only a bonus.


Presentation: Outwardly, Porrim is seen primarily as a fashionista. Killer taste, good manners, and a pretty face mean that much of what she does is unquestioned by the shallower end of society. She knows the value of being an agreeable person and uses that to her advantage, but she's no pushover. It's hard out there for a brown girl, and Porrim makes it clear that she may be nice, but she's not to be trifled with. She has a witty and sharp tongue and is quick to use it to tear down anyone who tries to fuck with her; she values a good verbal lashing as an invaluable weapon against her detractors. She also has a rebellious edge; tattoos, piercings, and studded leather act as her armor, another level by which she makes herself untouchable. Distance is safe; if she keeps people at an arm's length, she can't be touched--in theory, anyway. But at the same time, her words, her actions are tinged with a modicum of sexuality, and as much as she loves sex, that's appropriate. She's not one for deep, committed relationships, keeping her emotions under wraps and choosing instead to take temporary lovers. She dislikes most peoples' personalities anyway, so that's best--shallow, lazy people make good one-night stands, but terrible boyfriends and girlfriends.

On a personal level, Porrim loves a good, lively argument. It puts her quick wit to use, and if the debate happens to center on calling out someone's sexist, racist bullshit, then she is so there for the party. She's a bit of a bossy know-it-all. That tends to earn her a reputation as a bitch, but she doesn't seem to have a problem with that--she chooses to appropriate the word 'bitch' and wear it like a badge. She also spends quite a bit of time gossipping, which is a sufficient distraction from dull day-to-day life for someone as in need of stimulation as she is. Some may dismiss gossip as an airhead's hobby, but she sees it as a way to gather information without raising suspicion. Secrets are an important currency in the Capitol, after all, and the more of them she can tuck away, the better off she is.

Motivations: Inwardly, Porrim is one to stick to her convictions. She's incredibly morally driven, even if her set of morals don't often align with "traditional" standards. She has a very staunch sense of right and wrong, but some of what she experiences falls in a grey area that she can't quite reconcile. This grey area consists of the question of Tributes, and the inhumanity of what's done to them. Growing up, before the Neverending Quell, it was easy to rationalize the Games as a punishment; obviously the people of the Districts did something bad, and the Games reinforced that they were wrong, and that they needed to be reminded of that. But working with offworlder tributes now makes her question that--because these people are innocent, at least of any crime against the Capitol. How is it right, or fair, for them to have to die over and over for the sins of the Districts? She's not quite at the point where she aligns herself against the Capitol, but she's certainly begun to question a lot of the world she lives in. And she knows that it's dangerous to do so, so she keeps it under wraps, instead gathering information as a way to figure it all out. She views the Tributes she works with with a large measure of sympathy, but doesn't allow herself to get too close if at all possible--that's dangerous in too many ways, and becoming emotionally attached to anyone isn't really her style. Still, she's motherly toward them, making sure they're healthy and happy as it's possible for them to be. All her outward confidence doesn't mask insecurity, but a longing to know whether or not she's on the right side, and that remains to be figured out. At twenty-nine, she still has time.


Setting: Panem AU

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First Person Thread:

[Well, this is unlikely.

How perfect that she, the gossip hound, is privy to such a juicy private post. It's practically a jackpot; suddenly, she knows exactly how each and every one of these people feels. It's a rumor-monger's dream come true, and when the attention is turned on her, Porrim is ready for it, really. Her face is placid, unbothered, and her voice a smooth purr, even though she feels like laughing. Oh, she's making a copy of this conversation, that's for sure.]

Me? Oh, I think it's just wonderful. Think of all the interesting new people we have to play with now. Watching kids gets boring after all, and think of the financial benefit for the Capitol. We'll hardly need to spend any money at all shipping in ungrateful District brats who only spit in our faces; these newcomers, I'm sure, will love a chance to do something different for a change.

[She's coming off like a spoiled Capitol socialite, she knows, and that's the perfect ruse. Perfect, because she knows it'll only spur on her comrades who are listening to say even more outrageously terrible things. And, well, if a time ever came where all of this talk could become useful, she has only to press play, and it'll all come spilling out again. If they think their little round-robin is private, they're severely underestimating her technological skills.]


Prose:

Being here, in this room, is bewildering.

From the moment she was taken, a peacekeeper at each arm, and shoved in here, Porrim's heart has been thumping. She hasn't done anything, hasn't said anything even vaguely inflammatory, not even in private. When she's let go, when she's left alone to stare up at the Gamemakers behind their forcefield, she takes a moment to breathe, to smooth down her hair and to put on the nice, placid smile of someone who's clearly done no wrong.

"Gentlemen," she begins smoothly, trying to quell the panic rising like bile in her throat, "I have to say, I'm not sure why I've been brought here. Is it to put on a show? Because I'm afraid I'm simply not that kind of girl." She does a little twirl, letting the hem of her skirt flair out dramatically. "Is it to beg me to accept a position as a lead stylist? If that's the case, I regret to inform you that I'm not amenable. That chapter in my life is closed. Sorry to disappoint you."

She gives them her most alluring smile. "But if you think I've somehow wronged you, wronged the Capitol, then I must beg you to reconsider." Her fingers slip into her jacket pocket, past leather and satin lining, slipping into the finger-holes of a set of brass knuckles. "I'm a good girl, I really am."

Additional information: Hunger Games AU: If the Capitol were to bring in Porrim's canon doppelganger, it would likely be as an intimidation factor--perhaps if her quiet wavering in position became known somehow. She'd certainly see it as a threat, and what's more, she'd likely not trust this other version of herself, assuming that it's bait for a trap that the other Porrim has been brought here.

She grew up in the Capitol, with little reason to question its motivations or wonder about whether or not its existence is a problem. Lately, however, she isn't so much against the Capitol as she feels sort of put off by all of it, and has a strange feeling that all is not quite right with her world.