Character's full name: Lana Than
Alias/ Nickname/ Code name: See-er
Gender: Female
Age: 28
Date of Birth: October 13th 1985
Birthplace/ Home/ Place of origin:Toronto
Nationality: Dual citizenship (American Father, Canadian Mother)
Ethnicity/ Cultural Heritage: Caucasian with Irish (Mother) and Greek (Father) Background
Appearance Hair color and style: Medium length red
Skin Tone: Very pale with freckles
Eye Color: Deep brownish red, very large
Height:5’9”
Build:Lean and wirery
Visible mutation: When her mutation is actively engaged, her eyes cloud over slightly.
Scars/ Tattoos/ Piercings: Her sister’s name “Laura” in script on her inside left bicep
Other features: Can look younger than she is because of the freckles and dainty appearance.
Everyday clothing style: Still slightly professional, Lana doesn’t do casual well. She prefers form fitting clothing that is tailored, with layers, and many accessories. She wears a lot of green.
Uniform: When working, Lana opts for the female blazer and skirt, pant suit, or professional looking dress. Typically in solid black, gray, or pale green.
Sleepwear: vintage rock band t-shirts. Sleeping is the only time in which Lana allows herself to appear unkept.
Miscellaneous clothing: Lana enjoys working out at the indoor and outdoor gyms. She usually wears designer athletic gear.
Character Personality: Lana is very bright and often makes observations out loud without giving the context to her thoughts. This can make her come off a bit odd during a first impression. Some might see her as scatter brained woman, but depending on the topic she may also seem a bit rude. Because Lana is constantly fighting for access to her own thoughts and blocking out her mutation- she’s very sensitive to the fact she comes off abrupt or even a bit crazy. She doesn’t like that she’s bad at first impressions but hasn’t quite figured out a way around it yet. Once she moves beyond the first impression, Lana is the type of person who will be loyal and kind, but still mark out clear boundaries and address shortcomings.
Lana can empathise with people on an emotional level, even if her communications skills don’t always show it. She has a great drive for justice and is able to put her mind in difficult situations without adopting bad characteristics into her personality. This has made her strong in her career.
People often misjudge Lana because of her sometimes incoherent social skills, clinical attitude, and young appearance. She’s able to use this to disarm people she might need to interview or get information from.
Hobbies/ Interests:Job or part time job and description: Lana in a criminal psychologist who specializes in profiling.
Fears/ phobias/ concerns: Lana has Thanatophobia- a fear of death. Most people have a healthy fear of death and it does not disrupt their normal lives. Lana however is awoken by night terrors, can have random panic attacks without warning, terrible insomnia, and finds it hard not to think about death several times a day. She works hard to control it, but her biggest fear is that there is no after life, the loss of control a person feels when dying, and the potential for pain.
Deep down, Lana is also scared that she really isn’t a mutant, and is really just crazy.
Special talents: Lana is very bright and intuitive, she has a strong memory, and is good at analyzing behaviour.
Morality Good/ bad/ neutral/ other: Lana is good in the sense that she thrives on justice. It’s very important to her to see justice. She sees justice as a balance, that usually lines up with the law but not always. She sticks very close to the law but will break small ones if she feels they are in the way of justice. She is good at separating justice from vengeance.
Mutations Mutation description:To put it frankly, Lana sees dead people. It happened when her sister Laura, died. Laura was adapted and did not know it, so for the duration of her life being close to her sister kept Lana from experiencing her mutation. Lana did have a few minor experiences throughout Laura’s lifetime but did not know enough to know what they were. The odd traumatizing experience was written off as a bad dream or overactive imagination by her parents.
When Laura died (more on that in the history section) the full force of Lana’s power hit her, and it caused her to have a mental break down. She spent time in an institution for youth with schizophrenia until a doctor decided to do genetic testing and realized she was a mutant. Whether Lana is actually seeing real dead people (spirits) or some sort of her own internal projection remained to be seen, by through therapy, medication (for sleep and anxiety) Lana learned to tune out what she saw.
All except Laura. Since Laura’s death, her ‘spirit’ has been following Lana around, offering advice, pointing things out, and generally annoying Lana who has now spent years with a ghostly Laura, that never ages, and no one else can see, by her side.
Laura seems to be the only 'spirit' that can actively follow Lana around and appear wherever Lana is. Lana does not know why this is yet- but assumes it's because they have a personal connection. She has not experienced it yet but figures other spirits may be able to follow her around if she had personal connections with them when they were living too. Otherwise, most spirits are tied to their location.
The location typically has some sort of significance. A place the spirit visited when they were alive, the place where they died, or a place of a traumatic event. Lana can see spirits literally everywhere, but she has no control over it, and when and where she sees them is typically determined by how strong the spirit or their impression on a place is. She can't conjure up spirits like a medium. She doesn't use any specific tools. Sometimes she may see a spirit and because they aren't doing anything abnormal- she may not even know they are dead.
The only way Lana can block out the spirits is by being in the general vicinity of an adapted, or by having a psychic mutant use their powers on her. In the past she's had roommates that would put physic barriers in her mind so she could sleep, but Lana's power is strong and the barriers wouldn't last more than one night. Occasionally she has found human trinkets that help dispel the spirits. She does not believe in superstition, but also can't explain why putting Iron through a 'ghost' makes it 'go away'. She frequently tried charms out, but doesn't often hold any hope of them working.
Strengths:You wouldn’t think that seeing dead people would have any advantages, but in her role as a profiler Lana is often asked to examine crime scenes. Sometimes she can see tableaus play out of the dead spirits, or even the occasional spirit will talk to her. Obviously, she can’t tell this to the police but it can often assist her in profiling the criminal.
Weaknesses and Limitations:It drives her crazy and is likely one of the direct causes of her death fear. Lana still isn’t sure if what she is experiencing really is a mutation, or if she is hallucinating. She has come to accept that it will never go away, but there is the constant question in the back of her mind as to whether these “spirits” are real and there is an afterlife, or her mutation simply consists of messing around with her brain.
In addition, Lana can’t typically choose when it works or how. Sometimes she will get flashes, often a ‘spirit’ is fixed in a location, sometimes they won’t leave her alone, and they *always* have their own agenda. It’s not like the movies where a ghost shows up and has unfinished business. The ‘spirits’ Lana encounters are every bit as capable of lying and misleading her.
Though it has never happened, Lana is afraid that if the ‘spirits’ are real, they may possess her as well.
Physical Abilities General Physical Capabilities: Lana is an average, fit woman, with the capabilities you’d expect of someone who frequently exercises but does it for health and not the ability to fight.
Fighting Style: NA
Fighting Style Pros/Cons: NA
History Of Your CharacterLana lived a normal life with her parents and sister in Toronto until her sister died. Laura was 16 when she died, being hit by a drunk driver. Lana was 12 when she started seeing dead people. One of them was Lara.
After 6 months of Lana talking to people they couldn’t see, telling them all about Laura, and frequent night terrors, Lana’s parents sought professional help for their daughter. By the time she turned 13 Lana was institutionalized for schizophrenia. In reality, Lana’s mutation likely came on a few years before puberty, but her sister was adapted (something her dead sister explained years later when the term started to become used) and kept Lana’s abilities suppressed.
By the time she had been in the youth hospital off and on for nearly 2 years, Lana had a mutant doctor. Not only was the doctor a mutant but he also specialized in gene history. He’d come to work at the facility to do research for a paper when he met Lana, and quickly realized she didn’t fit the normal diagnostics for schizophrenia. He began running his own tests. For one of the tests he held up cards with their back to Lana, and asked her to ask Laura what the cards were. Lana didn’t make a single mistake. Whether or not Lana was actually speaking to her dead sister, or was using some other psychic mutation that her coping system had projected- the doctor wasn’t sure. But after gene mapping her, it was clear Lana was a mutant.
Lana’s doctor spent the next 6 months rehabilitating her to assimilate back into the real world. During that time Lana asked him many questions about being a doctor. The help he had given her really inspired her to work hard, and eventually to become a psychologist herself. The drive to criminal psychology came from the long left injustice of her sister’s death- one which had no driver known to be able to prosecute.
Lana returned home on her 16th birthday with new coping skills for her abilities. Her doctor advocated to her parents on her behalf, and explained that she was not crazy. Her parents weren’t sure what to do. Losing their first daughter had ruined them, but having Lana institutionalized has crushed their spirit. They were planning all this time how to handle a mentally ill child- they weren’t prepared for a mutant. Mutants had been on the tv. There had been a war on mutants years ago. Mutants brought trouble. They weren’t ready for that.
At 18 Lana moved out and decided to make use of her dual citizenship with the USA and moved to L.A. to begin her education. She graduated top of her class, and worked for a few years in clinical psychology before making the leap to criminal. No matter where she lived, part of Lana’s coping plan was to always live with either a mutant who could help her control her power, or an adapted. Because Lana met so many people through her work, she was often able to find long term roommates. Her roommates often became long time friends.
Lana never had any serious relationships, but often dated for a distraction. If anything, first dates were great practice for her profiling skills. But sooner or later she’d move on when some dead relative would come calling and ask to relay a message. Lana never liked playing messenger, and even worse she hated explaining her ability on the first date.
Currently Lana has accepted a job with the F.B.I and will be based in New York with some outside consulting work with the local mental hospital for the criminally insane, and the NYPD. She jumped at the chance to take the job even though it meant finding a roommate all over again, because she’d heard so much about the mutant school. Lana had good and happy experiences with the mutants she’d lived with, worked with, and known. They helped her feel normal and stay grounded, and with a school with the reputation of this one- she was sure she’d be able to create a support network to help her cope.
RoleplayWhere did you learn about this site?: I am an old long term member who left, came back, left, came back and made a new character, and then left. Life got super busy, super-fast. But life has changed! So I’m trying again
Do you have any other characters on MRO, if so who: I am not currently playing any of my old characters, but for those who might remember I had Raina, Naveed, and Lumen
Sample RP: “
So, you’re really going to do this then?” came Laura’s voice, out of nowhere.
Lana sighed and literally walked through the grayscale apparition of her sister- still frozen as a teen- to reach her dresser. “
For the last time, yes. It’s a good opportunity for advancement.” She explained, emptying the contents of the dresser onto the bed. “
…and for the millionth time, can you please at least say ‘hello’..?”
“
Sorry sis.” Grinned Laura who appeared to now be ‘sitting’ on the edge of the bed. “
I might be stuck as a teenager, but I’m still your big sister. I’m worried.”
“
Well then, maybe you should move on to whatever is next- the pearly gates and what not.” Quipped Lana. This was how it always went. Laura gave unsolicited advice and Lana complained about having a ghostly sister who could show up whenever she wanted. The truth was, Lana didn’t ever want Laura to move on- as annoying as she could be. Lana wasn't sure there was anything else to move onto. Laura made her feel crazy, and was a constant reminder of her powers. But who wouldn’t choose to have a person in their life who was stolen away- if given the chance?
“
What’s the coping plan?” Laura asked. “
How’s the roommate front?”
“
I’ve already got ads on craigslist.” Answered Lana, placing the belongings on the bed into a brown suit case. “
Just the usual subtle hints at adapted. I think it would be easier to live with another power cancel out-er.” Lana grinned. “
I feel bad asking mutants to use their powers around me. At least an adapted just.. well.. is. Plus, Tina worked out well.”
“
She was nice.” Agreed Laura- referencing Lana’s most recent roommate. “
So you’re going to help catch some bad guys, and talk to the crazy ones in jail.” Remarked Laura.
“
They might not all be crazy,” replied Lana sitting on the edge of the bed looking up at her now floating sister. “
I keep thinking about what was done to me. Maybe I can do that for someone else. Sometimes you get people who aren’t sick. It really is a mutation. But it’s driven them crazy. I remember the guy who cut off his own arm because it was burning. He was in the mental ward screaming about it, and then his arm that they’d brought in burst into flames. He wasn’t so crazy after all. Had some sort of pyromacy ability just looking to rear its ugly mutated head.”
“
Do you really think you’ll find people like that?” teased Laura.
Lana shrugged. “
It keeps things interesting.” She turned to her bookshelf and plucked the few true crime novels, the odd chick-lit, and single biography to pack. “
Besides, I have you to look out for me.”
“
You mean I do all the work.” Replied Laura, rolling her eyes. “
At least half of your cases have my input, and nearly all involving murders you use your… ‘gift’…”
“
I’m trying to make a difference in the world. I want to bring the bad guys to justice, and I want to help the sick ones.” Admitted Lana.
“
A regular superhero. We should find you some spandex.” And just like that, Laura was gone. She frequently came and went without warning.
Lana reached into her bed side table and pulled out a worn note book. She flipped it open to the first unused page and scribbled the date, time, and duration of her chat with Laura. She always did this- religiously, and she’d often go back and compare the notes. She was stressed this week, and Laura was ‘visiting’ her more than usual. She’d also seen an elderly woman, a cancer patient, an abandoned child, and witnessed a suicide- all ghostly- in this week alone. “
Stress.” She murmured, wondering if this really was a “gift” or her body simply sending out the red flags. Lana twisted her mouth into a grimace. In the back of the note book was a folded and well-worn piece of paper. She pulled it out and smoothed it in her lap. It was 12 years old- an old medical form- that said she had the mutant gene. Some days she just needed to look at it.
