Post by scraps on Sept 8, 2011 1:48:26 GMT -5
...Naomi Charles Patch*
*After great pain, a formal feeling comes. The Nerves sit ceremonious, like tombs. *
[/size]*After great pain, a formal feeling comes. The Nerves sit ceremonious, like tombs. *
*
...basics*
name Naomi Charles Patch
nickname Nami, by her Grandfather. Charlie by much of the other people in her family.
age Nineteen
gender Female
grade Barrie Freshmen
hometown LaGrange, Indiana Amish Community
sexuality Straight
personification The Patchwork Girl
status Dormant.
face claim Bella Heathcote
...appearance*
hair color Brown
eye color Blue
build Slight, thin, stringy, lanky.
height 5"7'
clothing style What fits and is comfortable.
distinctive traits Very softly spoken, and doesn't like to call a lot of attention to herself.
...personal*
personality
Naomi is a quiet girl, who generally likes to remain unnoticed. So long as she sits still, she accomplishes this well enough. She dresses plainly, simple long sleeve tee shirts and jeans. She'll wear skirts, and despite no longer being a part of the Amish community, she is still wary of showing too much skin. She is modest, soft spoken, and can be terribly shy. Naomi often comes across as a bit of a prude, and is quite ignorant of current pop culture.
However, do not expect her gentle disposition to be a show of weakness. She is stubborn, sometimes unyielding, no matter the consequences. Perhaps the greatest show of this was when she left her family behind, because she did not agree with the strict dogma of her community. She loves greatly, but can't help but put her two sense in. Mostly because she's a terrible liar, even by omission. If she observes something, and being a quiet sort of person, observing is all she has, Naomi can't help but spill it out.
Naomi is a very independent. She is fully able to put her intelligence to use and get things done for herself, and is an avid studier at school. It is possible however that her narrow mindedness can cause her creativity to suffer. Not to say she is not open to new ideas, but Naomi is often shocked by them. She may dwell too much on the past and over complicate things and this may limit her ability to move forward, and thus she tends to confuse herself.
Before she plunges into anything, from a problem to a vacation idea, she need to analyze all the facts and know all the details. This makes her seem indecisive and slow, but she is anything but. Naomi's perception is her reality , and thus what she believe is what will be. If she has a negative outlook on life, things will present themselves to be negative and she will be very moody and seem isolated. If she is positive, the same events that occur will be held in a positive light and she will be a pleasant, well adjusted person. Naomi's mind is a very powerful mind, but she must have the proper attitude for her life to be happy and successful.
She needs to get in touch with her feelings. But she had been raised on a repressive society, and this is why she usually seem cold or detached. She is also very prone of living in denial. She will say she feels okay or everything is alright, even when it's not. It's simply simpler that way, and she hates for people to fuss over her. The one thing that Naomi does not like to analyze is her feelings, so pretending everything is okay is a good defense mechanism.
Naomi exists in the mind, everything is inside. To the world, she presents a calm and collected exterior. But on the inside, nervous uncontrolled intensity in the mind, trying to figure things out, how to improve everything, analyzing and thinking. Naomi can tire itself out without even moving! She has a constant drive to improve and perfect, this can lead to extreme finickiness. She is pure pure, her motives are honest never malicious, and she wants to accomplish something.
past
Naomi is the third child of four, to Mary Claire and Andrew Patch, though she never knew her eldest brother Charlie. He died, in a field accident, before she was born. In their grief for losing their first child, they decided that the next child would bare a part of his name. Of course, they had also expected Naomi to be a he. But, they made a promise, and by God, they planned to keep it. Thus, Naomi Charles Patch was dubbed. Life and an Amish Mennonite was quite different than being raised any other sort of American Girl.
From an early age, Naomi was drilled in being humble and hard working. She stayed dutifully at her Grandmother and Mother's heels from six in the morning to six in the evening, helping with tending to the garden, sewing cloths, cooking, candle making, house cleaning. Saturdays she was often left to play after lunch, which she was quite grateful for.
There was very little time to play, growing up. And when she did, she did not have Barbies or Video Games to amuse her. Her toys were simple, as her cloths. Her favorite of these being Scraps, her ragdoll. Other than Scraps, she busied herself with reading. Though her Father would have preferred her reading to be limited to religious text, her Grandfather (who held seniority in the family) allowed her daughter to read selected text, her favorite being Emily Dickinson. Her education stopped around when she was fourteen years old, as it was deemed unnecessary to continue it.
She rarely saw people outside of her family, and almost never of 'Outsiders'. On occasion some would come, to hire her Grandfather, Uncles, Father, cousins, and brothers to do various work. When money would get tight, her Aunts, Mother and Grandmother would also be hired to make candles or blankets, and even cloths on occasion. While she enjoyed the great sense of family she had around her, Naomi could not help but wonder beyond her home.
On occasion, her and her family Dog would venture to the border of the family property. When she would get brave, she'd toe the line a bit, sometimes playing trapeze on the fence. One day, when she was thirteen, she found that she was not alone there. On the other side of the property line, Naomi saw two children, a brother and a sister. And, God as her witness, the sister was wearing denim jeans! The children saw her, and inquired on her strange clothing. They explained that they were from New York City, and their Mother came to live here with her new husband, to get some of the simple life. Naomi quite innocently gave her regrets to hear that their Father had passed, to which she got the queerest of stares. They explained that he had done no such thing, and was living with his girlfriend in New Mexico. Head swimming, Naomi could not hide her shock. For the rest of the afternoon, Naomi and the Brother and Sister exchanged questions, each staying on their respective lines.
As the family sat at dinner, Naomi told them all of the strange children. This lead to her Father and Grandfather discussing how John Yoder, the former property owner of that land, had sold it to outsiders. Then it led to her being forbidden from playing with those children anymore. Instead of letting the conversation drop, Naomi inquired as to why, as they had seemed nice enough. Shock fell over the table. While her Father barked that it was because he forbade it, and as her Father he did not need to further explain, her Grandfather chose to. Two key concepts for understanding Amish practices are their rejection of Hochmut (pride, arrogance, haughtiness) and the high value they place on Demut (humility) and Gelassenheit (calmness, composure, placidity), often translated as "submission" or "letting-be". The Amish's willingness to submit to the "Will of God", expressed through group norms, is at odds with the individualism so central to the wider American culture. The Amish anti-individualist orientation is the motive for rejecting labor-saving technologies that might make one less dependent on community. Modern innovations like electricity might spark a competition for status goods, or photographs might cultivate personal vanity. Thus, Naomi could be lead into temptation if she continued associating with such children.
Relenting, Naomi vowed to no longer see the children.
However, she did go back to where she saw them. And while they were not there, and thus her promise was not broken, she did find some stuff they left behind. A magazine, a beaded bracelet that said Naomi, and a pair of sunglasses. Grateful for these gifts, Naomi ventured home quickly. Hiding her new treasures, she set the work making gifts in return. After all, it would be quite rude if she were to accept gifts and not return them. Sitting on her bed, she monogrammed a pair of matching lace hemmed hankies for them, and put some of her Mother's cookies in a tin. Three days later, she returned, and found more treasures. And so, a game was invented.
When she turned sixteen, Rumspringa started for young Naomi. This would last for two years, where Naomi would decide if she wanted to pursue a life outside of the Amish community (and thus be shunned), or to be baptized and stay (and thus stay forever). It was a time of great upheaval for the young girl, who was very torn. If she decided to leave, after all, she would be alone. And if she did return, for they will accept the repentant, there would always be the tarnish of the outside world on her name. While soul searching, her Father found her treasures, which had collected beneath her bed for the past three years.
Just as she was starting to lean toward staying, a heated argument arose between her and her Father. And then it snapped. She could no longer remain here. She felt like she was standing in a room, screaming at the top of her lungs, and no one could hear her. She hated it all. The fact that she wasn't allowed to talk to boys, or wear simple jewelry, or listen to music! She didn't want it anymore. She wanted to read what she liked, when she liked, and continue her education, and own a radio!
So she left.
present
At first, Naomi stayed in Indianapolis, in a home for other ex-Amish. It was a comfortable life, and they helped her find work. She even had her first boyfriend, and held hands with him in public! Her Grandfather, who she loved and missed dearly, wrote her twice. They were long, heart wrenching letters begging for her to repent and return home. But she couldn't. Freedom felt so very wonderful! As she saved her money, Naomi tried to decide what she wanted to do.
First and foremost, she wanted to go to school. She attended night-school, catching up on all that she missed. Being a diligent, bordering on obsessive, student, Naomi managed to finish off with a G.E.D. in just a little over a year. Next, she wanted a car. It was not brand new, but also not old. Next, she wanted to go to college. She applied everywhere she could in the New York Area, already knowing she wanted to move to New York. The Brother and Sister had left her great pictures of Time Square and The Statue of Liberty, which had been on post cards. Naomi longed to see these things.
She got accepted to J. Barrie University, where she has currently arrived too. She plans to live in the dorm, and be apart of the college book club. Naomi also got a job working at The Wandering Goose cafe, as a waitress. Her main goal is to simply get her roots in, and begin her life.
family
Grandpa Charles Patch: Her Grandfather.
Grandma Dorothy 'Dolly' Patch: Her Grandmother.
Mary Claire Patch: Her Mother.
Andrew Patch:Her Father
Charles Patch: Her Brother. Died before she was born.
Amos Patch: Older Brother.
Danial Patch: Younger Brother.
likes Reading, Dancing (though only when people can't see her), Quiet colors, Quiet people, Making clothing, birds, cooking, lots of grass, sleeping in.
dislikes Showy people, overly pricey cloths, people who are too loud, junk food (including most fast food), wastefulness, unnecessary crudeness, being the center of attention, flirting (not because she doesn't enjoy the attention, but because she's bad at it.).
other notes She's quite clumsy.
She can speak German, and a little dutch.
She can play the harmonica and enjoys dancing, but is self conscious.
...literature*
book title The Patch Work Girl of Oz.
backstory When Scraps was mad, her creator gave her too much brains. And so she flopped around, knocking some stuff in him, that turned him to stone. When she stopped flopping, she joined up with some other Ozian folk to get the ingredients to set them right. She ends up with the scarecrow in the end.
...roleplayer*
name Abbey
age 19
gender Female
rp experience Absolutely none. I hope I'm not terrible, but I do write!
how you found ouac I was looking up the lyrics to Once Upon a Time in New York City, and stumbled upon it, fell in love.
rp sample
"Annnd, that is one grilled cheese sandwich, minus the crust and steak fries." Spoke Naomi, as she attempted to project her usually hushed voice, and slid the sandwich in front of small ginger boy. "One New England Clam Chowder for the you, and a Grilled Chicken BLT, minus the T, for you." She completed, setting the plates in front of the boys equally ginger parents. Smiling with her thinned lips- thinned as they were whenever she was nervous, which was whenever she was in front of strangers, which was always-, Naomi gave a clumsy little curtsy, backing away. But, go figure, her timing to be off. As she turned to head onward, she instead collided with a fellow server, who deftly managed to keep their single plate steady. "Sorry! I'm sorry!" She spoke, voice startled by her self. There was a problem, when she startled herself.
With a heavy sigh, she returned the serving tray back to its home, glad to find her break nice and ready. Her feet had a familiar ache, being that had been on them since eight this morning. But it was of no mind to her. The early hours, after all, were the easiest for her. Late shift at the diner was rather nerve racking for her. People coming in from the bars for something to soak in there alcohol filled bellies, or ruffians needing a place to lie low for a bit. Not to mention the dark-clad folks, with the frightening make up, who seemed to want nothing more than to drink coffee and smoke cigarettes. Martha, the senior waitress, had called them Gothic's, or something. Naomi wondered if it was because the troupe had an interest in thirteenth century architecture.
Removing her apron, Naomi hung it on it's little hook, and grabbed her sack lunch. Not that she minded the food in the restaurant, but she was pinching pennies at the moment. Her clothing was simple, blue jeans that the sales person said were flared at the bottom, plain black flats, and a long sleeve gray tee shirt which hugged her. Not too much, of course. There was no jewelry, besides a little bracelet that said Naomi on her wrist. Why, her ears weren't even pierced. Her wavy, golden, brown hair was pulled in a pony tale out of her crisp and round blue eyes. No make up rested on her face, despite Martha saying she would get better tips if she wore a bit of rouge. What a silly idea, Naomi could not help but think. Rouge would certainly not make her work harder.
Finding a solitary little booth to sit in near a window, Naomi sat down, her eyes watching the view. People passing by, street cars going at the rate of cold molasses. The city was so lovely, so busy, so alive! Just as she had dreamed as a child. Sighing comfortably in the booth, Naomi pulled out a small, worn, copy of Emily Dickinson poems. It was just small enough to fit in with her sandwich and crisps, so it would give her some entertainment at lunch. Make it seem a little less lonely. Not that she was complaining, of course! The other waitresses were quite nice, but it was more of a polite exchange when it had to occur. Which was fine, just fine.
Naomi had all she needed.
Elysium is as far as to
The very nearest room,
If in that room a friend await
Felicity or doom.
What fortitude the soul contains,
That it can so endure
The accent of a coming foot,
The opening of a door!
What lovely words! Oh, how Naomi could read this all-
Oh dear. It would seem someone had chosen to sit across from her. Looking up, her round blue eyes, which were always round as if she were surprised (though, the surprise was quite genuine this time), she peered at her visitor.
