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APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT
NAME
Paloma Annie Oakley
NICKNAMES
Loathes 'Pal'
BLOOD STATUS
Muggleborn
Paloma Annie Oakley
Loathes 'Pal'
Muggleborn
GENDER/PRONOUNS/SEXUALITY
Female » She/Her » Bisexual, past littered with short-lived relationships
CURRENT RESIDENCE
A small room in the Crow Bar hotel that's serial killer levels of sterile.
CONCEPT
Nomadic spitfire determined to run this place, unless she runs herself into the ground first.
Female » She/Her » Bisexual, past littered with short-lived relationships
A small room in the Crow Bar hotel that's serial killer levels of sterile.
Nomadic spitfire determined to run this place, unless she runs herself into the ground first.
PHYSICAL
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES
» Right nostril pierced.
» Favourite piece of clothing is a New Jersey Devils trucker hat that's seen better days.
» Refuses to own clothing that she can't run in.
» I don't think you understand how much she loves overalls.
» Right nostril pierced.
» Favourite piece of clothing is a New Jersey Devils trucker hat that's seen better days.
» Refuses to own clothing that she can't run in.
» I don't think you understand how much she loves overalls.
HEIGHT
5'9"
5'9"
BUILD
Lean & muscular
Lean & muscular
INSPIRATION
PERSONALITY ASSESSMENT
MOTIVATION
Paloma's origin story isn't particularly inspiring or original; one of her high school professors looked from her marks to her latest black eye, then suggested she "speak to the career counsellor about putting that audacity to good use." And she is. Never content with spending her time idly, as an auror she thinks she can feel the change she's making in both the wizarding and no-maj worlds — though this does mean that any failures are taken personally, and hard.
Paloma's origin story isn't particularly inspiring or original; one of her high school professors looked from her marks to her latest black eye, then suggested she "speak to the career counsellor about putting that audacity to good use." And she is. Never content with spending her time idly, as an auror she thinks she can feel the change she's making in both the wizarding and no-maj worlds — though this does mean that any failures are taken personally, and hard.
APPLICATION
Paloma's approach is direct: prepare for every eventuality before a mission, then act fast to survive; offense over defense; evasion is not an option. (Okay, sometimes it's an option, but that's like super rare.) She tends to use distractions to corner opponents with an aim of confrontation. Her priority is to complete a mission with as many (proverbial) gold stars as possible. Does it need to be done quickly, or quietly? Is there a certain condition that's required? She defines these needs before going into the field and won't consider a job 'complete' until they're both met and exceeded.
Paloma's approach is direct: prepare for every eventuality before a mission, then act fast to survive; offense over defense; evasion is not an option. (Okay, sometimes it's an option, but that's like super rare.) She tends to use distractions to corner opponents with an aim of confrontation. Her priority is to complete a mission with as many (proverbial) gold stars as possible. Does it need to be done quickly, or quietly? Is there a certain condition that's required? She defines these needs before going into the field and won't consider a job 'complete' until they're both met and exceeded.
RISK
"stubborn" is an understatement. When Paloma thinks she's right — which is most of the time — she won't back down until she both has her say and gets her way. Standard field-Paloma is calculated, collected, and competent. She has the potential to be all of these things all the time, but her short fuse and hot temper can lead her astray, especially as she's not used to being told "no." She's also convinced that she's an independent boss bitch, only asking for help in the most dire situations when she's already worked herself to the point of exhaustion. (And yes, burnout is state with which she's plenty familiar.) Assistance is requested in the most terse and vague manner for which she later has plausible deniability.
"stubborn" is an understatement. When Paloma thinks she's right — which is most of the time — she won't back down until she both has her say and gets her way. Standard field-Paloma is calculated, collected, and competent. She has the potential to be all of these things all the time, but her short fuse and hot temper can lead her astray, especially as she's not used to being told "no." She's also convinced that she's an independent boss bitch, only asking for help in the most dire situations when she's already worked herself to the point of exhaustion. (And yes, burnout is state with which she's plenty familiar.) Assistance is requested in the most terse and vague manner for which she later has plausible deniability.
INTEGRITY
Paloma thinks she needs to be a breakthrough queen to get recognized in the ways that will allow her to climb the hierarchy quickly. While she won't intentionally cause undue harm to her team or charges, getting caught up in the moment is always a possibility. She knows that rebelling for rebellion's sake could impede upon her progression through the ranks, though, so she's always quick to make others follow the rules if it could reflect poorly on her. (If you're thinking this makes her a hypocrite, you're absolutely right.) She has no issues with lying to get her way but will always try to base them on a grain of truth. She has a history of identifying one or two people in senior positions that she idolizes for their reputations; while they can do no wrong, she's less likely to defer blindly to anyone who doesn't make her list, especially when she believes she has a good reason to refuse.
Paloma thinks she needs to be a breakthrough queen to get recognized in the ways that will allow her to climb the hierarchy quickly. While she won't intentionally cause undue harm to her team or charges, getting caught up in the moment is always a possibility. She knows that rebelling for rebellion's sake could impede upon her progression through the ranks, though, so she's always quick to make others follow the rules if it could reflect poorly on her. (If you're thinking this makes her a hypocrite, you're absolutely right.) She has no issues with lying to get her way but will always try to base them on a grain of truth. She has a history of identifying one or two people in senior positions that she idolizes for their reputations; while they can do no wrong, she's less likely to defer blindly to anyone who doesn't make her list, especially when she believes she has a good reason to refuse.
ATTITUDE
With a project in front of her, Paloma is relentless: she puts a lot of pressure on herself to be the best and works at a pace that's unsustainable — and that she won't change until she's completed the task in an exemplary fashion. (It goes without saying that she doesn't have much patience for those with opposite philosophies.) When she isn't under pressure and in the middle of an assignment, she's surprisingly outgoing because she's uncomfortable with silence and feels isolated when alone. She can't stand inactivity, however, and would much rather get wasted pregaming at the Clown Car before clubbing than ever visit an art gallery. To her friends, she tends to be clingy and physical, ride-or-die, overprotective, and a huge gossip.
With a project in front of her, Paloma is relentless: she puts a lot of pressure on herself to be the best and works at a pace that's unsustainable — and that she won't change until she's completed the task in an exemplary fashion. (It goes without saying that she doesn't have much patience for those with opposite philosophies.) When she isn't under pressure and in the middle of an assignment, she's surprisingly outgoing because she's uncomfortable with silence and feels isolated when alone. She can't stand inactivity, however, and would much rather get wasted pregaming at the Clown Car before clubbing than ever visit an art gallery. To her friends, she tends to be clingy and physical, ride-or-die, overprotective, and a huge gossip.
HISTORY
HOMETOWN
Her birth certificate says Madison, FL, to which she hasn't returned since she was a newborn.
The official residence on file is her grandparents' house in Plattsburg, MO that she visits for maybe a week out of the year, if she can find the time.
She was raised across the country out of her parents' 1962 Volkswagen Dormobile, The Blue Bugle. (It finally gave up the ghost in 2007. RIP, Bugle.)
Her birth certificate says Madison, FL, to which she hasn't returned since she was a newborn.
The official residence on file is her grandparents' house in Plattsburg, MO that she visits for maybe a week out of the year, if she can find the time.
She was raised across the country out of her parents' 1962 Volkswagen Dormobile, The Blue Bugle. (It finally gave up the ghost in 2007. RIP, Bugle.)
NOTABLE FAMILY
MOTHER: Lillia Oakley
FATHER: Reginald Oakley
MOTHER: Lillia Oakley
FATHER: Reginald Oakley
AUROR ACADEMY
Ong's Hat '13
Ong's Hat '13
EARLY LIFE
Paloma grew up in the back of her parents' VW camper van as they travelled from state to state, hawking their wares and providing entertainment on the Rennaissance Faire circuit. She was both free range and homeschooled, and developed her own brand of overbearing, over-scheduled, over-achieving diligence at too young an age to be healthy.
When she was visited by a professor to discuss her impending witchhood, she assumed it was an elaborate prank, snorted, and walked a way. Over the years her parents had joked that she was a changeling, that they were fairies, and/or that they were actually magic — it's just that this time their joke turned out to be true. She got over it, eventually.
Paloma grew up in the back of her parents' VW camper van as they travelled from state to state, hawking their wares and providing entertainment on the Rennaissance Faire circuit. She was both free range and homeschooled, and developed her own brand of overbearing, over-scheduled, over-achieving diligence at too young an age to be healthy.
When she was visited by a professor to discuss her impending witchhood, she assumed it was an elaborate prank, snorted, and walked a way. Over the years her parents had joked that she was a changeling, that they were fairies, and/or that they were actually magic — it's just that this time their joke turned out to be true. She got over it, eventually.
CAREER HISTORY
Paloma was admitted to Ong's Hat straight out of Ilvermorny with her heart set on the espionage tract. The school provided her with a much-needed connection to where she came from with the added bonus of giving her the feeling like she could make a positive change in both worlds. Spywork, too, seemed like a natural fit: she had spent her childhood, and then her teenaged years, mimicking those around her to fit in, and as a result was already well-versed in switching between nomaj and witch, and regular-teen-on-summer-holiday and teen-dressed-for-a-jousting-tourney.
Or like, so she thought.
The reality treated her a little more brusquely. It quickly became apparent that Paloma, while indeed quite talented with glamour charms and adept at a variety of accents, had an issue with authority — certain authorities, and specifically when instructing her to back down. During one of her first missions when her only directives were to (1) see but not be seen and (2) gather intel, she misinterpreted a movement by her mark and assumed her partner was in danger. They weren't, and in hindsight it was innocuous, but Paloma acted before she thought and did what she thought she had to: went on the offensive. The operation was a wash, her partner Paloma was injured, and Paloma was given such a reprimand that she thought she was going to be expelled. (Her reaction — which was to double down and defend her actions — didn't help her case.) While she wasn't expelled, she was taken out of the field for a semester and put in front of the counsellor.
Her focus switched to duelling a few months later. She claims that this was a tactical move because her sights were set on upward mobility, and they seem more concerned with their immediate environment than where they'll be in 30 years. (Which is probably fair since a number of them will be maimed and/or dead, but probably only like half of those on the job, so...) This meant there were opportunities — leadership opportunities. So Paloma did what she always did and pretended her past indiscretions had ever happened. They might be reflected on her permanent record, but maybe she could fill it with enough exemplary bullshit that it was easy to miss, or at least to pass over in favour of — ooo, is that an award for charms identification? Wow, how exemplary!
Since her graduation, Paloma hasn't spent more than 10 months in the same city. Whenever there's a new operation or position elsewhere that could give her that edge, she applies. Each role brings new experiences, new contacts, and new lines on her CV; and quite frankly, she's never spent enough time in one location for it to feel like home. That prospect stifles her — and then motivates her to apply for the next big thing.
Paloma was admitted to Ong's Hat straight out of Ilvermorny with her heart set on the espionage tract. The school provided her with a much-needed connection to where she came from with the added bonus of giving her the feeling like she could make a positive change in both worlds. Spywork, too, seemed like a natural fit: she had spent her childhood, and then her teenaged years, mimicking those around her to fit in, and as a result was already well-versed in switching between nomaj and witch, and regular-teen-on-summer-holiday and teen-dressed-for-a-jousting-tourney.
Or like, so she thought.
The reality treated her a little more brusquely. It quickly became apparent that Paloma, while indeed quite talented with glamour charms and adept at a variety of accents, had an issue with authority — certain authorities, and specifically when instructing her to back down. During one of her first missions when her only directives were to (1) see but not be seen and (2) gather intel, she misinterpreted a movement by her mark and assumed her partner was in danger. They weren't, and in hindsight it was innocuous, but Paloma acted before she thought and did what she thought she had to: went on the offensive. The operation was a wash, her partner Paloma was injured, and Paloma was given such a reprimand that she thought she was going to be expelled. (Her reaction — which was to double down and defend her actions — didn't help her case.) While she wasn't expelled, she was taken out of the field for a semester and put in front of the counsellor.
Her focus switched to duelling a few months later. She claims that this was a tactical move because her sights were set on upward mobility, and they seem more concerned with their immediate environment than where they'll be in 30 years. (Which is probably fair since a number of them will be maimed and/or dead, but probably only like half of those on the job, so...) This meant there were opportunities — leadership opportunities. So Paloma did what she always did and pretended her past indiscretions had ever happened. They might be reflected on her permanent record, but maybe she could fill it with enough exemplary bullshit that it was easy to miss, or at least to pass over in favour of — ooo, is that an award for charms identification? Wow, how exemplary!
Since her graduation, Paloma hasn't spent more than 10 months in the same city. Whenever there's a new operation or position elsewhere that could give her that edge, she applies. Each role brings new experiences, new contacts, and new lines on her CV; and quite frankly, she's never spent enough time in one location for it to feel like home. That prospect stifles her — and then motivates her to apply for the next big thing.
SKILLS
LANGUAGES
English (fluent). Just English, but in a variety of accents.
high valyrian (reading is good but spoken is robotic). She woke up after a night of drinking with Duolingo downloaded to her phone, and apparently she'd started learning... this??? Worried someone would call her out for quitting anything, she's stuck with it and is actually kind of decent at it now. She didn't know it was fake for the first six months, but was too far in once she found out. She still hasn't watched Game of Thrones, and probably never will.
English (fluent). Just English, but in a variety of accents.
high valyrian (reading is good but spoken is robotic). She woke up after a night of drinking with Duolingo downloaded to her phone, and apparently she'd started learning... this??? Worried someone would call her out for quitting anything, she's stuck with it and is actually kind of decent at it now. She didn't know it was fake for the first six months, but was too far in once she found out. She still hasn't watched Game of Thrones, and probably never will.
HOBBIES
» Working out counts as a hobby
» Drinking at Clown Car also counts as a hobby
»Scrapbooking
» Darts
» Bingo
» Fighting over the TV in Snidget's
» Working out counts as a hobby
» Drinking at Clown Car also counts as a hobby
»
» Darts
» Bingo
» Fighting over the TV in Snidget's
SKILLS
MISCELLANEOUS
WAND
Aspen, jackalope horn, 12"
Aspen, jackalope horn, 12"
PATRONUS
OTHER DETAILS
» Didn't spend a prolonged period of time in the cold until witch school. She hates the winter.
» Has impeccable aim.
» Can juggle five bottles at once.
» Can't cook to save her life.
» Current record for keeping a plant alive is 2.5 days.
» Didn't spend a prolonged period of time in the cold until witch school. She hates the winter.
» Has impeccable aim.
» Can juggle five bottles at once.
» Can't cook to save her life.
» Current record for keeping a plant alive is 2.5 days.
OOC
