Face Card Application for Jack of Clubs
Player name: Ana
Characters played: Elani, Julien, Pete, Davin, Johnny
Character Name: Elani Claire Deirdre McCartney
Age: 21
How long They've Been in the Deck: Her whole life
Character's Current Rank: Eight
Face Rank Applying For: Jack
Personality: To most, Elani appears to be a perfectly happy-go-lucky innocent girl without a harsh word to say of anyone. And, well, she generally is. She tries to see the best in everyone she meets (and typically succeeds) and she's known for giving out hugs if someone looks like they need it. Optimism runs in the family, anyway, and she doesn't really understand why anyone wouldn't at least try to look for the good in a given situation.
It's well-known that music and dance are her favorite hobbies. Indeed, they're what she challenged up to Eight in and what she has made into her job in the Suit. Obviously, she listened to whoever said that you should do what you love because music is her first and longest-abiding love. As such, she may often be found with a song on her lips and she is many times the first one to volunteer to help organize musical events in the Deck.
Because of her cheer and her ability to look for the best in people, Elani may be one of the very few people in the Deck to not have any actual enemies. Most people, in fact, seem to like her and tend to want to help her out when she has a request. She is peripherally aware of this and as such, she tries not to take advantage of it and strives to keep her requests reasonable.
History: The McCartney family is an old one, in the Deck, possibly being traced back until the Deck's beginning. Of course, they're also a family that doesn't particularly care about such things, so except for the rather large family home in the Club district in Town, you'd never guess it upon meeting them. Then again, they're usually too busy smiling at you and dragging people into impromptu dances to remind anyone of their history in the Deck in contrast to those who seem to never be able to utter a sentence without referencing their heritage.
Elani was born on September 21, 1991 as the youngest daughter of Ava and William McCartney and the younger sister of Evan Aaron Benjamin McCartney, five years behind him. From the beginning, there was a special bond between the two siblings, despite the age difference, and as soon as little Elani was able to toddle around, it was often at the heels of her big brother.
Because of her relationship with her brother as well as the loving one she holds with her parents, Elani's childhood was fairly idyllic, particularly for a child of the Deck. The McCartney household often rang with music and laughter, after all, and many times they had guests to entertain as well, particularly as the children grew older and brought friends of their own to visit.
At the age of 15, she made her first Challenge, not out of a particularly ambitious sense, but mostly to see what it was like. She'd waited her whole life at the point, after all, to do just that. It was something of a coming of age. Many children of the Deck are considered to be essentially adults when they finally are given the privilege of Challenging and for Elani this was no different, though she remained living with her parents until she made it to the rank of 8 just before she turned 19. At this time, she was asked to act as music tutor to the daughter of the then-King and Queen of Clubs for they'd noticed over the past several years both Elani's talent as well as her joy in music and the performing arts -- she'd always Challenged in them, after all -- and that along with her youth they'd thought would make her both a good tutor for the youngest Ace as well as something of a confidante.
Elani was overjoyed with this position, though she also took up tutoring a few other of the Club children in her spare time, most of her time was spent in working with Eileen. Of course, with Eileen came the Ace's bodyguard, the then-Jack of Clubs, Lancelot. Elani thought he was the most beautiful man, inside and out, that she'd ever seen and fell for him, hard, with a crush she tried to keep a secret for quite some time. Eventually, though, all secrets come out and luckily...Lance thought she was pretty wonderful too. Thus he was her second love (the first being, if you'll remember, music).
During this time, Elani also had to deal with the previous King of Clubs, Alexander, who seemed fairly determined that every member of his Suit learn to defend themselves against an attacker. While she doesn't disagree with this concept in theory, Elani was never comfortable with going beyond the basics of self-defense, of practicing harming another person. It's really just not in her character, though it must be said that despite this pacifistic streak, she is quite capable of standing up for herself when necessary or, more importantly, for others. Still, she believes deeply in the ideals of Andrew, the King who preceded Alexander.
Unfortunately,earlier this year Lancelot met his demise while defending a Club outpost from an attack by the Tower of the Arcana. This was truly the first major loss of someone she cared about and it hit her quite hard. However, she managed to carry through with the support of friends and family and seems to have become stronger for it, without losing the qualities that make her shine. It is also perhaps this pushing through that prompted her to throw herself more fully into doing things for the Deck at large, for she started helping organize various major events, festivals and concerts and plays, to much success. Apparently her skill with people transfers from performance to something more generally productive as well.
Character's Goals/Ambitions: For herself, personally, Elani does feel like she's gotten to where she was meant to be. She loves tutoring Eileen and a few of the other Club children. She enjoys spending her free time doing artistically-related things such as the childrens' play with Hadyn and the yarnbombing with Sophie and the cultural festival she helped organize. She isnt looking to Challenge up any higher, she doesn't feel she needs to.
That said, she also realizes there is something of a vaccuum at the top of the Suit. Argine has been ill for many months and most of her workload is being shouldered by the Numbers below her, and, until Tegan left, by the Jack. Now, of course, Tegan is gone as well, and though she wishes the other woman the very best...some part of her does not at all approve of the way in which she left the Deck behind when her Suit needed her.
She sees the Clubs as a safe haven, that they are where one can explore and create. That is what she loves most about the Suit. If she is made Jack, that is what she will work to keep them as. That would become her goal, not to keep the status quo, but to keep the Clubs having the quality that makes them Clubs. More than that, she would see the position as a way to honor Lancelot (and Andrew, for that matter), and she would do her best to live up to their ideals.
Why should they be chosen for this position? Elani is generally well-liked across the Deck, which makes her a rather diplomatic choice in a time when the Suits are trying to draw themselves together as opposed to practicing isolationism.
Also, she has proven amply her ability to bring people together to accomplish a common goal, even if those goals have typically been for entertainment, that doesn't mean they couldn't also perform in a more practical sense. Not only that, but she manages to do so through mutual respect and appreciation, so people want to work with her, as opposed to doing so merely out of obligation or other, less positive, reasons people might have for working with someone.
Finally, she has a good working relationship with the Ace of Clubs as well as the King, and she did with the Queen until Argine chose to step down though there is no reason to think she would not also have one with whoever will replace Argine. Also, she was close to the previous two Jacks of Clubs so she is well aware of what the position entails and what is required.
Challenge: n/a
Writing sample: http://houseofcards-rp.livejournal.com/tag/elani%20%E2%99%A3
Character PB Claire Danes
Characters played: Elani, Julien, Pete, Davin, Johnny
Character Name: Elani Claire Deirdre McCartney
Age: 21
How long They've Been in the Deck: Her whole life
Character's Current Rank: Eight
Face Rank Applying For: Jack
Personality: To most, Elani appears to be a perfectly happy-go-lucky innocent girl without a harsh word to say of anyone. And, well, she generally is. She tries to see the best in everyone she meets (and typically succeeds) and she's known for giving out hugs if someone looks like they need it. Optimism runs in the family, anyway, and she doesn't really understand why anyone wouldn't at least try to look for the good in a given situation.
It's well-known that music and dance are her favorite hobbies. Indeed, they're what she challenged up to Eight in and what she has made into her job in the Suit. Obviously, she listened to whoever said that you should do what you love because music is her first and longest-abiding love. As such, she may often be found with a song on her lips and she is many times the first one to volunteer to help organize musical events in the Deck.
Because of her cheer and her ability to look for the best in people, Elani may be one of the very few people in the Deck to not have any actual enemies. Most people, in fact, seem to like her and tend to want to help her out when she has a request. She is peripherally aware of this and as such, she tries not to take advantage of it and strives to keep her requests reasonable.
History: The McCartney family is an old one, in the Deck, possibly being traced back until the Deck's beginning. Of course, they're also a family that doesn't particularly care about such things, so except for the rather large family home in the Club district in Town, you'd never guess it upon meeting them. Then again, they're usually too busy smiling at you and dragging people into impromptu dances to remind anyone of their history in the Deck in contrast to those who seem to never be able to utter a sentence without referencing their heritage.
Elani was born on September 21, 1991 as the youngest daughter of Ava and William McCartney and the younger sister of Evan Aaron Benjamin McCartney, five years behind him. From the beginning, there was a special bond between the two siblings, despite the age difference, and as soon as little Elani was able to toddle around, it was often at the heels of her big brother.
Because of her relationship with her brother as well as the loving one she holds with her parents, Elani's childhood was fairly idyllic, particularly for a child of the Deck. The McCartney household often rang with music and laughter, after all, and many times they had guests to entertain as well, particularly as the children grew older and brought friends of their own to visit.
At the age of 15, she made her first Challenge, not out of a particularly ambitious sense, but mostly to see what it was like. She'd waited her whole life at the point, after all, to do just that. It was something of a coming of age. Many children of the Deck are considered to be essentially adults when they finally are given the privilege of Challenging and for Elani this was no different, though she remained living with her parents until she made it to the rank of 8 just before she turned 19. At this time, she was asked to act as music tutor to the daughter of the then-King and Queen of Clubs for they'd noticed over the past several years both Elani's talent as well as her joy in music and the performing arts -- she'd always Challenged in them, after all -- and that along with her youth they'd thought would make her both a good tutor for the youngest Ace as well as something of a confidante.
Elani was overjoyed with this position, though she also took up tutoring a few other of the Club children in her spare time, most of her time was spent in working with Eileen. Of course, with Eileen came the Ace's bodyguard, the then-Jack of Clubs, Lancelot. Elani thought he was the most beautiful man, inside and out, that she'd ever seen and fell for him, hard, with a crush she tried to keep a secret for quite some time. Eventually, though, all secrets come out and luckily...Lance thought she was pretty wonderful too. Thus he was her second love (the first being, if you'll remember, music).
During this time, Elani also had to deal with the previous King of Clubs, Alexander, who seemed fairly determined that every member of his Suit learn to defend themselves against an attacker. While she doesn't disagree with this concept in theory, Elani was never comfortable with going beyond the basics of self-defense, of practicing harming another person. It's really just not in her character, though it must be said that despite this pacifistic streak, she is quite capable of standing up for herself when necessary or, more importantly, for others. Still, she believes deeply in the ideals of Andrew, the King who preceded Alexander.
Unfortunately,earlier this year Lancelot met his demise while defending a Club outpost from an attack by the Tower of the Arcana. This was truly the first major loss of someone she cared about and it hit her quite hard. However, she managed to carry through with the support of friends and family and seems to have become stronger for it, without losing the qualities that make her shine. It is also perhaps this pushing through that prompted her to throw herself more fully into doing things for the Deck at large, for she started helping organize various major events, festivals and concerts and plays, to much success. Apparently her skill with people transfers from performance to something more generally productive as well.
Character's Goals/Ambitions: For herself, personally, Elani does feel like she's gotten to where she was meant to be. She loves tutoring Eileen and a few of the other Club children. She enjoys spending her free time doing artistically-related things such as the childrens' play with Hadyn and the yarnbombing with Sophie and the cultural festival she helped organize. She isnt looking to Challenge up any higher, she doesn't feel she needs to.
That said, she also realizes there is something of a vaccuum at the top of the Suit. Argine has been ill for many months and most of her workload is being shouldered by the Numbers below her, and, until Tegan left, by the Jack. Now, of course, Tegan is gone as well, and though she wishes the other woman the very best...some part of her does not at all approve of the way in which she left the Deck behind when her Suit needed her.
She sees the Clubs as a safe haven, that they are where one can explore and create. That is what she loves most about the Suit. If she is made Jack, that is what she will work to keep them as. That would become her goal, not to keep the status quo, but to keep the Clubs having the quality that makes them Clubs. More than that, she would see the position as a way to honor Lancelot (and Andrew, for that matter), and she would do her best to live up to their ideals.
Why should they be chosen for this position? Elani is generally well-liked across the Deck, which makes her a rather diplomatic choice in a time when the Suits are trying to draw themselves together as opposed to practicing isolationism.
Also, she has proven amply her ability to bring people together to accomplish a common goal, even if those goals have typically been for entertainment, that doesn't mean they couldn't also perform in a more practical sense. Not only that, but she manages to do so through mutual respect and appreciation, so people want to work with her, as opposed to doing so merely out of obligation or other, less positive, reasons people might have for working with someone.
Finally, she has a good working relationship with the Ace of Clubs as well as the King, and she did with the Queen until Argine chose to step down though there is no reason to think she would not also have one with whoever will replace Argine. Also, she was close to the previous two Jacks of Clubs so she is well aware of what the position entails and what is required.
Challenge: n/a
Writing sample: http://houseofcards-rp.livejournal.com/tag/elani%20%E2%99%A3
Character PB Claire Danes