Post by jaina2 on Aug 6, 2009 7:19:26 GMT -5
*ACCEPTED*
Andy Cryer
Full Name- Andrea "Andy" Cryer
Gender- Female
Age- Twenty-two
Date of Birth- 22nd February 1987
Sexual Orientation- Heterosexual
Location- NYC
Celebrity Claim- Rachel Leigh Cook
What should we call you?- Vajaina
Play anyone else?- Jaina Cassidy
Have You Read the Rules?- I just ate a pupu platter - Colourful.
Personality-
Andy is a very empathetic individual. This is somewhat a requirement for her chosen field of study, as any psychologist must have the ability to understand, or at least appear to understand, any emotional issue or problem that a patient might be experiencing. She is sensitive, in many ways more so than most of her fellow colleagues and peers. These are traits that are always directly at war with her clinical persona, and sometimes Andy struggles to separate these characteristics in order to maintain a professional distance.
As a result she struggles internally when using her special ability. As a psychologist she would instead prefer to talk through her patients' problems, and abhors the use of such an intrusive gift. In many instances she sees it as an unforgivable violation of privacy, but her insatiable curiosity for the unknown has won out on more than one occasion.
She is kind and her ultimate goal in life and through her career is to assist those who need help. This is one of the main reasons why she chose to study the mind, as well as having an almost obsessive interest in its inner workings. She gives without want for reward and would willingly sacrifice herself and her time to anyone she cares for.
Andy is a sensible sort, and by no means your typical hedonistic student. She pursues further education and answers to her many questions in the place of parties and kegs. This isn't to say that she has no sense of fun, or no sense of humour (in fact hers is quite the dry, dark one) but rather her idea of a good time is quite different to the majority of her counterparts. She isn't one to jump into an unknown situation without thinking it through and she will always have a contingency plan.
She works hard and you could call her tenacious. Almost to the point of obsession at times; once she has begun a new project she will not stop or rest until it is completed to her satisfaction. Her acute insomnia lends itself to many a late night's study and she hates to miss any deadline, whether it be set by a lecturer, a mentor or herself.
There have been times when her insomnia has affected her general performance. If she is particularly sleep-deprived she can often appear absent-minded and disheveled. She tries to combat this with an optimistic and up-beat attitude, but is sometimes unsuccessful.
Likes-
- Case studies
- Crosswords and puzzles
- Snow
- Coffee
- Reading
- Classical music
- Science fiction films
- Her Mini Cooper
- Vintage clothing and jewelery
- Gluten-free pancakes
Dislikes-
- Missing deadlines
- Forgetting birthdays or other important dates
- Dance music
- Headaches
- Romantic comedies (they give unrealistic expectations)
- Raised voices
- Slow drivers
- Mismatched underwear
- Dreaming
- Incomplete work / reports
Strengths-
- Sharp, focused mind
- Tenacious
- Trustworthy
- Creative
- Optimistic
Weaknesses-
- Permanently sleep-deprived
- Sleep-deprivation can lead to absentmindedness
- Both professionally and morally she is at odds with her ability
- Small and slight of stature; absolutely no use in any physical altercation
- Can easily become swept up and obsessed with her work
Skills-
- Problem solving
- Accomplished pianist
- Dream interpretation
Flaws-
- Acute insomniac
- Coeliac
- Workaholic
Abilities/Powers/Skills-
Dream Manipulation
Andy has the ability of dream manipulation. This means that she can manipulate or change any dream of any individual in a REM state of sleep. This is because the dorsal lateral pre-frontal cortex becomes de-activated when an individual dreams, which is the part of the brain responsible for decisions or volition. This is also the rational part of the brain, and even though there are other parts of the brain responsible for rational thinking while asleep, it grants Andy the psychic control needed to change imagery, implant herself or to even engage the subject in truthful, unhindered conversation.
While using this ability Andy is neither asleep nor awake. Instead she must allow herself to succumb to a state of peace and serenity before she can effectively penetrate another's mind. She will be unresponsive while using this ability and it is impossible for any outside influence to rouse her once she has begun.
Limits-
Andy cannot stimulate sleep or the REM state in a subject. She can only manipulate it. Ergo said subject must already be asleep and experiencing the REM state before her ability can actually work. She is vulnerable while using her ability as in essence her conscious mind has left her body and is open to any physical attack.
She can impart messages in dreams and apply a small amount of suggestion, but ultimately when the subject awakens he or she once again has full control over their decisions. Those who have learned how to lucid dream will have a considerably better chance of regaining some semblance of control over their own dream domain, but that is a mental battle Andy has yet to encounter.
Also it is worth noting that there are certain medications, particularly anti-depressants, that can be known to completely eliminate REM.
Appearance-
Andy is a complete waif. She is a small 5'2” and weighs a mere 100lbs. She has dark brown hair, kept straight and short, with a side-fringe and falls just above her shoulders. She has a light complexion but tans well and quickly during the warmer months.
She has large brown eyes which are often framed by dark circles. Her nose is small and upturned and with a slight point at the tip. When she smiles a small dimple marks her left cheek and her small, heart-shaped face is usually very expressive when she speaks, though clear when she listens.
For daily attire she favours simple outfits and has a bit of an odd, changeable sense of style. For the days when she is tired she will almost always be seen wearing dark colours and accessories, but when she is feeling fresh and alert she will mix and match bright and light garments.
Alignment- Good
Team Affiliation- Hero (eventually possibly Watchers P.I.)
Birthplace- New York
Mother- Miranda Cryer neé Adams / Forty-four / Neurologist
Father- Gregory Cryer / Fifty-two / Paediatrician
Siblings- Greg Cryer Jr / Twenty-three / Veterinary student
History-
Born to Gregory and Miranda Cryer only one year after the birth of their first child, Andy benefited from a stimulating and well-rounded childhood. Both children were home-schooled from a very early age by their mother, who following her children's enrollment in one of the finest secondary schools in the state, decide to return to her own schooling and pursue a career in medicine, as she had originally intended to do before meeting her husband and baring his children.
And so from the age of twelve, Andy was raised mainly by hired help, seeing both of her parents for fleeting dinners the odd evening, or on special occasions or birthdays. Despite their absenteeism they supported her budding intellect and often voiced their pleasure and encouragement at her academic prowess and accomplishments. Andy was a self-possessed, focused teenager, and rarely gave her parents any cause to worry or discipline her. Greg Jr., however, was not quite so well-behaved.
Obsessed from an early age with any and all creatures great and small, Greg brought home every stray and vagrant animal he could get his hands on, with the hopes of either befriending them or nursing them back to health. Andy both looked up to and adored her older brother and often covered for these minor misdemeanors in attempt to please him. They maintain a close relationship to this day.
It didn't take Andy long to decide what it was she wanted to do with her life. From the age of thirteen she knew she wanted to study psychology, and as her brother was often heard to remark, she was indeed fairly adept at telling people what was wrong with them. She embraced college with joy and absolutely no trepidation. She was sure of herself and completely comfortable with her choices. But the Eclipse was to soon shake the foundations of those decisions.
After realising her power Andy was confused, and of course scared. She had no idea why or how she could suddenly visit and control peoples dreams, but after the initial shock wore off it did manage to pique her professional curiosity. She tries very hard not to use her gift but is finding it an uphill struggle, even going so far as to develop an unhealthy interest in oneirology, the study of dreams.
Anything else?- Fartknockers.
Sample RP-“We experience a dream as real because it is real…
the miracle is how, without any help from the sense organs,
the brain replicates in the dream all the sensory information
that creates the world we live in when we are awake.”
Andy stared at the words scribbled on her notepad; a quote from one very notable and pioneering sleep researcher. She tried her best to shake herself from the mental reverie and pay attention to the rambling young woman before her but she was failing fabulously. She read the words over and over again, unable to redirect her mind from the images of her neighbour's dreams, which she had invaded only the night before.
She had been suspicious of him from the very first day she'd moved in. Well, not suspicious initially, but certainly wary. She'd been carrying a heavy box of wares down the hallway when he sprinted headlong into her, causing her belongings and herself to unceremoniously fly everywhere. With a lingering look he had sized her up, did not offer any aid and merely grunted at her before hurrying on his merry way.
Their encounters had continued along a similar vein. Andy, being a night owl, was perhaps more privy to other peoples late night activities than any other neighbour might have been, and she had witnessed and heard the strange nocturnal activities of the impolite man. Then, after hearing the unmistakable piercing scream of the feminine variety, Andy had decided it was time to do something.
And so she waited, poised and ready to enter the man's dreaming mind. What she saw she had tried to forget, but no matter what she did, she could not dislodge the disturbing imagery she had found within the realms of the sick, twisted mind. Now, following the revelation, she was faced with yet another dilemma. What, if anything at all, could she possibly do about it?
She could hardly go to the police. What would she say? That she was a psychic, read the man's dreams and knew he was a killer? Hardly. She'd be laughed out of the station, branded a total nut and would lose credibility amongst her peers. Perhaps she could leave an anonymous tip, perhaps on the strength of that they would search his apartment...
“What do you think of that Andy?”
The use of her name broke her train of thought and as her eyes refocused they fluttered down to the notepad. Most students recorded their placement sessions to study at a later date, but Andy preferred the old school method of pen and paper. She always said it helped get her more involved in-session, that she'd be more inclined to pay more attention. She was beginning to see the error of her ways as she stared at the page full of random dream quotes and doodles.
“I think the most important question here, Kara, is what you think of it.” Mental sigh of relief. Nice save. She said a silent prayer for the usefulness of psychologist's platitudes and went back to her musings.
