Intro
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Description
Appearance: Standing above most her peers, at first glance the Huntress looks as if she were just pushing into her early-twenties than a woman nearing thirty. Different from most women her age, if only in her body’s unusual youth, she often comes across as less a hardened fighter and more retired courtesan or geisha, but make no mistake; beneath her pale skin lies a layer of tight, lean muscle more than capable of dishing out all kinds of pain. Snow-white hair flows down to her shoulders in a loose set of waves that partly frame her delicate face, and beneath this lies a set of sharp blue eyes, brilliant sapphires whose luster and shine put their namesake to shame. Add to this a face not used to smiles and her typical dour aura and Mei could easily be described as “frigid” on the best of days, although there are moments where a more playful, almost whimsical side of the woman comes out to play.
Physically speaking, her presence is more standoffish than one would expect, as she can often be found on the sidelines watching all that occurs rather than standing in the thick of the action. A woman of clean lines and sharp curves, her movements are fluid and graceful, though not naturally so, and this can change to something more rigid and mechanical if she becomes angry. A flat, chilly voice is her preferred method of communication, all soft words and careful lies to make those around her happy. However, on the rare occasion she lets down her guard this frigidity becomes a bit warmer; soft smiles and quiet, mirthy laughs spill from her lips and she adopts a kind, almost joyous aura. Her anger, like much the rest of the woman, burns cold and long, simmering just beneath the surface only to explode in a biting tempest not unlike a winter storm.
As for clothes, Mei prefers to wear things on the colder end of the spectrum with dark blues, heavy blacks, and the occasional splash of red all tucked away within the confines of her wardrobe, each in various styles and trends. Her usual outfit tends to consist of a dark-blue blouse and a pair of loose fitting jeans, though this can vary depending on both the weather and her duties. Along with her standard array of traditional Rowan-clan garbs, the woman also has a set of custom tailored “battle garments,” cut in the Hunter style, that she only wears when out on patrol or acting in an official capacity on behalf of her clan. Made up of an elegant dark-blue/black qipao, a set of thigh-high boots of like color, a pair of elbow length gloves and a long, hooded cape that drapes over her frame, the outfit is as practical as it is form fitting, designed to both protect her from the rigors of combat as well as distract her enemies and disguise her movements in crucial, desperate moments.
Personality: The simplest way to describe Mei is that she is, by and large, a very reserved woman. Reticent and regimented almost to a fault, she can be difficult to talk to at times, often dragging conversations out with pointless formalities that serve little to no purpose other than making her seem more “proper” than anyone else. This behavior, however, stems less from a wish to alienate others than it does an overwhelming sense of self-loathing, as years of emotional abuse from her family has left her deeply scarred. Because of this, Mei does all that she can to make herself seem better than she believes herself to be, falling back into practiced protocols and rote, empty formalities whenever she feels emotionally threatened.
Honest and surprisingly verbose when not hiding behind her routine politeness, the Huntswoman tends to favor casual language when she speaks with those she trusts, referring only to her closest friends and confidants by their given names unless specifically asked otherwise. In all other situations, however, she will speak with the utmost rigidity and flatness, throwing up a wall of meaningless etiquette that few have the patience to tunnel through. Though obviously capable of expressing her emotions, Mei prefers to keep them under wraps at almost all times, only allowing the barest amount to show unless it is necessary otherwise, a habit that has both helped and hindered her in equal measure when it comes to social interactions.
Often hesitant to act without thinking, the woman is a logical being at heart, living and breathing by the strict rationale of reason and fact. While this does reinforce the impression that she is a cold, unfeeling machine at times, it is also one her greatest strengths, as she is easily able to detach from the feelings of the moment and weigh things out to determine the best course of action.
Morally speaking she can be a bit eccentric, proclaiming a firm distrust in tradition and protocol even if they aren’t exactly bad or wrong in her eyes. She has a strong (if unusual) sense of right and wrong that doesn’t quite fit into normal societal rules, and will stand up for what she believes in if pushed hard enough on the subject. Beyond this, Mei is a rather contained individual, living her life with little connection to the world outside the Hunter lifestyle. However, that does not mean that she is a total recluse, as she does find time for a few hobbies in between her duties to clan and village; ikebana (flower arranging), origami (paper folding) and cooking all take up what little freedom she has, each one chosen for their meticulous and easily controllable nature.
While difficult to talk to, formal to the point of frustration, logical enough as to seem robotic, and emotionally stunted on the best of days, if one is patient enough to earn her trust, Mei proves to be nothing more than a sad, lonely girl in desperate need of a friend. Just don’t say that to her face.
