matermali | lab of nature { application

cw; Mention of torture, suicidal ideation, murder, asylum-trauma.

OOC INFORMATION
Name: Jesse
Contact:

cherto
Permissions: Previous permissions
Age: 35+
Who Invited you?: Mod invitation

CHARACTER INFORMATION
Character Name: Vanessa Ives
Assigned Nickname: The Mother (or The Hidden if that's taken)
Age: 32
Canon: Penny Dreadful
Canon point: Episode 2.10, "And They Were Enemies" (just as she’s confronting Lucifer)
Character Information: The wiki is pretty dodgy, so I wrote her history up HERE.
Personality:

► Power

For Vanessa, power is a double-edged sword that defines much of her existence. Her supernatural abilities, including clairvoyance, mediumship, and the capacity to channel dark forces, grant her immense potential but also make her a target for malevolent entities.

She views her power as both a blessing and a curse, recognizing its ability to protect those she cares about while also fearing its potential to corrupt and destroy. She often expresses that her powers make her wicked, and yet she knows they make her unique. Though she may claim she never chose to be 'special', she would also loathe to become like everyone else. Normalcy would bore her to tears, and threaten to weaken her.

This duality is a constant source of inner conflict for Vanessa. She's acutely aware that her abilities set her apart from others, often leaving her isolated and misunderstood. Her struggle to control and understand the extent of her powers is ongoing, complicated by the prophecy that her power could bring about the end of days—that she is destined to become the 'mother of evil'. After all, she is the reincarnation of the goddess Amunet. This awareness leads to a deep-seated fear of losing control and becoming the very thing she fights against.

Despite these challenges, Vanessa strives to use her abilities for good, often at great personal cost. Her power is intrinsically linked to her identity, shaping her relationships, her faith, and her place in the world.

► Family

For Vanessa, family is not defined by blood but by choice and shared experiences. Her unconventional family unit, including Sir Malcolm Murray (a father figure), Sembene (a brotherly guardian), Ethan Chandler (a protector and potential love interest), and Victor Frankenstein (a kindred spirit in feeling out of place), provides her with a sense of belonging she's long been denied. This chosen family of misfits represents safety, understanding, and acceptance in a world that often fears and misunderstands her.

However, her relationships are complex and often fraught with tension. Her betrayal of her childhood friend Mina Murray (Sir Malcolm's daughter) haunts her, informing her complicated interactions with Sir Malcolm and coloring her view of family bonds. Vanessa has also learned that even acceptance through love has its limits for others, when Ethan condemns her decision to act on an old vengeance with a brutal murder. Yet, she would forgive him, or any ‘family’ member, of any crime.

Vanessa's fear of bringing harm to those she loves, or even losing them by loving them too deeply, creates a constant push and pull in her relationships, as she struggles between the desire for closeness and the instinct to protect others from her dangerous world.

Despite this, Vanessa fiercely protects her chosen family, willing to face any danger for their sake. Her longing for genuine connection and her loyalty to those who accept her are defining aspects of her character.

► Death

Vanessa's relationship with death is intimate and complex. She's faced mortality numerous times, both her own and that of those close to her. Death represents both an end and a transition in her world, blurring the lines between life and afterlife. Her experiences with the supernatural have given her a unique perspective on death, seeing it not just as a finality, but sometimes as a gateway to other forms of existence.

This familiarity with death has made Vanessa both more resilient and more aware of the fragility of life. She respects death's power but doesn't always fear it, sometimes seeing it as a potential release from her burdens. However, the deaths of loved ones have left deep scars, fueling her determination to protect those she cares about.

Vanessa's connection to death also manifests in her ability to communicate with the deceased, a power that both comforts and haunts her. This constant proximity to death shapes her worldview, influencing her actions and her understanding of her own mortality.

► Trust

Trust is a precious commodity in Vanessa's world, shaped by her experiences of betrayal and manipulation from both humans and supernatural entities. Her ability to trust has been severely tested by past events, including her betrayal of Mina, the torture she endured in the asylum that her parents placed her in, and the constant threat of possession by dark forces.

As a result, Vanessa has learned to be guarded, often keeping others at arm's length to protect both herself and them. When she does choose to trust, it's a profound and deliberate act, reserved for those who have proven their loyalty through shared trials and tribulations. Vanessa views trust as a necessary risk in forming meaningful connections, but also as a potential weakness that can be exploited by her enemies. This cautious approach to trust extends to her relationships with her chosen family, as well as to love interests.

Vanessa's struggle with trust is also internal; she often grapples with trusting herself and her own instincts, particularly when it comes to controlling her darker tendencies or powers. This takes the form of a well-constructed mask around most people, and it can convince others that she is cold at times, even brutal or cruel.

There are moments when she trusts herself least of all, her capability for self-control, yet there are other times when the faith in her own power is unwavering. Especially when faced with the doubt of others. She knows what she is and what her motivations are. But can she trust them?

Despite these challenges, Vanessa's capacity for trust, when given, is deep and unwavering, forming the foundation of her strongest relationships.

► Monsters

Monsters are a complex and multifaceted concept for Vanessa, shaped by her experiences with both supernatural creatures and human cruelty. Having faced external monsters such as vampires and witches, as well as her own inner demons, Vanessa understands that the line between monster and man is often blurred. She sees monstrosity not just in physical form, but in actions and intentions, recognizing that humans can be as monstrous as any supernatural creature.

This perspective is informed by her experiences in the asylum, where the medical staff inflicted great suffering upon her. Conversely, Vanessa has also encountered supernatural beings capable of compassion and humanity, further complicating her view of what constitutes a monster.

She often grapples with the fear of being a monster herself, of desiring it, given her dark potential and the prophecies surrounding her. In contrast to her empathy, she can become a terrifying thing when acting out of spite or vengeance, and she wonders what is 'too far' anymore? This fear influences her actions and relationships, as she constantly strives to maintain her humanity in the face of her dark nature.

Vanessa's nuanced view of monstrosity informs her interactions with both the supernatural and human worlds, allowing her to approach even the most frightening situations with a degree of empathy and understanding. Her ability to see beyond surface appearances and recognize the complexity in all beings is one of her greatest strengths, but also a source of ongoing internal conflict.

Roommates?: I would prefer one roommate (for now), unless the mods spot interesting threesome potential.

Triggers/sensitive topics you'd like to avoid?: N/A

RP SAMPLES: The TDM threads are pretty short because I wasted time waffling on CRAU or not (which I then decided not midway, & let the tag partners know). I included a log thread from her time in the City so you can better see her in conflict.

► TDM network
► TDM log thread
► City log