[OOC] Application
For reference. :)

Name: Jenni
Age: 18
Personal Journal: LJ @ MoonlitTaint
Contact Information:
AIM: TaintdMoonlight
Email:MoonlitTaint@gmail.com
Other: N/A

Past RP Experience: Shikamaru @ the Host Club

Character: Tenten
Age: 18
PB: ( Emily Browning )
Classification: Brunette
Occupation: Servant/grocery store worker and an occasional teacher.


Background History:

She knows more things about the roles of the different castes than some people learn in their whole lives because of the household she grew up in. Her mother, for all appearances was a law abiding citizen who worked as a cook for the first district during weekday afternoons and ran a grocery store she owned with her sister in the mornings. Her mother and aunt co-owning the grocery store allowed her the luxury to always have food when she wanted it. The store also, was one of the few that not only catered to brunettes and dirt-hairs, but also ensured that the dirt-hairs had acess to fresh produce. On her mother's insistence, everyone got the same quality of food, whether good or bad. The only quirk that betrayed her perfect eloquent chipper persona was a chemical imbalance in her mind. It wasn't a huge deal, only causing the woman to suffer from bouts of depression when stressed. The more severe side-effects were suppressed by medication Tenten's mother took. This was easy for Tenten to deal with, she could usher her mother into bed for a nap and an extra pill in the moments of depression for her to get better.

The major source of confusion for Tenten was her murky source of origin. In company, her mother always replied jovially that she had no father. In private moments together, her mother always hinted that one of the frequent grocery store visitors was her father. He was a funny man her aunt openly voiced disdain for - a man that, Tenten realized one afternoon when she stumbled upon him at their house on accident, dyed his hair. He'd come into their house, a hat on his head, muttering quietly to her mother and hid in the bathroom. When Tenten asked her mother just said she was going to take a nap. Curious and annoyed at not having her question answered, she went to go ask her presumed father. For some silly reason, the man had forgotten to lock the door, years later Tenten would theorize he'd left it open on purpose, like he wanted her to catch him bent over the sink, dying his hair. Little girl, she was shocked and flabbergasted. She watched silently, in transfixed horror as he finished and when she asked what he was doing and why, he gave her a small smile. He told her it was going to be a secret between them, that he wanted to help others fit into a place they belonged and that "they system" was broken. He told her he was doing something bad, but to do something good. Young, Tenten didn't didn't understand much; she just felt exhilarted because breaking the law held a romantic appeal how he said it. Plus, she liked being a secret keeper. Years moving past, Tenten always had suspicions he was connected to some gang, because he sold hair dye and she didn't think that could be done alone. But when she asked, she recieved no response. She grew up fairly certain he was her father, but no one ever confirmed her theory - probably to protect her - the same reason nobody would tell her if he was in a gang she presumed.

Unfortunately she'd also grown up hearing dirt-hairs were beneath everyone, which while it didn't taint her opinion of the man and would never cause her to rat him out, it lead to much confusion on her part and the occasional slip of insulting comments to the members in third district.

Once, when she was eight, to teach her a lesson, the man she was fairly certain was her father took advantage of her mother's state of depression to apply black dye to her hair. In those days, Tenten slept early on in the night, to appear 'fresh' and be ready to pay perfect attention in school. Usually, it was just her and her mother at home. The man she felt certain was her father, never slept in their household. Her mother had begun having an episode during the grocery store the night before and was thus sleeping heavily in her own room that day. Her 'father' was in the household that day, but Tenten didn't think much of it, having seen him around on occasion, particularly when her mother was ill as if he were watching over her mother. Early that morning, while the sun was barely rising, he dyed her hair while she was sleeping, and heavy sleeper that she was, wasn't roused and fully awake until the rinsing was all but done. She was sure her hair was washed, but the thought of hair dye didn't even cross her mind. She just assumed he'd wanted her to wake up to run some errands. Eyes lidded, she didn't think much of it as he tied her hair back so she wouldn't see it swinging in her eyes. And when he told her they'd be doing some business in the third district, she protested, but was goaded into going as impressionable children always are when adults convince and console. The man took her to the third district where she met a kindly woman he called his sister. He left soon after uttering something about a lesson to be learned. Tenten was simply confused as to the whole debacle thinking he would be back. When she looked in the mirror in the dingy house, Tenten screamed. It was the first time she'd noticed her hair, and had realized it was black. For a breif moment of panic, Tenten imagined her hair was normally black and she had just been dreaming, or worse pretending with the use of the man's hair dye. After the woman clamed her down enough, she explained yelling would do no good, and neither would attempting to go back and tell the truth. The women seemed to view what her brother had done with considerable distaste, but she assured Tenten that she would still care for Tenten regardless of the man's "idiocy". The woman continued trying to tell her that they would kill her upong just mentioning the word 'dye'.She didn't understand then why it would be a bad idea to tell people she was really a brunette, because she was. If it was all a mistake, they would understand. The only bit she understood, was that she would have to tell who dyed her hair to fix the mess and that would lead to trouble to her "father". She might not have liked him at that moment, but she feared for her mother's stability. The man seemed to calm her considerably. So, Tenten was resigned to living in the third district until the dye washed out, but she wasn't happy. He first day in the third district completely broke her. It was much different than she had expected, it was darker, it was harder, and there was less money to go around. She saw more crime than she could ever have expected. Seedy-looking people, people without a care, homeless and family-less children on the streets, and no one with anything to give. Like a thoughtless child, Tenten took out her anger on the woman sheltering her with insult and other ugly awful words. What made her attitude change was when she accompanied the woman to get grocery or other minute errands in the second district (though Tenten pleaded they not head to her mother's area. She did not want to startle the woman and cause an episode.) The atmosphere and the attitude was different and hostile now that her hair was different. It made her angry because she wasn't what they thought. Genetically, she wasn't what they thought! When a brunette back-handed her for being in the way of a brunette child while she was a dirty-haired individual Tenten had never hated someone more in her life. She hated her own people. Rather than express cruelty toward her, which the woman had every right to do, considering Tenten's attitude, Tenten's aunt took her back to the third district and comforted her.

The anger was still there, but now that she was angry at those in her own district for being cruel to her, Tenten opened her eyes to the real problem. She noted brunettes treating all dirt-hairs coldly and began to understand the dirt-hairs she was currently residing with. Despite the bad things of the district, she also saw nice things, people sharing some of the little they did have, a friendly smile here and there, and intelligence. She learned just how many dirt-hairs could actually think for themselves, and they thought deeper thoughts than some of the grown-up brunettes she knew. The dirt hairs weren't silly, stupid, and childish as she'd been led to believe. She saw a community just like her own, but in situations that made her wonder how they could live like that daily. Tenten could barely handle it; much of the food was bad, the equipment was terrible, and they were not allowed to do many things. She marveled at their strength of well.They were the same. Just angrier, less privileged, and more determined to pull through.

It turned out the dye was a pathetic weak solution which had washed off fully from her hair in four days. While she was glad to be able to go back home, she was also conflicted. She'd learned and experienced things she didn't think she could forget. After all the dye was off her hair, the same man picked her up and brought her back home without a word, but she didn't need a lecture and he knew that; she would never forget what had transpired. No person was worthy any less - situations were the only things that differed.

Everything exploded after that escapade.

The man she was fairly certain was her father was discovered selling hair dye when she was nine. Rumor even had it, that he had fessed up as a dirt-hair the second the police caught him. He was publicly beheaded the following day. Her school had taken a couple class to see for entertainment and educational purposes. Tenten had looked him in the eyes as the axe came down, never flinching, never crying. She only looked away once the deed was done, pushing away from the crowds, not stopping until she was at an alley. Falling on her knees, she wretched right there in the alley, her disgust and sadness intermingling. He hadn't said a word, but she understood. If he was a brunette he wouldn't have been publicly beheaded. If he was blonde nothing would have happened. The system devalued life and it wasn't fair.

Her aunt picked her up from school that day, something her mother had never done. Her aunt then told her that her mother had shot herself in a mad fit. Her mother had neglected her pills, and with the stress from the man's death, she'd lost it. While her aunt was upset over her mother's death, the woman had no problem accusing the now beheaded man as the root of the problem. Her aunt spat with anger and sadness that Tenten's mother had made it clear she'd killed herself because she couldn't bear life without the dirt-hair. She holed herself up in a corner of the grocery store that day, knees hugged to her chest, angry and upset with the whole world. The whole debacle would sour Tenten's view of love.

The following transitions were easy and quick, Tenten moved in with her aunt and her aunt became the sole owner of the grocery store.

For some time, she avoided going back to school, claiming illness. Because of her own mother's chemical imbalance, Tenten's aunt presumed the girl's depression was something similar and she should not be provoked. Tenten wanted to hate the world and retreat into herself. Every time she wanted to get over it, there was an angry lurking depression under her skin. Anger at blondes for not caring. Anger at dirt-hairs for trying to mix things up, because if they hadn't tried her mother would still be live. Anger at brunettes for conforming. She hated everything, even things that contradicted herself. Tenten didn't trust herself around other people, because she found she exploded often. Angry, insulting. It was only luck she hadn't come across an influential blonde in those times. Finally fed up and afraid the girl would get them both in trouble, Tenten's aunt listened to the suggestions of a friend and took the now ten-year old girl to a place that taught 'relaxation classes'. Tenten started off with yoga, but not gleaning much, she moved on to Tai Chi. While her aunt did not have much hopes in the classes, they seemed to do something for Tenten's mindest that nothing had been able to do before. Doing the exercises Tenten managed to push aside her anger, her fear, her contempt, and just relax. Forget her stress and give in to the exercises. They taught her how to clam down and deal with her anger positively.

Tenten resumed a regular schedule once more, but she was still filled with mixed emotions and anger toward everyone. Because of how hurt she'd been, Tenten was hesitant to let anyone inside. She would not trust regularly. Some people wormed their way into her life and the cracks in her heart smoothed over ever-so-slightly. She remembered all the truths she'd learned, but also remembered she was happiest when she didn't pay attention to them. She disliked the system, but once she was calm and began talking to people once more she came to only one conclusion. The people who rebelled against the system were always hurt and always hurt others in return. So she would just have to forget everything.

It worked, if for a while. Her aunt removed the lax rules in the grocery store that Tenten's mother had imposed, and no longer were dirt-hairs allowed in the store. At least, not for a while. Her aunt was attacked in the store late one night by some dirt-hairs, desperate for food. The woman was hurt badly, and when Tenten later informed officials, they didn't care. It seemed they weren't important. From then on the grocery resumed its service to dirt-hairs as if to appease any gangs who might try to take some, but her aunt always gave them shoddy food. While this particular event didn't rile up the old anger, it made her decided something. She might be happier when she forget all the rules. When she forgot how the system was unfair and how it hurt others, but she would not be safe if she forgot it all.Which is why in addition to her regular Tai Chi classes, she began to take up Judo. Something that would enable her to toss her opponents and protect herself, but not a deed that could be considered so 'dangerous' as to she might be a threat. She would no longer bend to the systems rules to the letter, because it wasn't a set of laws -- it was a game. To play the game she was going to have to know the rules and follow some, but she would not be caught off guard when another player cheated or used his/her handicap.

Thus, Tenten melded into the role of a brunette perfectly. She had learned to dislike aspects of every caste, but she had also decided that she should not and would not rock the boat. Perhaps, as her presumed father and mother had believed, the system was wrong, but that did not mean she had to go change it. She knew where her place was, and she wasn't going to try to overstep her bounds. She'd seen enough death as it was; she wasn't going to go about looking for her own. Her place was with other brunettes. Sure, she would be kind to dirt-hairs and pleasant with blondes, but she wasn't not going to stick her body anywhere it did not belong. It only mucked things up. If things needed changing, she would leave it stronger people than she. She would not shape the rules, she would question and protect herself, but nothing more.

She offered her services as a servant for blondes, and put in a few hours at the grocery store, which she'd begun doing since she was eleven. The hours she usually manned the counter while her aunt slept, she always made sure to provide decent food for all the castes. Three days out of the week, she also teaches Judo and Tai Chi (two) classes rather cheap (a different one per day). She became the teacher of these classes after the man she'd taken lessons from had went into retirement. Tai Chi teacher at the age of sixteen and Judo teacher at the age of seventeen. She does the classes to sharpen her own skills and to impart knowledge of self-defense which she strongly believes in. When a dirt-hair shows in her classes, she does not deny them, though some brunettes wish she would kick them out.

Considering she never even discovered if her father was the dirt-hair, nobody really knows her origins. Only her aunt and Tenten suspect the truth and neither will be willing to let it be known.
 


Personality/Likes & Dislikes:

She is always careful with what she says and to whom she says it. She bites her tongue even in moments when she wants nothing more than to tell people her opinion. Because of her own history she knows where her position is and tries her hardest to stay within it.

She is not overly friendly to members outside of her caste, despite what she knows about dirt-hairs. She thinks of them as normal people, but she is far too aware of the way the system runs to think about creating strong friendships with any of them. She does not believe they are born inferior, but made inferior because of society, but that doesn't mean she'll coddle them all. She's learned from her mother and father that intermingling is dangerous. She will aid, but she shies away from lasting relations outside of her caste. It is for this very reason that she has shoved away all traces of the dirt-hair language she had ever overheard the man she presumes to be her father speak. If she hears some words, she will probably not recognize anything but the most basic ones anymore, and even then, she tries hard to forget that she knows any words at all.

Despite her past, Tenten is fairly more chipper than one would expect her to be. She showcases joviality and appreciation for the people around her and is more than willing to take part in a joke or playful endeavor as the next person. She is easy to talk to, even among strangers, but there is always a wall she puts up upon first meeting someone else, since she is never sure if she wants to trust someone. It takes a while for her to show true honesty to someone, but in the meantime she is still pleasant and kind to be around. She weighs words carefully and doesn't believe everything she's told because she's quite aware that everyone has secrets and some secrets will even stay secret.

She does not mince words with those she openly considers her friends and trustworthy. She tells them exactly what she thinks and will even be willing to yell or knock them over the head if it is necessary to make them understand something. She's not violent, but she's determined and will not stand for one of her friends passing themselves off as less than they are. She believes strongly in the value of a person and achieving her dreams.

One thing she has problems with is accepting love. She will have crushes and find men attractive, but she always feels queasy when thinking about starting a serious relationship with a man. She's afraid of ending up so devoted she might be just like her mother. The thought of that strong of a love scares her and leaves a bad taste in her mouth.

Though Tenten teaches classes on the pretext of believing in self-defense, she actually enjoys them. She finds something relaxing and liberating in the actions, feeling strong and tough. Probably why she teaches two Tai Chi to help relax herself and improve her own balance. It's more for her own personal sanity than anything else whereas Judo is one she took up for self-defense purposes only. Since it's more of a defensive fighting than offensive, she believes it's not one she can get in trouble for teaching.

She's not much for caring about her appearance, though she will be known to dress up when necessary. She doesn't consider herself exceptionally pretty, and doesn't really care for that. She feels comfortable with who she is. It wasn't always that way. Sometime ago she used to worry much about whether someone could tell she was part dirt-hair. She used to try very hard to look gorgeous and be better than the average brunette. She used to worry if someone could figure her out and would tell everyone she wasn't a normal brunette. After her hair was dyed, she gained a different perception of the world and that's where her self-confidence arose from. She decided that along with society, societal standards were wrong and all that mattered was her opinion of herself. As such, a different reaction resulted in her. She only offers her opinion in times she felt strongly about it or with people she enjoys being with, anyone else, she smiles politely and offers as much information as is expected, but essentially she's not telling a word.

She likes cooking and inherited much of her mother's skill for the art form. In addition, while she generally likes small quiet gatherings with people she knows, she is more than willing to try new things when they present themselves. Clubs, parties, games? She'll try anything if her interest is caught. She's not against bending the laws, but she knows well enough that if they are to be bent, they must be done in an intelligent matter where there is little to no chance of being caught.



Sample Post:

First Person

Is there really such a big problem with me liking food? Honestly. I don't understand it. A lot of girls I see in the brunette district try their hardest to slim down so they can look that much more 'beautiful'. They sit around in little diners picking at salads probably counting calories in their heads. When I go out to eat with some of these girls, they all stare at me in appall - and what I'm sure is pure jealousy, when I eat real food. Yes, the kind with cheese, fatty acids, carbohydrates, and just the right amount of grease. Oh, and one can't forget the sugary desserts. It's as if I'm committing some awful crime in liking food. They also hate that I carry around a bag of cookies with me all the time.

A girl gets hungry and she needs to eat, okay. Jeez.

It's probably the worst mark I've got against me in the sacred girl code. The lack of make-up they can stomach (though I know they want to paint me up), the array of common clothes I wear they simply sigh at, the way I don't giggle whenever a boy talks they shake their heads at, but I know the food is what gets them. I think it's jealousy and they can all suck it. They should eat, dammit, screw perceptions. If they're so worried they can run around the cities in the mornings.

I KNOW they can do that. Most of them don't wake up for work until ten like my aunt. Waking up early won't kill them.

Speaking of running, I need some new running shoes. My old athletic (and personal really) ones are getting far to worn. Their starting to tear. It's not that I can't afford them, I just keep forgetting that I need them. I'd tell my aunt to remind me, but she won't tell me on purpose just because she thinks my athletic activities are atrocious. Very manly, she claims. Hn. It seems everything I do goes against some feminine code.

I still insist I'm not awful. I own dresses, thank you very much. I will be wearing one - with heels - to a club with a friend tomorrow. The last club I went to wasn't very fun, but this one, which legally admits minors of course, is supposed to be brilliant. I rolled my eyes when they told me that, in fact, I'm rolling my eyes now. I doubt it. The clubs that admit minors don't seem to be much fun at all. I wonder what the others are like? Better I hope.

Ugh. I'll just go buy the shoes now before I forget again. No time like the present, right?


Third Person

Her bag slung over her shoulder, Tenten's eyes were scanning her surroundings without much interest. She'd just finished her class of the day, Tai Chi, and was feeling rather relaxed and comfortable. Being Saturday, she didn't have anything else left to do, now that she'd opened the store for her aunt and finished up her class. The rest of the day, she thought with a smile, was all to herself.

It was a nice feeling.

Teeth clamped on the left portion of her lower lip, sucking lightly, she mulled over what she wanted to do with her day. She walked along idly on the sidewalk, her train of thought - consisting of making a pie to eat - was interrupted by an angry voice. A foul mouthed man was shoving a dirt-hair out of his store and telling him that 'their kind' was not allowed. Inwardly, Tenten sighed. She didn't get why people had to ban them from stores. They needed to eat, it wasn't as if them being in a store would contaminate the air. The man slammed the door behind him, slinking back into his store. So much for her chipper mood. Tenten stopped before the dirt hair and tapped the guy lightly. "Food right?" Upon a slight nod, Tenten shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "Just wait here for a second."

She slipped inside the store and filled a basket with sufficient amount of food. Some fruit, some cans, some juice, and some dry cracker-stuffs. She paid for it quickly with her own money, offering the owner a smile despite her own dislike for what he was doing. Food bag in hand, she was glad to find he was still standing there. She'd tried this a few times before and sometimes the people left. She didn't blame them. If she were them she might leave too.

She handed it to him. "Here." She held out the bag waiting for him to take it. "Also, if you want food, you can come to the store on fifth street. It's hard to miss; it's a bright green. Just make sure you come in the morning. Between 8-12 and I can help you out." After he would take the bag, Tenten would go on her way, not offering anymore advice. That was as friendly as she would get, and only because she hated when people barred dirt hairs from getting something as essential as food. She wasn't going to invite a situation like her mother had.

Plus, it would increase business for their store. So it was a win-win situation.