Latula Pyrope (Panem AU)

OUT of CHARACTER
Name: Michi
Other characters: Terezi Pyrope, Phi

IN CHARACTER
Name: Latula Pyrope
Alias: Tula, Tulip
Fandom: Homestuck
Journal: thegirlandthesea
PB: Candice Accola
Age: 22
History:
Latula Pyrope was born and raised in District 4 to a family of fishermen (and women). She learned how to swim and fish early in her life, and as soon as she was old enough, she began to accompany her father on his fishing boat. She was close friends with both Meulin Leijon and Mituna Captor, the latter of which was something like a childhood crush. Her and Mituna spent a lot of time together, eventually teaching themselves how to surf and making their own surfboards from abandoned driftwood on the beach.

When Latula was 13 years old, tragedy stuck close to home. During an altercation with a Peacekeeper, Mituna was severely beaten, rendering him mentally crippled on top of his physical injuries. Not long after, Meulin was also beaten, leaving her permanently deaf in one ear and severely impaired in the other. Distraught and knowing only that Kurloz Makara, a Capitolite friend of theirs, was involved in both incidents; Latula lashed out in anger and demanded that he leave and never come back. Kurloz did leave, but his absence did nothing to fix Mituna or Meulin. Their lives were changed for good.

Latula was changed as well, often acting out in anger where previously she might have held her tongue or run away. One incident involving a Peacekeeper and her sharp tongue resulted in a rifle butt slamming into her face. The impact broke her nose. Her injury eventually healed, though she never regained her sense of smell. Alarmed by both the incident and the knowledge that it could have been worse, her parents began to emphasize that she couldn't act however she wanted. One day the consequences might be severe. She insisted that she wasn't scared of the Peacekeepers or the Capitol, but her parents didn't relent. They reminded her that they might target someone close to her instead. If the Capitol wanted, they could take her whole family away, and her friends, too. So Latula promised that she would curb her anger and never let it come to that.

Years passed, and Latula gradually learned how to toe the line just enough to avoid any serious consequences. She developed a mindset of being the center of attention, if only to keep the Peacekeepers from looking too closely at her already damaged friends. When she couldn't hold her tongue, she funneled her anger into protecting them, and that kept her on the level better than any warnings about her own safety.

But when talk of rebellion finally came to District 4, Latula knew exactly what she needed to do. If there was any chance of making Panem truly safe for the people she cared about, this was it. There was no question about her support. Like everything else that she tackled, she was in one hundred percent.

Presentation: Latula presents herself as a confident spitfire of a young woman. She's compliant with the rules as far as anyone can tell, but only by toeing the line as closely as she can. When she can get away with it, she's more than willing to give the stationed Peacekeepers dirty looks or to shoot her mouth off at them. She doesn't make her hatred any secret, but she's careful not to go too far. Her parents have hammered in the idea that being too openly rebellious might get her and others killed, and she's learned not to push buttons that she can't handle the repercussions of.

Her outward confidence spreads to other areas of her life, as well. She presents herself as a person that her friends can count on, encouraging them to come to her if they ever have any problems. She's outgoing and enthusiastic about just about everything she does, from working on her father's fishing boat to catching a few waves on her makeshift board in her down time. She also tends to joke around when things aren't as serious, and she usually ends up laughing louder than most the others around her.

Motivations: What security Latula flaunts on the outside doesn't quite reach her on the inside. Beneath her bravado, she harbors a number of worries and fears, primarily focused on her friends. After what happened with Mituna and Meulin, she doesn't want to ever feel that weak and helpless again--even if she knows the act that she puts on is a lie. In truth, the more scared she is, the more determined she is to act like she isn't.

She also doesn't want her friends or family to be preyed upon by the Peacekeepers that keep them in line. There's a strong sense of justice burning inside her, even if she has to keep it wrapped up tight.

Ultimately, Latula also sees herself as a guardian over her friends--something like a Knight protecting those weaker than her. If someone has to take the brunt of a punishment for acting out, she would rather the attention fall on her than on any of them. However, she doesn't go out of her way to start trouble. She is scared of the Peacekeepers and of the situation that the Districts are in, but she doesn't like acknowledging that part of herself so she pretends that it isn't there.

When word of the rebellion started circulating through whispered rumors in the streets, Latula was one of the first to sign up.

Allegiances (District Disposables only): Definitely Rebellion-sided.