Velma Kelly (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
hotelcicero) wrote2014-02-05 08:52 am
hotelcicero) wrote2014-02-05 08:52 am
(no subject)
OUT of CHARACTER
Name: Stacey
Other characters: Mouse
IN CHARACTER
Name: Velma Kelly
Fandom: Chicago
Canon point/AU: Victor AU (District 8)
Journal:hotelcicero
PB: Catherine Zeta-Jones
History:
As a note, Velma is 33 years old. As she won when she was 17, it has been 16 years since her victory.
Canon history.
AU history:
Velma and Veronica Kelly were born to a pair of well known designers/tailors in district 8. From a young age, both of the siblings fell in love with the extravagant fashions and fabrics their district produced for the Capitol, becoming increasingly disgusted and discouraged by their birth place as they grew older and entered the workforce themselves. While many in the district loathed the Capitol for forcing them to live in such squalor, the relatively (slightly) better off pair instead stared with dreamy eyes at the designs their parents produced, dreaming of one day taking their place among the extravagance and beauty of the wealthy. The pair of them over the years slowly stockpiled a small collection of pinched fine fabrics from work, hoarding them away to make their own glamorous outfits in secret.
Following the death of her parents due to disease, during her mid-teenage years Velma fell in love with a local boy named Charlie, and the three of them (with Veronica completing the trio) became essentially inseparable. Charlie and Velma became engaged, the pair of them both dreaming of becoming talented enough designers to earn at least an occasional trip to the Capitol to display their work. Velma though, while playing content, found it hard to be satisfied with such a simple reality when her dreams were of the wonders of the Capitol. So she starting looking for a little adventure on the side. The lead to her entering into a secret affair with one of the local Peacekeepers named Billy. While not a wealthy man himself, he matched Velma in ambitions, talking about how once he had done his time in the districts he’d work his way up the political ladder in his home city, the Capitol.
Her own indiscretions, however, didn’t mean Velma felt any pity when she stumbled in on Veronica and Charlie locked in a passionate embrace when she was 17. Enraged, Velma grabbed a pair of tailor shears and ended the lives of the two young lovers. Regret for this action only occurred when she realized she was covered in blood and, therefore, certain of being caught for her crime. Thinking on her feet, Velma rushed to Billy, promising to give him the little wealth her family possessed if he could get her off the hook. Billy, being just about as much of a heartless wretch as Velma, convinced her the only way to escape the public shaming and execution such a crime would bring would be to volunteer as tribute during the upcoming reaping for the Hunger Games. If nothing else, he reasoned, she’d get to see the Capitol before she died.
So it was Velma entered the Hunger Games. Skilled in charming her audience, gymnastics, and camouflage, Velma relied mostly on hiding and playing on the sympathy of wealthy patrons and male tributes to become the surprise victor. With Billy having set it up to make it appear her fiancee and sister died in a ‘tragic factory accident’ just before the reaping, Velma made sure she played this up during her interviews. Velma claimed their deaths inspired her to volunteer as tribute, her one wish being to earn a victory for district 8 in their loving memory.
Following her victory, Velma was not content to return to poverty stricken district of her birth, instead using her charms to become a ‘kept woman’ of various politicians and wealthy Capitol citizens, as well as occasionally performing her ‘victor hobby’ of singing and dancing for the masses. She has mostly managed to avoid taking her roles as a mentor seriously (ooc note: mostly doing this to excuse why she hasn’t been around since game open), choosing to send money on behalf of various wealthy patrons and frequent the talk show circuits instead. Until recently, that is, when her latest benefactor passed away. Now, with no back-up sugar daddy in play, Veronica must return to the mentor position. At least until something better becomes available.
Presentation:
Velma’s presentation is whatever it needs to be to get what she wants. Generally speaking, she has dramatically different presentations on and off camera. When ‘on camera,’ either literally or around people she thinks can do things for her, Velma is charming, witty, and, when called for, vulnerable. She can cry on cue just as easily as she can smile and flirt. Overall, she still comes off as a highly confident and capable woman no matter what, but always with a small touch of weakness that she believes men just love. Everyone is the hero of their own story, after all, and when called upon Velma is more than happy to play the rescued damsel so some wealthy man in the Capitol can feel as though he’s done his bit of good for the year by helping her. This Velma is also incredibly willing to use her sexuality, tailoring her own clothing to just give the tiniest provocative peaks and ‘wardrobe malfunctions’ at the right moment.
Off camera Velma, or the Velma that people she doesn’t see as advantageous see, is a different story. The confidence and wit is still there, certainly, but the vulnerability is gone. This Velma is ruthless, bloodthirsty, and willing to show it. She fought hard for her position in life, and when faced by any worthless upstart that wants to try to claw their way into her patch of sunlight Velma is fast to lash out, undermining them both verbally and, if called for, through her actions. Other mentors likely very often see this side, as Velma needs wealthy people willing to help her and her district, not other broken survivors, in her corner.
People can easily switch between what Velma considers useful or not, however. So a person that she was nothing but cruel to previously, once she sees they can be of some use to her, will suddenly be treated like a long time friend with soft smiles and in-jokes thrown in to try to pull them under Velma’s influence. Velma’s pride is strong, she may privately sulk over someone she used to hate suddenly being needed, but her practical side wins out. Velma will be willing to team up with her previous worst enemy if that will advance her own goals and well-being.
Motivations: Convoluted as the outside is, Velma’s motivations are pretty well outlined by her behavior. Velma Kelly is out for number one, and she makes no excuses about it. She sees the world as a game to be played, a competition to be won. Really, it could almost be said that Velma never left the hunger games. It’s up to a tribute to win sponsors, form temporary alliances, then turn on those allies at the most advantageous moment, and it is through that method that Velma continues to live. She doesn’t feel the least bit guilty about that fact. When it’s her or them, Velma will always pick her. More than that, she expects everyone else is operating under the same principle, making any potential guilt even easier to brush off.
Despite her viciousness, it should be very much noted Velma is very capable of fear. When plans don’t work out her way, when pawns she has put into play start breaking free of her hold, Velma is fairly quick to become frightened. More than anything, Velma wants to live. And almost more than that, she wants to live in style. Returning to be some factory worker in district 8 would be the same as dying to her, and Velma will do anything and everything needed to avoid that fate. She’d rather live as a pet in the Capitol than survive as a drone in the districts.
Setting: As an AU, Velma is used to it. The political, blood-thirsty nature of the Hunger Games and the Capitol in general are her bread and butter.
SAMPLES
First Person Thread:
[Good thing Velma Kelly is always perfectly styled. She’s curled up in a plush chair, feet tucked up under her legs with just a hint of upper thigh showing from under the edge of her black dress. Hair perfect, lips red, cigarette in hand. Velma is ready for her interview.]
What do I think? Honey, when I look at these new tributes I wonder just one thing: what ever happened to pride? You know what I mean, don’t you?
[She smiles into the camera, pausing just long enough to knock a little ash off her cigarette before continuing]
Pride in your district, pride in your work, the pride of representing all of Panem. Because that’s what the Hunger Games are, darling. They’re us. Our will to survive, our passion. Or it was, anyway. Now what do we have? Little sideshows with no real panache. Amateurs going through the motions.
[She pauses for a brief moment, then laughs, smiling at the screen like they’re all in on the same shared joke]
Not that I’m not watching, of course. It’s a swell little switch up. For now. It only brings a tear to my eye thinking of all those kids across the districts just waiting for their turn to shine.
Prose:
She blew a kiss when she entered the room. Aimed straight at the judging panel, the wave of her hand accompanied by a small, smirked smile on her lips and a swagger in her step. New rules, they’d said. A return of former champs against the new blood. Wasn’t that a laugh? So many years living the high life for it to end like this.
But, no. She wouldn’t let those kinds of thoughts take root. No matter how her heart might pounding, her palms sweating, Velma’s expression remained cocky, smile sure, make-up perfectly in place under the spotlight. She’d won it the last time. These new kids might be wise to her tricks now, but the old girl still had a shocker or two up her sleeve. Sponsors to call up, crowds to sob and swoon and flirt at. An army of support no two-bit imported talent could hope to come close to.
So she placed one perfectly manicured hand on her hip as she finally reached the center of her stage, raising one eyebrow and slipping just an edge of teasing into her smile as the audience shifted their full attention from the food and on to her.
Showtime.
“Okay boys, keep your socks up. ‘Cause you ain't seen nothing yet.”
What is your character scored: 9. She’s athletic and knows how to play to a crowd.
Additional information:
Past victor: Velma took part in an arctic arena, one where most of the tributes froze to death in the first few weeks. Thanks to her knowledge of fabrics and insulation, she managed to survive in the harsh tundra, and occasionally claimed an outright murder over a half-frozen tribute. As mentioned in her history, since her victory Velma has worked hard to be ‘bid on’ by various Capitol men, doing her very best to be kept as a bit of arm candy by whomever would have her.
Past victor AU: District 8. Velma hates her home district. Whatever small nostalgia she may have had the potential to hold was crushed when she killed her sister and fiance and fled to the Hunger Games. As far as the world is concerned, she avoids returning there as much as possible to avoid ‘the pain’ of being where her dearest loved ones died in such a tragic accident.
Hunger Games AU and OC: Velma would actually be entertained to see some alternate version of herself in the games- mostly because it would get her back into the spotlight herself.
Name: Stacey
Other characters: Mouse
IN CHARACTER
Name: Velma Kelly
Fandom: Chicago
Canon point/AU: Victor AU (District 8)
Journal:
hotelciceroPB: Catherine Zeta-Jones
History:
As a note, Velma is 33 years old. As she won when she was 17, it has been 16 years since her victory.
Canon history.
AU history:
Velma and Veronica Kelly were born to a pair of well known designers/tailors in district 8. From a young age, both of the siblings fell in love with the extravagant fashions and fabrics their district produced for the Capitol, becoming increasingly disgusted and discouraged by their birth place as they grew older and entered the workforce themselves. While many in the district loathed the Capitol for forcing them to live in such squalor, the relatively (slightly) better off pair instead stared with dreamy eyes at the designs their parents produced, dreaming of one day taking their place among the extravagance and beauty of the wealthy. The pair of them over the years slowly stockpiled a small collection of pinched fine fabrics from work, hoarding them away to make their own glamorous outfits in secret.
Following the death of her parents due to disease, during her mid-teenage years Velma fell in love with a local boy named Charlie, and the three of them (with Veronica completing the trio) became essentially inseparable. Charlie and Velma became engaged, the pair of them both dreaming of becoming talented enough designers to earn at least an occasional trip to the Capitol to display their work. Velma though, while playing content, found it hard to be satisfied with such a simple reality when her dreams were of the wonders of the Capitol. So she starting looking for a little adventure on the side. The lead to her entering into a secret affair with one of the local Peacekeepers named Billy. While not a wealthy man himself, he matched Velma in ambitions, talking about how once he had done his time in the districts he’d work his way up the political ladder in his home city, the Capitol.
Her own indiscretions, however, didn’t mean Velma felt any pity when she stumbled in on Veronica and Charlie locked in a passionate embrace when she was 17. Enraged, Velma grabbed a pair of tailor shears and ended the lives of the two young lovers. Regret for this action only occurred when she realized she was covered in blood and, therefore, certain of being caught for her crime. Thinking on her feet, Velma rushed to Billy, promising to give him the little wealth her family possessed if he could get her off the hook. Billy, being just about as much of a heartless wretch as Velma, convinced her the only way to escape the public shaming and execution such a crime would bring would be to volunteer as tribute during the upcoming reaping for the Hunger Games. If nothing else, he reasoned, she’d get to see the Capitol before she died.
So it was Velma entered the Hunger Games. Skilled in charming her audience, gymnastics, and camouflage, Velma relied mostly on hiding and playing on the sympathy of wealthy patrons and male tributes to become the surprise victor. With Billy having set it up to make it appear her fiancee and sister died in a ‘tragic factory accident’ just before the reaping, Velma made sure she played this up during her interviews. Velma claimed their deaths inspired her to volunteer as tribute, her one wish being to earn a victory for district 8 in their loving memory.
Following her victory, Velma was not content to return to poverty stricken district of her birth, instead using her charms to become a ‘kept woman’ of various politicians and wealthy Capitol citizens, as well as occasionally performing her ‘victor hobby’ of singing and dancing for the masses. She has mostly managed to avoid taking her roles as a mentor seriously (ooc note: mostly doing this to excuse why she hasn’t been around since game open), choosing to send money on behalf of various wealthy patrons and frequent the talk show circuits instead. Until recently, that is, when her latest benefactor passed away. Now, with no back-up sugar daddy in play, Veronica must return to the mentor position. At least until something better becomes available.
Presentation:
Velma’s presentation is whatever it needs to be to get what she wants. Generally speaking, she has dramatically different presentations on and off camera. When ‘on camera,’ either literally or around people she thinks can do things for her, Velma is charming, witty, and, when called for, vulnerable. She can cry on cue just as easily as she can smile and flirt. Overall, she still comes off as a highly confident and capable woman no matter what, but always with a small touch of weakness that she believes men just love. Everyone is the hero of their own story, after all, and when called upon Velma is more than happy to play the rescued damsel so some wealthy man in the Capitol can feel as though he’s done his bit of good for the year by helping her. This Velma is also incredibly willing to use her sexuality, tailoring her own clothing to just give the tiniest provocative peaks and ‘wardrobe malfunctions’ at the right moment.
Off camera Velma, or the Velma that people she doesn’t see as advantageous see, is a different story. The confidence and wit is still there, certainly, but the vulnerability is gone. This Velma is ruthless, bloodthirsty, and willing to show it. She fought hard for her position in life, and when faced by any worthless upstart that wants to try to claw their way into her patch of sunlight Velma is fast to lash out, undermining them both verbally and, if called for, through her actions. Other mentors likely very often see this side, as Velma needs wealthy people willing to help her and her district, not other broken survivors, in her corner.
People can easily switch between what Velma considers useful or not, however. So a person that she was nothing but cruel to previously, once she sees they can be of some use to her, will suddenly be treated like a long time friend with soft smiles and in-jokes thrown in to try to pull them under Velma’s influence. Velma’s pride is strong, she may privately sulk over someone she used to hate suddenly being needed, but her practical side wins out. Velma will be willing to team up with her previous worst enemy if that will advance her own goals and well-being.
Motivations: Convoluted as the outside is, Velma’s motivations are pretty well outlined by her behavior. Velma Kelly is out for number one, and she makes no excuses about it. She sees the world as a game to be played, a competition to be won. Really, it could almost be said that Velma never left the hunger games. It’s up to a tribute to win sponsors, form temporary alliances, then turn on those allies at the most advantageous moment, and it is through that method that Velma continues to live. She doesn’t feel the least bit guilty about that fact. When it’s her or them, Velma will always pick her. More than that, she expects everyone else is operating under the same principle, making any potential guilt even easier to brush off.
Despite her viciousness, it should be very much noted Velma is very capable of fear. When plans don’t work out her way, when pawns she has put into play start breaking free of her hold, Velma is fairly quick to become frightened. More than anything, Velma wants to live. And almost more than that, she wants to live in style. Returning to be some factory worker in district 8 would be the same as dying to her, and Velma will do anything and everything needed to avoid that fate. She’d rather live as a pet in the Capitol than survive as a drone in the districts.
Setting: As an AU, Velma is used to it. The political, blood-thirsty nature of the Hunger Games and the Capitol in general are her bread and butter.
SAMPLES
First Person Thread:
[Good thing Velma Kelly is always perfectly styled. She’s curled up in a plush chair, feet tucked up under her legs with just a hint of upper thigh showing from under the edge of her black dress. Hair perfect, lips red, cigarette in hand. Velma is ready for her interview.]
What do I think? Honey, when I look at these new tributes I wonder just one thing: what ever happened to pride? You know what I mean, don’t you?
[She smiles into the camera, pausing just long enough to knock a little ash off her cigarette before continuing]
Pride in your district, pride in your work, the pride of representing all of Panem. Because that’s what the Hunger Games are, darling. They’re us. Our will to survive, our passion. Or it was, anyway. Now what do we have? Little sideshows with no real panache. Amateurs going through the motions.
[She pauses for a brief moment, then laughs, smiling at the screen like they’re all in on the same shared joke]
Not that I’m not watching, of course. It’s a swell little switch up. For now. It only brings a tear to my eye thinking of all those kids across the districts just waiting for their turn to shine.
Prose:
She blew a kiss when she entered the room. Aimed straight at the judging panel, the wave of her hand accompanied by a small, smirked smile on her lips and a swagger in her step. New rules, they’d said. A return of former champs against the new blood. Wasn’t that a laugh? So many years living the high life for it to end like this.
But, no. She wouldn’t let those kinds of thoughts take root. No matter how her heart might pounding, her palms sweating, Velma’s expression remained cocky, smile sure, make-up perfectly in place under the spotlight. She’d won it the last time. These new kids might be wise to her tricks now, but the old girl still had a shocker or two up her sleeve. Sponsors to call up, crowds to sob and swoon and flirt at. An army of support no two-bit imported talent could hope to come close to.
So she placed one perfectly manicured hand on her hip as she finally reached the center of her stage, raising one eyebrow and slipping just an edge of teasing into her smile as the audience shifted their full attention from the food and on to her.
Showtime.
“Okay boys, keep your socks up. ‘Cause you ain't seen nothing yet.”
What is your character scored: 9. She’s athletic and knows how to play to a crowd.
Additional information:
Past victor: Velma took part in an arctic arena, one where most of the tributes froze to death in the first few weeks. Thanks to her knowledge of fabrics and insulation, she managed to survive in the harsh tundra, and occasionally claimed an outright murder over a half-frozen tribute. As mentioned in her history, since her victory Velma has worked hard to be ‘bid on’ by various Capitol men, doing her very best to be kept as a bit of arm candy by whomever would have her.
Past victor AU: District 8. Velma hates her home district. Whatever small nostalgia she may have had the potential to hold was crushed when she killed her sister and fiance and fled to the Hunger Games. As far as the world is concerned, she avoids returning there as much as possible to avoid ‘the pain’ of being where her dearest loved ones died in such a tragic accident.
Hunger Games AU and OC: Velma would actually be entertained to see some alternate version of herself in the games- mostly because it would get her back into the spotlight herself.