Difference between revisions of "Magpie"
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Red hair, green eyes, lithesome and willowy, Janice's Irish decent is quite obvious. She has the winsome etherealness of a ballerina and the power of a gymnast. As such, her legs are strong and muscular, but still rather demure, while her arms are more fluid and willowy. Like many teenaged girl's, she worries about her appearance and tries to balance diet and exercise to have the look she wants, but also to have the strength and grace she needs to do what she wants. | Red hair, green eyes, lithesome and willowy, Janice's Irish decent is quite obvious. She has the winsome etherealness of a ballerina and the power of a gymnast. As such, her legs are strong and muscular, but still rather demure, while her arms are more fluid and willowy. Like many teenaged girl's, she worries about her appearance and tries to balance diet and exercise to have the look she wants, but also to have the strength and grace she needs to do what she wants. | ||
| − | ='''''<div style="color:# | + | ='''''<div style="color:#FFFFFF; background-color: #4682B4">History<br><br></div>'''''= |
For as long as she could remember, Janice Ramsey had been a fan of [[Sparrowhawk]]'s. Of course, Sparrowhawk has not been active all that time. But still, from the first news report about the blond crime fighter, Janice had bought all the merchandising, learned every fact, watched every interview. When she was thirteen, she even started dating a boy, Aaron Lockestetter, who had a crush on Sparrowhawk. The boy, a little older and a lot smarter, had even managed to build a suit of armor modeled on that of their mutual hero. | For as long as she could remember, Janice Ramsey had been a fan of [[Sparrowhawk]]'s. Of course, Sparrowhawk has not been active all that time. But still, from the first news report about the blond crime fighter, Janice had bought all the merchandising, learned every fact, watched every interview. When she was thirteen, she even started dating a boy, Aaron Lockestetter, who had a crush on Sparrowhawk. The boy, a little older and a lot smarter, had even managed to build a suit of armor modeled on that of their mutual hero. | ||
Revision as of 19:47, 6 September 2013
Janice Ramsey, a mere mortal with extraordinary agility, is Magpie. A self-proclaimed sidekick of Sparrowhawk, Magpie entered onto the scene of the hero occupation on June 3, 2013. Like her hero, she has no powers, no alien DNA, no genetic advantage beyond mainstream humanity. Gifted with uncanny balance, acute senses, and heightened reflexes, she utilizes her passion for dance, gymnastics and acrobatics to fight crime. Armed with a pair of carbanium sais, a flexite suit of armor, her youthful sense of immortality and her amazing skills, she dances through combat with a song on her lips.
What, might you ask, spurred a young gymnast to become a masked and armed vigilante? Those who know her identity are mixed on the subject. Some say it was the time she met Sparrowhawk, others say it was her ex-boyfriend abusing her, others say it is out of a sense of boredom. The truth lies somewhere in between, for her boyfriend did abuse her. Sparrowhawk witnessed it one night and put the boy in the hospital and then to juvenile hall. When he was released, he did it again, but Janice was ready. She turned back on him, fought him off, took the power armor he had built, and left telling him she would make him pay if he ever touched her again.
Appearance
Red hair, green eyes, lithesome and willowy, Janice's Irish decent is quite obvious. She has the winsome etherealness of a ballerina and the power of a gymnast. As such, her legs are strong and muscular, but still rather demure, while her arms are more fluid and willowy. Like many teenaged girl's, she worries about her appearance and tries to balance diet and exercise to have the look she wants, but also to have the strength and grace she needs to do what she wants.
History
For as long as she could remember, Janice Ramsey had been a fan of Sparrowhawk's. Of course, Sparrowhawk has not been active all that time. But still, from the first news report about the blond crime fighter, Janice had bought all the merchandising, learned every fact, watched every interview. When she was thirteen, she even started dating a boy, Aaron Lockestetter, who had a crush on Sparrowhawk. The boy, a little older and a lot smarter, had even managed to build a suit of armor modeled on that of their mutual hero.
All was going well. Janice was doing well in gymnastics, even being watched by the cheer team as a possible member. Her coaches were already greatly impressed, her natural talents seemed to center around the movement of her body. Janice's home life was also simple pleasant. Her parents, though not wealthy, were affluent enough that Janice never wanted for anything. She had good food, fashionable if inexpensive clothing, and her diversions from her more strenuous activities. That is of course until Aaron and she were making out one night and things got a little out of hand.
Aaron had begun to want more out of Janice, more than she was willing to give. She managed to get away, but he chased her down in his car and attacked her. At first, he shook her and made demands, but as she refused, he started to slap her. The slaps escalated to punches. And then, out of the night, the glow of Sparrowhawk's batons lit the scene and she descended on the boy, returning the beating he had given Janice. Janice was so awestruck, the event did not register in her mind properly until it was over and Aaron and Janice were in the hospital with Sparrowhawk giving a statement to the police.
Her life changed. She was viewed by some as a tease, others as a victim, and yet others as manipulative brat. Rumors said she was raped, that she planned it, that she had her gang beat up on Aaron when he did not treat her right, and those were the nicer of the rumors. She was ignored by the cheerleaders but kept up with her gymnastics. None of this changed who she was. She remained cheerful, friendly, and outgoing. Only when alone did it begin to bother her, but then it merely took a "What Would Sparrowhawk Do" moment and she would stiffen her resolve to not let another person control her life.
For two years, she was moving on with her life until Aaron was released from juvenile hall. After school, her parents both at work, Aaron was waiting for her. Her emotions were mixed. She still felt excitement and a connection to Aaron, but she had a sense of foreboding when she saw him. He approached her proclaiming his regret at how thing had happened and how he had changed and would understand if she rejected him. His apparent sincerity had her running and hugging him. The promised to never be apart and went out for pizza to catch up.
They fell into their old habits together, discussing Sparrowhawk, school, and each other. Aaron had made a pair of sais instead of batons saying they looked "more stylish." He also developed a grappling hook as well as a set of feather-like shuriken that Janice had wanted to give to Sparrowhawk, but then realized if the hero had wanted something like that, she would have made them herself. With that decided, Janice herself began practicing with the equipment Aaron had made in an attempt to be more Sparrowhawk-like. This had the dual effect of keeping Aaron's interest in Janice as well as building Janice's confidence once again.
For the next month, they were quite content, the other students had the record set straight and Aaron seemed to take responsibility for essentially being a violent jerk. Many of Janice's peers questioned her about the wisdom of staying with Aaron, but he seemed to have acquitted himself rather well. That is until the two were once more out on a date. Aaron had asked Janice to put on the supersuit he had built for her. She happily did, enjoying the "game" that he seemed to want to play. When she got back, he too had a suit on.
For only a moment, Janice was confused. Only until he pulled out what looked like a ray-gun to her. Her reflexes took over. She dodged out of the way of the shot, her hands flicking the shuriken Aaron had made at him as a distraction. Then out came the sais and she "danced" with him. He managed to get a few hits in, cursing her and declaring his revenge on her, but she had the skill and the talent he lacked. When she was done with him, he was a heap of battered and beaten bully. Her final words to him were, "You touch me again, I'll kill you."
That was the day Magpie was born. Sparrowhawk's sidekick and conceptual daughter.