wendell, artemis leila

[ARTEMIS LEILA WENDELL]

artemisleilawendell
twenty three. local.
unpredictable.troubled.loyal.leighton meester.

“Oh, you want to know about me? Well, I guess that makes sense, what with me being from out of town and all that. Well, I was born in Detroit, Michigan, on the 24th of December, 1988. Day before Christmas, great, right? My mom would always tell me that I was the easiest child to live with, though, so I guess it isn’t all bad. At least I didn’t give her any trouble, right? Yeah, she passed away when I was just seven years old, so I don’t remember too much of her, but Dad still tells me stories about her, so sometimes it feels like she’s just gonna walk back through the door and carry on like normal. That’s not gonna happen, though, I know that. I’ve seen too many people dead to believe that any more. As a kid, though, it was kinda nice to think she wasn’t gone forever.

My dad’s never really moved on from her. He still works and everything, and carries on his day like he always did, hangs out with the people he always has, goes fishing on a Saturday if the weather permits. He seems fine, but there’s never been another woman. Not sure if there will be, but maybe it’d be better if there was. I hate to think of him all lonely in that big old house, so I go back when I can, but that’s not often. But at least my brothers are both still over there. They’re older than me. Looked after me at school, started acting like my mother when she died, which was kinda sweet. I wish I could see them more, but certain circumstances mean that can’t happen very often.

What circumstances? Well, with all respect, I really don’t think it’s for you to know… I just don’t want to drag you into it. I left to escape it, you see. Well, OK, if you really insist…. See, the thing is, I went into the Army. Started training at the earliest possible age, Cadets, Scouts, Majorettes, whatever was even vaguely related, I did it. From when I was about eight, I think. My dad took me target shooting when I turned eleven, and as soon as I was eighteen, I signed up. My dad thought it was a bad idea. My brothers thought I was crazy, but I guess I was just taking a facet of my personality to the extreme. Loyalty. Anyone I cross that I would consider a friend automatically earns this loyalty. So does my country. And so I decided to fight for its freedom and safety.

I was there, fighting in Iraq, for three years, and then I got injured. Not badly. Just a head injury, but enough to see that I wasn’t allowed back in to fight. I was shipped home as soon as I was stable, and kept in hospital for two months. I had black outs, seizures and I had to learn some stuff again – the mathematical side of my brain had been affected, but it was a pretty quick job to fix, compared to everyone else that was in there. Some of them had to learn to eat, speak and walk all over again. It was horrible. I thought, then, that I would go into nursing, but I guess I thought I didn’t have the smarts for it. I was well enough to work, after that, if I took my medication, so I got a job as a fire fighter. I’m not bragging, but I saved a lot of people. One of those people had what the psychologists call an obsessive personality. He found out who I was, where I lived, and started sending letter, presents, following me around, calling me, asking for me to go out with him. Sometimes I think that if I’d agreed, none of this would have happened. Well, basically, what I’m trying to say is that when I rejected him, he got angry, and became violent. He tried to run me over, shoved things that were on fire through my own mail slot, and sent me poisoned food.

I guess the final straw was when he nearly succeeded. I’d just worked a double shift, and I wasn’t really paying attention. He shot at me, and just missed. I ran to my car, managed to get in before he got another shot off, but I was too shaken by then to even consider staying. I knew I had to get away from him, so I chose a small town as far away as I could get. And that’s here. So that’s my story, I guess, unless you want to know anything else about me.

Oh, OK, my likes and dislikes. Well, I like being able to defend myself, I like a good adrenaline rush. I like to dance. I like strawberries, and tea and coffee, and I like to bake. Yeah, I know, wouldn’t expect it, right? I’m not claiming to be good at it. Just saying I like it. I like to take walks, hikes, or just anything that gets me out and about, I guess. I like sport, and I’ve liked all of my jobs so far, so I guess I like keeping busy. I dislike arrogance and people that are disloyal, either to other people or to their country, or even themselves. I absolutely detest rhubarb, and I’m deathly allergic to peanuts. I don’t like cats, because they’re selfish and too up their own…. Well, you know what. Oh, and I don’t like drunks. I believe people should always have control over themselves.

Is there anything else? My skills? Well, I’m versed in Jui Jitsu, Krav Maga, and karate. I’ve taken and delivered self-defence classes, and if it’s not rude to toot my own horn here, I’m a pretty mean opponent. I don’t really get angry, which I guess is a strength if I get this job as a bouncer, but it can be a weakness in other areas because it makes people think they can say or do what they want and I’ll just be a doormat for them to walk over.

Well, I guess that’s it. I’m looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks for your time.”

behind the mask

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alias Dru
age Nineteen 
experience A million years or so (I’m a Drusaurus, doncha know?)
how'd you find us? PBS

[HEY THERE JOEY]

accepted~
post in the claims!