RPer: [Yuriona]

Character name: Taheen Grumen

Character setting: Toronto, Canada; approximately 100 years in the future; modern fantasy

Race: Genetically altered human (Elf)

Age: 20 years old

Appearance: Taheen stands around 5'-6"/168 cm tall; has copper coloured, almond shaped eyes and shoulder length blue-green hair. At first glance she appears to be a normal, human girl but her odd hair colour as well as her long, pointed ears show her to be something else. She has a lean build with long legs and though she does seem to have the body of an adult, there is still some childlike roundness to her cheeks that suggest that she has not fully matured physically.

History: Taheen is the only daughter of what seems to be a normal, white collar, Toronto family. Her father owns and operates a high profile construction company while her mother is now a stay at home mom after working for a while in the biochemical industry. Her younger brother Tiki is about eight years younger than Taheen but the two are very close despite the age difference and unlike his sister, he is a normal, twelve year old boy. Taheen herself though is anything but normal looking with long pointed ears and strange colouring, the apparent victim of a bio-hazard spill at the research facility where her mother was employed during her pregnancy.

Her mother had been working with an experimental compound that was designed to seek out dormant genes in DNA that would be used to assist in the reconstruction of the genome of extinct species. After the spill, both Mrs. Grumen and her unborn child had been examined and tested until the experts were satisfied that there were no adverse effects to either one. That changed however after the girl's birth when her apparent deformities were attributed to the spill. There was a healthy settlement involved but also a great deal of scientific study of Taheen which earned her a cover shot for Popular Science.

Despite her looks, a strange affinity with animals, and a supposed high intelligence, Taheen was a normal teenaged girl who liked hanging out, shopping and boys. Her family life does change a little when she's 14 as her parents adopt her older cousin named Rake after his parents are killed. She doesn't know anything about her aunt and uncle or him either for that matter since he generally refuses to say anything to her other than to refer to her as a 'mutant'. Considering the trauma he had gone through, Taheen didn't really mind even when it was obvious Rake had no problems speaking (and placing bets) with the other members of the family.

Life for Taheen changes again and drastically so five years later after landing a surprise position with the local zoo and having what appeared to be a chance meeting with a high ranking government official. Not only does she get her dream job working with rare Siberian tigers as well as becoming friends with the most eligible bachelor in the country but she is accepted into a very exclusive school that promises to give her everything she needs to succeed in her chosen profession. And that's when things get really interesting.

Personality: Taheen is a very cheerful, outgoing and upbeat personality. She is also rather innocent to the point of naiveté about some things and at first glance appears to be rather air headed when in fact she is quite smart. She is quick to put others before herself and always sees the good in everything. She rarely gets truly angry with anyone and is loving, caring as well as fiercely loyal to her friends and family.

Occupation: Head keeper for the Siberian Tiger population at the Toronto Metropolitan Zoo

Abilities: Taheen has always had a gift when it came to animals. She has no fear of them and they do not fear her, in fact it is almost as though they understand her when she speaks. She also has the ability to understand animals though it is more an instinctive understanding of them rather than a true, verbal communication. The only animal she has had little luck influencing is her mother's cat Feliz, a grey feline that routinely wakes her in the morning after her alarm clocks have been set for 'snooze'.

She has had intensive martial arts training at the school base and is able to implement chi attacks as well though she has yet to learn to control the life energy she generates. As well, Taheen also has inherent magical abilities which seem to have an elemental or 'natural' base but since there are few if any true magic users on the planet, she has not had any training for it. If magic is used it is strictly instinctive, much like her ability to communicate with animals.

One other ability she possesses is that she is able to consume a vast amount of food in a sitting and has yet to find another who can match her appetite. Even so, she does not gain weight and it was hypothesized by the scientists that studied her that she may have a heightened metabolism due to the unexpected genetic manipulation while in the womb though the true cause was never discovered.





_{Character Challenge
Character Submissions}

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Interview:
[Chel.] answered the door to her office, "Oh hello Taheen, a little late I see. Nevertheless, come in, come in..." She opened the door and lead Taheen to a comfy seat across from her desk. The walls were dark red in color with a wooden trim. Along the right wall sat a collection of books lined up perfectly along a wide bookcase. Chel sat herself down in a leather chair and propped her feet up onto the cherry wood desk. "So- I've read an awful lot about you, but there are some things that I can't figure out...how have you become a head zookeeper only at age 20? It seems like a marvelous achievement. Mind explaining a bit more?"

Taheen blushed a bit with embarrassment but quickly stepped inside, following [Chel.] and sitting down as requested. She couldn't help a small sigh of contentment as she sank into the soft, well worn pillows of the chair and looked around briefly at the office before focusing on the young woman across from her.

"Well, I had trouble figuring out what I should wear since this isn't exactly a job interview or anything like that but I didn't want to come across as being too casual," Taheen explained in a cheerful voice, "I did manage to find something eventually so I left the house later than I thought I would. Then I completely forgot about that sneaky policeman that likes to hid under the overpass to the express and of course he had to pull me over; especially since my stupid brother Rake helps him out with the self defense training at the station." She gave a huff at that, a mildly annoyed expression moving over her features at the mention of her brother.

"Well, technically I'm only the head keeper of the large cats," she continued, "though Michael - that's the head administrator - calls me for just about anything he can't solve through the usual ways. Like one time the crocodiles couldn't submerge and wouldn't eat anything so I had to go in with them and try to figure out what was going on. Turns out two kids were throwing alka seltzer tablets into the water so the crocs would chase them. We were so lucky we didn't lose either of them but man, I hope I never have to get into the water with them again." The young woman shuddered at the memory then blushed again.

"That's not what you wanted to hear though was it?" Taheen remarked sheepishly, "Sorry. I tend to ramble on a bit I guess. Now... uh, how I got the job. Well, its an interesting story actually.
My younger brother Tiki conned me into taking him into the zoo one day after I was done at work and we decided to take a break on some benches next to the Siberian tiger enclosure. I totally wasn't paying attention to the tigers until Tiki said they were watching me so I turned around and like, two of them were right there at the fence staring at me. They followed me along the fence so Tiki and I started playing with them, not noticing at all when a crowd started piling up to watch.
Anyways, eventually the tigers and us got tired and the crowd went away except for Micheal who heard about what was going on and was watching us. He wasn't too happy when Tiki reached through the fence to pet one of the tigers and it was pretty scary when he made us go with him to the administration building though it turned out to be a kind of test I guess. He took us to where a mother tiger was being kept with her cubs and after watching me interact with the mama, he asked me to start working at the zoo and look after the tigers. I've always been good with animals though. I can understand them I guess and they seem to understand me but its not like talking exactly." She concluded her story with a shrug, offering a small, sheepish grin as though apologizing for the long explanation.

"Wow! That sure is lucky." Chel remarked, quickly jotting a few things down on her notepad. "Though it seems a bit naive to give someone so young a job off the bat like that. Especially if it's with large tigers." she mentioned, lifting her eyes up and off of her paper to look at Taheen. "If I may, how old were you when you were hired?"

"Yeah, really lucky especially since my dad was making me work at a fast food place that summer because he decided I needed 'life experience'," Taheen agreed, rolling her eyes, "Like him bugging me about post secondary education all the time wasn't bad enough. And he sure didn't buy the whole 'I don't know what I want to do' excuse either. Ugh, like having to deal with a sleazy manager, grumpy customers and an absolutely horrible uniform was like punishment for not knowing. Yeah, thanks so much Dad." She shrugged at that then turned her attention back to the topic at hand.

"Hmm, I had just turned 19 the spring just before," she explained, frowning a bit, "and Michael isn't naive at all! He had just heard about my uh, gift with animals from a more, ummm..., informed source. I mean, not just anybody can work with those big cats after all and I got sent away to school so I could be trained to deal with them properly. And in case you hadn't noticed, I'm not exactly just another young person." She reached up then and tugged on a long pointed ear where it emerged from her long, blue-green hair.

"Actually, I was on the cover of Popular Science a few years ago," she assured [Chel.], her voice a breathy whisper and her copper eyes wide, "There was a whole article on me and my whacked out genetics."

"Yes and that's a completely new topic altogether. A 'genetically altered elf' was it? Tell me about that- how exactly did this come to be again? I think it's a miracle that you turned out so well. Hm....that sounds a bit weird doesn't it? Heh...scratch I said that." Chel waved her hand sheepishly, "I don't mean to talk about your life like it were a pie or something."

"Well...," Taheen drawled slowly, her brow furrowed slightly, "as far as the scientists and such know, I'm actually a genetically altered human. The truth is though that I should be only 1/2 human and 1/2 elf since my mom is elven but since elves are supposed to be mythical creatures of legend where I come from, 'mutant' is the term I got stuck with. _{stupid Rake and his stupid explanations...}" The last bit she muttered under her breath but she quickly brightened once more.

"My mom is an elf and my dad is a human and they've been together since they were teenagers," she began, "My dad always wanted a family but I guess 'cuz Mom wasn't human, they had trouble conceiving which is understandable. Anyways, after years and years of trying Mom was getting really worried that she'd never be able to give Dad the family he wanted - even though Dad was just happy to be with her - so she decided to take matters into her own hands." She leaned forward at that, her young face eager.

"Mom was working at a pharmaceutical company that specialized in genetic research," Taheen continued, "Now it wasn't a place that experimented with chemicals or anything like that but was researching the possibility of a compound that could reactivate dormant DNA in an organism for uses ranging from environmentally specialized crops to restocking endangered species. Since Mom's magic didn't help her at all, she started messing around with the compound since she suspected that Dad may have had an elven ancestor and by activating those now dormant elven genes she would be able to finally conceive and carry his child.
I'm not sure of all the actual details since the lab hushed everything up pretty quick but the official story is that there was an accident that resulted in a biohazard spill at the lab and the compound Mom was exposed to while in her first trimester is why I was born with long ears and an abnormal colouration for my hair and eyes. Still, because the lab eventually did produce a natural compound for the safe manipulation of genetic material and I was technically a result of that compound, the lab and my folks agreed to let the magazine to an article on me." She sat back again with a sigh.

"So that's basically what happened," the young woman concluded, "I dunno about a miracle really but I guess I turned out ok. Then again, I know more about why I am the way I am now than I did when I first got involved with others like me. And don't worry about it. I've had to deal with lots of stuff because of that too so I'm used to it. There was TONS of annoying remarks and questions about that sort of thing pretty much my whole life, especially when the article came out but it doesn't bug me at all. Besides, a lot of good things have happened to me because of who I am and some bad stuff too I guess but the good things are worth any hardships. Even Rake." She giggled slightly at that, forgetting for a moment that it was an 'inside' joke.

"Oh wow- hmmm..." Chel rubbed her chin, thinking over what she was just told. "In my opinion, I don't think that makes your being 'genetically altered' that big of a deal. I mean really- you are sort of half of your Dad and half of your mom. A halfbreed if anything." Chel said, chewing on the eraser of her pencil. "You said your Mom experimented with chemicals in order for her to conceive, right? Well- in my book, why should you even be called 'genetically-altered'? 'Cause really...how are you altered as a person?"

"Well... like I said, I'm not really sure of all the actual details," Taheen replied, her cheeks heating a bit, "Its not something we've really talked about at home. I am who I am and even though its had its ups and downs, I like who I am so I suppose I never worried too much about it. I mean, Mom did what she did because she loved Dad and even if the compound wasn't a part of the whole thing, who's to say that I wouldn't have been born the same anyways?" She smiled widely then.

"Oh, the 'genetically altered' tag was really just to keep people from freaking out over my looks," the young woman answered truthfully, "I mean, come on. I already look like a mutant so might as well go with it right? Its probably a lot easier for people to think I'm a mutant brought about by a woman's overpowering urge to have a baby than to learn that creatures like elves that everyone believes to be mythical actually do exist in this world. If I started claiming that, I'd get slapped into a strait jacket and locked up in a rubber room for the rest of my life. No thank you." She frowned, shaking her head to punctuate her last statement.

"Anyways, folks like my parents and me don't really want it known that they're more than just ordinary humans," she continued, "Considering what humans are like and what was done in the past to elves, faeries and dragons, you can't really blame those of us with elven blood for not wanting to let that get out. Just another secret to keep." She shrugged non-chalantly, leaning back in her chair once more with a sigh.

"So let me see if I have this right- you mention 'elf' in your profile because your appearance somewhat resembles that of mythological elves? Yet your hair color and ears are merely genetic deformaties? ..if you would excuse my word choice." Chel asked, tilting her head as she tried to wrap her mind around what sort of world this girl came from. "Combining science with fantasy is very confusing, if not contradictory...."

"Noooo," Taheen replied a little impatiently, "My profile says elf because I am elven though technically I'm only half elven. My little brother Tiki looks human at first glance - green eyes, brown hair, no long ears - but he can understand and communicate with animals like me just in a more limited manner." She shrugged then.

"On this world, there are no such things as magic, elves and so forth," she continued, "they're all myth and fairy tales but science is widely accepted. So, the best way to explain an otherwise 'mythological' creature to a wholly science based, human society is to use science to do so. Since, according to anybody you might talk to on the street here, elves are fantasy creatures then the best way to explain me being 'elf-like' in appearance is to blame science. Does that make sense?" She huffed again, annoyed by the subject.

"Before anyone knew anything, everything was magic," the young woman stated, flopping back into her seat, "Then as society learned the scientific explanations to things pertaining to biology, chemistry, physics and so forth; what was once considered magic became ordinary and if science couldn't explain something or prove its existence then it didn't exist. And since science has thus far been unable to prove the existence of elves on this world then they can't exist but a human genetically altered to appear elven can." She stared at [Chel.] with wide copper eyes.

"I should see if I can find that paper my other brother Rake did a while back," she remarked thoughtfully, "Apparently he did an entire thesis on that whole facet of today's society though I bet half of it is all conspiracy theories and rants about cover ups. I swear he thinks everyone is up to something sneaky just because that's how he is." She rolled her eyes at that.

Chel wrote quickly, trying to keep up with Taheen's explanation. She sat there quietly for a while as she caught up on her notes. "Alright- I think that clears a few things up." Her eyebrows raised as she skimmed forward. "Next- could you tell me about your schooling? Certainly with your unique appearance, you turn a few heads, am I right?"

Taheen shrugged in reply to the question.

"Yeah, I guess so," she answered honestly, "though high school wasn't as bad as grade school. I got teased a lot when I was younger but it didn't bother me too much. I mean, yeah I look different but I like being different. Usually when I got called names like 'long ears' I'd just answer with 'yes my ears are long' or just smile and thank them like they gave me a compliment. After a while nobody bothered me any more about how I looked." She smiled brightly at that.

"High school was fun," she continued, "Yeah at first I got teased a bit about how I looked but I just did the same thing I did in grade school and the bullies gave up. Plus I got good grades, wasn't too bad at sports and I tried really hard to be friendly and helpful to everyone I could so I ended up being pretty popular. The only thing that really got me in trouble with my friends though is I can eat tons of food and never get fat. It used to really upset them so I learned to curb my appetite at school then Dad made me work at a fast food place after I graduated. I would stuff myself at breakfast just so I wouldn't have to eat anything at work. Bleh..." She made a face at the memory of 'Omega Burger' and the food there.

"I never did pick out a university exactly like my dad wanted," the young woman remarked thoughtfully, "I ended up at a private education facility thanks to a sponsorship program through the zoo. Its on a tropical island that used to be a resort but was bought by an uber rich ecologist who turned it into a place of education and research. There aren't many students there and a lot of the work is independent study so how I looked was never a concern. I did cost more than a few students a bit of money in the cafeteria though with my appetite." She grinned and patted her flat tummy meaningfully.

"Wow-" Chel said, jotting down Taheen's story on a notepad. "So- has...everything in your life been this perfect? I mean," she looked down to read her notes, "You are athletic, smart, nice, pretty and popular. You say you can eat anything without gaining weight and go to college on a tropical island. Not to mention that you happened to get a job with tigers while at a zoo." The interviewer then looked at Taheen for a reaction. "Who cares about the genetically altered bit- you seem to be a regular Mrs. Universe if I've ever seen one."

"Miss Universe?" Taheen blinked in surprise, "I don't think so. I'm ok at sports but I'm a huge klutz and stuff tends to get broken alot when I'm around. Popular and pretty only because I'm a freak and apparently its cool to be seen with a freak. I actually lost a lot of people I thought were friends just because I can eat anything I want and you'd be surprised how many guys lose interest in me when they find out the freak doesn't put out." She shrugged then, her copper eyes sad.

"Don't get me wrong, I know how good I have it despite that stuff," she murmured quietly then, "but you can't assume everything has always been perfect. I have my own scars just like everyone else but I just choose not to dwell on them. Its really hard to be mean to someone who seems happy and friendly even if they are a mutant. And its even harder to be mean when they seem to be a ditsy airhead despite their grades." Her gaze became distant for a moment.

"When I went away to school, I was so excited," she whispered, her voice tight, "but it wasn't like any school I had ever imagined. I didn't really have classes, everything was hands on, independent study and most of it things I had never taken in school. And I got into a lot of... trouble, all because I was so naive and clueless about life in general. It cost me a few weeks in a hospital, the life of a comrade and later..." she trailed off, her eyes filling with tears.

"I... I don't really want to get into details about that," the young woman stated finally, "Do you have any other questions for me?"