Post by Grace Hatter on Mar 6, 2015 3:26:28 GMT
| ~ • ~ | Character Basics | ~ • ~ |
.:Name:. Grace Hatter
.:Nick Name:. N/A
.:Affiliation:. Hero
.:Status:. Peasant| ~ • ~ | Appearance | ~ • ~ |
.:Physical Appearance:. Pale skin. Brown Eyes. Long wavy, brownish blond hair.
.:Height:. 4ft 5in.
.:Portrayed by:. Alissa Skovbye| ~ • ~ | Personality | ~ • ~ |
.:Personality:. Grace is a very sweet and affectionate girl. She’s the sort of person who puts others' needs before her own. She has a compassionate and forgiving nature. She wishes to believe in the best of everyone and tries her hardest to understand people’s pain and alleviate it. She’s thoughtful and considerate, striving to be polite. She’s surprisingly perceptive for a teenager, drawing sound conclusions from subtle cues. She’s a rational thinker who is also creative. She loved to hear stories in the Enchanted Forest and read them in Storybrooke where she’s literate.
More than anything, Grace fears being alone so she appears vivacious and outgoing, delighting in the company of others. However, she is quite introverted, tending to bottle up her concerns and any odd theories not wishing to worry the people around her or push anyone away. While believing in the best of people with her sweet nature, deep down she still fears rejection and abandonment. She is aware that neither her mama or papa left her on purpose; but, she was inevitably separated from both. She doesn’t blame them for this parting instead blaming herself. She’s still scared to death that even after her reunion something will come to rip her family away from her once more. So it’s very important she has some people to speak with. Even if she can’t confide in them completely, their presence is comforting. She doesn’t wish to jeopardize any attachments.
Grace tries to be grateful for all the good things in her life, never wishing to be spoiled or unappreciative. Before Storybrooke she knew poverty as much as the adults in her life tried to keep the severity of the situation secret. She always tried to help out wherever she could. Even though her papa was gone and she was very sad and lonely, she always believed in him. She knew that he was alive and would one day return to her. She tried to be grateful for that and for the fact that she had a roof over her head and food in her stomach. Now that she’s living in a mansion with her papa she has so much to be grateful for. However, it has been years (plus the 28 cursed ones) since she lived with her papa so she fears that maybe he won’t like the person she grew into. All she wants to do is make him feel happy and make him feel loved. She wishes to show him that she doesn’t blame him for leaving and is just so happy to have him back in her life. But at the back of her mind she is afraid that after so much time apart that maybe now her neighbors understand her better than her own father.
.:Strengths:. can teleport (mostly by accident at this stage, not frequently, not between realms), logical thinker, can move silently, unbeatable composure
.:Weaknesses:. incredibly insecure, has superficial relationships, can't use any sort of weapon, puts her needs last| ~ • ~ | History | ~ • ~ |
.:Birthplace:. Enchanted Forest
.:Family:. Jefferson Hatter-father
.:Occupation:. Mushroom Picker in Enchanted Forest and Hospital Volunteer and Girl Scout in Storybrooke.
.:History:.
Grace’s mama disappeared when she was very little so she had no memories of her. The only parent she remembers is her papa. Since it was just the two of them, they grew exceptionally close. Yes, Grace had the neighbors to look after her when Papa was busy; but, it wasn’t the same. It felt as though it were Papa and her against the world. She didn’t mind though. She loved her papa to death. So long as he was beside her she was happy. She was sweet and intuitive even as a child. She took care to help out however she could, understanding that Papa had a tough time. Although she would have loved to spend more time playing hide-and-seek and having tea parties, there were mushrooms to pick and chores to do. She never complained when the games had to end even if she’d look a bit pained. She had sharp eyes and became quite skilled at determining which mushrooms were poisonous and which safe. She was quite good at hunting the desirable ones down. Spending time with her papa in the forest was something she adored.
One day when they were hunting for mushrooms a carriage came to their little cottage. Grace was stunned since Papa and her never had visitors besides their neighbors. She asked who it was, not really expecting an answer and grew even more surprised to hear it was the queen’s carriage. “In our house?!” Grace quickly asked if Papa knew her which he assured Grace he didn’t. But she knew her papa well and wasn’t quite convinced he was telling the truth. Besides, why would the queen come all the way out here if she didn’t know her papa? Papa told her to hide in the woods. She was reluctant to leave him being scared for him. He smiled back warmly at her; but, she still wasn’t relaxed. For reasons she couldn’t understand, she felt the queen brought trouble. Still, not wishing to displease her papa, she ran into the woods and hid after a moment.
Before too long Papa came to find her. The two resumed mushroom hunting; but, Grace could tell her papa wasn’t into it. He seemed distracted about something, perhaps worried even. But no matter how many questions Grace asked, he refused to explain what happened, what the queen had wanted with him. She let the matter drop and hoped nothing more would come of it.
After Papa and her were done selling mushrooms at market Grace was allowed to look around. She eagerly wandered over to the toy cart, a white rabbit stuffed animal having caught her eye. She picked it up, impressed with just how cute and soft it was. She thought it would make the perfect guest for their tea parties. The tortoise could sure use some more company! “Can I have him, please?!” she begged, hugging him to her chest. She kept stroking the soft rabbit’s ears while Papa talked to the saleswoman. But the rabbit was too expensive. It cost one silver while Papa only had eight coppers. Grace was touched that Papa would spend all their earnings on a toy for her; but, the saleswoman wouldn’t accept it. She quickly snatched away the rabbit saying she could not take any less than one silver. Grace was sad to loose the rabbit; but, she was more worried about how depressed her papa looked. She told him it was okay. She tried to pull him away, saying that people were waiting. She didn’t want to look at the stuffed animal she couldn’t have and hoped that her papa would quickly recover if they went somewhere else. He told the saleswoman he wouldn’t take no for an answer. “Papa please! I don’t need it!” she assured him, not wishing to cause trouble. Thankfully Papa listened and they left.
Later, Papa made her a stuffed rabbit all by himself. He was worried Grace wouldn’t like it; but, she loved it. To her it was much more precious than the rabbit in the toy cart because Papa had made it just for her. It might look more awkward and feel less soft; but, it was proof of her papa’s love for her. She thanked Papa for it and eagerly set the rabbit down for tea. Then all of a sudden Papa told her she needed to go to the neighbors for the rest of the day because there was work he had to do. She asked if she could come with him because she liked being with him in the forest. He explained he wasn’t going into the forest. She asked if this had to do with the queen’s visit. Papa refused to answer which told her everything she needed to know. The queen was involved. Grace begged Papa not to do whatever the queen wanted. He told her that he had to because he wanted Grace to have everything she needed. Grace assured him that all she needed was him. She pleaded with him to stay; but, in the end he didn’t listen. He picked her up, gave her hug, and apologized but said he had to go. “Promise me you’ll come back. You have to promise!” If Papa had to leave she needed to hear that he was coming back. He told her he would without hesitation. “For our tea party. Promise?” He promised he wouldn’t miss it for the world. He kissed her forehead and sent her off. Grace was greatly saddened; but, she was sure that with his promise he would make it back in time for tea.
Papa didn’t make it back in time for tea. Originally Grace thought he was just running late but soon night fell; and, he still didn’t come. The neighbors who had always been kind to her of course let her spend the night. They told her stories and tried to soothe her fears. They assured her that her father had just been delayed somehow. She believed them. She was sure Papa would come for her tomorrow. Only he didn’t. Or the next day. Or the next day. Soon a week had passed and there was still no sign of him. Now Grace was really worried. The only clue she had as to what had happened was the queen. She’d been the one who’d come to visit. She’d been the one who asked Papa for something. When the neighbors weren’t looking she sneaked away. She eventually managed to make her way to the queen’s castle. She wasn’t certain the queen would see her, a mere little girl; but, she had to try! She had to find out what happened to her papa. To her great astonishment, the queen agreed to see her. But Grace left with no further insight as to what had happened with her papa. (I play Regina so I have authority to say this.) She dejectedly returned to the neighbors, apologizing for running away.
More time passed and still her papa didn’t come. She didn’t stop believing in him; but, she missed him sorely and was afraid for him. She decided she needed to do some investigating on her own. She spoke to the townspeople, asking everyone for anything they knew about her papa. The littlest thing might help. Now all she had were her memories and the stuffed animals Papa had made for her. The white rabbit was her treasure. She hugged it every day, praying that somehow Papa would make his way back to her quickly. It was the last present Papa had ever given her, proof of his love for her. He would come back!
Grace was kind to the neighbors. They were always so good to her. She tried to act happy; but, she really missed her papa. She just wanted him back. Neighbors weren’t the same as a papa at least not the same as her papa. Eventually she heard rumors of Papa’s old work. He’d assisted some powerful sorcerer known as Rumplestiltskin. There was talk that Jefferson could travel to different worlds even. She tried to figure out more about Rumplestiltskin. If he was a powerful sorcerer then it was possible he knew what happened to her papa. Maybe he could even help bring him back!
Eventually she found a sorcerer who could help her. He told her he’d share what he knew about her papa in exchange for her favorite stuffed rabbit. She hated to give him up, him being the greatest reminder of her papa; but, she had to know the truth. She handed him over and the man explained that he was now trapped in Wonderland, that he’d tried to return to Grace just as he promised but a certain evil queen had manipulated him. He was stranded in Wonderland without his portal, the hat the queen had taken. Grace couldn’t help but break down sobbing at the news. Her papa was stuck in an entirely different world?! She was having a difficult time processing the information. Did that mean she’d never see him again?!
The sorcerer offered to give her something that might help if she was willing to part with the coat her papa had given her. She’d kept it as a reminder of him and their adventures in the forest. Depressed, wishing for anything that would help, she handed over her jacket. The sorcerer gave her a magic mirror that was tuned to her papa. She just needed to pick it up and think of him and she could see him. She wouldn’t be able to hear him. She wouldn’t be able to interact with him at all; but, she could see him and know that he was alive. She thanked the sorcerer and hugged him in thanks and hurried back to the neighbors.
She didn’t want to ever forget her papa. She’d been replaying their goodbye again and again in her mind. She frequently thought of all the things they did together. And now she had a way to remember his face. She gazed into the mirror daily; but, it made her terribly sad. Papa was unhappy. She watched as he made tons and tons of hats. She assumed he was trying to make another portal. “You can do it, Papa!” she would whisper to him, knowing he’d never hear her. But she still believed in him. He would come back for her! He had to! She tried to be a good girl. She tried to grow into a helpful young woman, one Papa would love and be proud of. She wanted to please him when they were reunited. That was all she could think about.
But Papa was working his hardest to get back to her! She couldn't let matters rest. She had to do her part too! So while he tried to make a portal, she scavenged the land, searching for portals, even going so far as smuggling herself onto ships to go to new areas and look. The strain of staring into the mirror daily and being met with failure after failure in terms of locating portals broke her down. At times she would suffer a psychotic break which wound up being labeled as Milliner Mode. When it was triggered she'd be convinced that Papa had only just left a few minutes ago and would return in time for tea. Her time line was entirely wrong and she'd be obsessed with making the perfect tea for him. She had a dire compulsion to make tea and would become violent should anyone try to stop her from preparing tea. She would say incredibly odd things making people wonder if she was delusional or playing some game only she could understand. But in this mode, she genuinely expressed her emotions. She didn't have to fake a smile for anyone. She didn't concern herself with worrying anyone. If she was happy she'd giggle and if she was sad she'd burst into tears.
The curse hit and Grace forgot all she’d been before. She forgot her name and her papa. She knew herself only as Paige Matthews. She believed her parents to be her neighbors and her an ordinary Storybrooke student. She loved stories and running around in the woods. She wasn’t sure why but the woods always relaxed her. She felt drawn to them. She was an enthusiastic girl scout who was very adept at survival badges. People were stunned with how effortlessly she could decipher poisonous from non-poisonous plants and find edible food. She wasn’t sure herself why she was so good at it. She didn’t question it, though. She merely assumed it was an innate skill.
Although reading and English were her best subjects in school and she loved them to death, she was determined to be a physician. She wanted to help save people one day. So she studied hard in all her classes. She volunteered at the hospital. At the tender age of 11 she wasn’t allowed to do much. But she could decorate the walls to make them more cheery for the patients and do basic clean up. She learned through observing and people often took heart from her warm smile. She knew first aid thanks to her girl scout troop and actually got certified in CPR.
Paige couldn’t understand why; but, she often felt that something was missing. There was this hole in her heart she couldn’t explain or understand. She should be happy. She had kind parents and nice friends. She was doing well in school and the people loved her in the hospital. But still, she’d be plagued by spells of depression. She hid them well. She didn’t wish to worry her parents or her friends. But sometimes she just felt that she didn’t belong. There were times where she would just lock herself in her room and sob into her pillow to muffle the sound. Something was missing. Rationally she knew that couldn’t be right. But...She just felt it. Everything was wrong.
She never talked about these feelings with anyone. Not only did she not wish to worry people; but, she didn’t want to be considered crazy. Dr. Hopper was nice; but, she didn’t want to be forced into therapy. She didn’t want everyone to look at her strangely. So she continued to act cheerful and vivacious no matter how terrible she felt. Besides, she needed to stay focused so she could be a great doctor one day.
She took comfort from a few things. Alice and Wonderland became a near obsession for her. She’d read the book so often she could repeat it verbatim. But only one chapter really resonated with her, the one where Alice had tea with the mad hatter. That chapter was read more often than any other. It didn’t matter that she knew it by heart. Whenever she was depressed she would return to those pages and read them out loud. Likewise, she watched the animated film again and again, always coming back to the scene with the mad hatter. She wasn’t sure why but she dreamed of being Alice. She wanted to go to Wonderland and meet the mad hatter. Of course she knew it was silly. Although she was more open minded than most, thinking that perhaps ghosts were real...She wasn’t quite convinced magic was possible. But she wondered and she dreamed.
She also took comfort form her stuffed animals and her tea set. Her friends chided her for being too childish; but, she adored having tea parties with her stuffed animals. She supposed that was why she liked the story of Alice and Wonderland. Alice was someone who hadn’t quite grown up and enjoyed tea parties. But Paige didn’t think there was anything wrong with liking stuffed animals, Alice & Wonderland, and tea parties. She could still be mature and responsible with those hobbies. She was working hard in the hospital after all.
There was another comfort object, a very strange mirror. Inside the mirror was a picture of a man she'd never met before. But it was familiar somehow. The person comforted her even though she figured he wasn’t real. She talked to him and in a way he became like her stuffed animals. He was someone with which she could share her secrets. He would never be upset. And he’d never tattle because he couldn’t hear her. She came to think of him as a mentor, a dear friend. She would tell him her troubles and imagine the advice he would give if only he could.
The curse broke and Grace remembered everything. She wanted nothing more than to find her papa who she was certain was here. She wasn’t the best artist in the world; but, she wouldn’t be content with relaying such an important message trough the computer. She didn’t type it up but made posters with her own artistic skill, plastering the Storybrooke boards with them, hoping someone would have heard of her papa. She tried to draw pictures of her papa; but, she realized it didn’t turn out all that great. But she was still confident he would find her. One day after school she heard her name. It sounded so familiar. Her heat caught in her throat and when she turned around there was her papa. She ran straight to him and hugged him tight. “Papa you found me! I knew you would!” He picked her up and took her to her new home. Now she’s living with him. Recovering lost time isn’t possible; but, at least she finally got her reunion. They’ve been separated for many years; but, he means the world to her; and, she’d do anything to see him smile.| ~ • ~ | Sample Post | ~ • ~ |
Grace had been reunited with her papa very recently. But that didn’t mean she was perfectly at peace. People’s deep seeded emotions and fears didn’t evaporate in a day. For so long she’d been waiting for Papa to find her. Now they were together again! Of course she was happy. But...They’d lost so much time. She was so afraid. What if Papa hated the girl she’d grown into? What if he thought she’d been much sweeter and kinder as a little girl? What if he blamed her for the separation? She’d never quite forgiven herself for letting him go. It was her fault in some sense, wasn’t it? If she hadn’t made such a big deal about the white rabbit would he have stayed, would he have realized he was the only thing that really mattered in her life? If she had clung to his leg weeping, could she have convinced him to ignore the queen? What if she had simply refused to go with the neighbors? What if she had been stubborn and followed him? Would that have been enough to stop him?
For a terrible, lonely several years she’d replayed their goodbye over and over again. After all this time, she could still remember that day perfectly. The way he’d scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the door. The way he’d smoothed back her hair so he could kiss her forehead. How tenderly he’d buttoned up her jacket so she wouldn’t get cold. How sweetly he promised he’d come back, make it in time for tea. And then how he gently pushed her towards the neighbors. And she’d left! She’d just walked away even though she’d known things were weird and the queen was involved! She should have never left him! But she had and both of them had paid the price for that. Paid it in full every single day. So many sleepless nights and dreary mornings. The neighbors had been so kind to her. And Grace loved them dearly. She tried to help and seem happy for their sake; but, they weren’t her papa. No one could replace him or the deep bond they shared. Time...Time hadn’t broken it, had it? She was afraid of that, that she would look in her papa’s eyes and see a stranger reflected back at her. She’d watched him day after day through the magic mirror when he was in Wonderland. But he hadn’t seen her grow. What if he didn’t even think of her as his daughter anymore? She was being silly, she knew, paranoid. Papa loved her! He’d spent all this time trying to make his way back to her! She just needed to relax! But she couldn’t.
The stress was getting to her. All the questions and fears she kept bottled up inside needed some release. And that release came in the form of nightmares. Her small frame tossed and turned under her lavish covers. She wasn’t 11 anymore. She was eight and it was that horrible day, the worst day of her life. “I’m sorry baby but I have to go.”
This time she wasn’t so composed. She broke down crying. “No! Don’t go! Please don’t go! Don’t leave me all alone!”
“I’ll be back in time for tea.”
“No! You won’t! Please! Please listen! I’m sorry about the rabbit! All I need is you! Don’t go!”
“It will just be for a little while.”
“It won’t! Don’t go!”
“Go stay with the neighbors.”
“No! I want to be with you!”
“I’ll be back in time for tea.”
And then the room fell away from her and she was somewhere else. There was a table, a long table with all the makings for a great feast, the perfect tea party. But she was all alone. It was just her. “Papa?” she called out. But there was no answer. She waited and waited. The tea was growing cold. “Papa!” she sobbed. But no one was there to answer. And in the remarkable way that time can in dreams, it sped up and yet felt slowed somehow. Decades passed. Her hair grew long and tangled. Eventually it turned grey. And there she stood at the table waiting for the papa whom by now she was certain was dead. But it was just her. Just her against the world. What could she do but wait? Wait for him or wait for her time to run out. She didn’t know which. She wasn’t certain it mattered.
And then suddenly there was a mirror, a giant mirror. She touched the cool glass and her papa appeared just like she remembered him. But she was withered and old while he was still young. “Get it to work! Get it to work! Get it to work!” Hats. Hats. Hats. So many hats in the mirror. A mountain of them. No, several mountains. And still he made more. “Papa!” she screamed. But he couldn’t hear her. She pounded her fist against the glass. She could see him! It wasn’t fair! She had to get to him! The hour glass was running out! She had to see him before it was too late! “Papa!” The glass shattered and then it was just her, all alone again. She woke up screaming.
But...She wasn’t in her bed! She wasn’t in her bed! She came to her senses and suddenly she was standing on the roof! She scrambled to get her balance! How?! How had she wound up here?! What should she do?! What if she fell?! She could die! No! She couldn’t die! She’d just met her papa again! There was so much they had to talk about, so much to catch up on! She couldn’t die!
She tried to take deep cleansing breaths and pull her head together. She’d...done something similar before. It hadn’t landed her on the roof; but, she’d moved on her own like magic. She...she just...oh she had no idea what to do!
“Get a hold of yourself, Grace!” she, berated herself. She was a Girl Scout! And if Girl Scouts had taught her anything, it was not to panic during a crisis. That wouldn’t help. She could...sort this out. She just needed to be careful. She...didn’t think she could come back the way she’d gotten here. She didn’t quite understand how she’d...teleported? That was the word wasn’t it? So...yeah...That was out. As much as she’d hate to upset Papa...She should probably call him. He likely had a ladder or something he could use to get to her. There was no way she was climbing down the roof! They lived by themselves. She probably wouldn’t bother anyone else. “Papa!” she hollered. “Papa please help me!” She couldn’t fall! She couldn’t fall! Could he even hear her?! What if she fell before he could get to her?! No! It...It would be fine! Deep breaths! Deep breaths! “Papa!”
