Shy Lafournier

Shy Lafournier had a rather boring childhood, at least compared to most people living in Paragon. Her father was a professor at Steel Canyon University, her mother worked evenings at a small art gallery, and spent the days at home with Shy as she was homeschooled. Shy was an only child, and due to the lack of social interaction, she quickly became an introvert. She was also something awkward to look at; short, underweight, clumsy, covered in freckles and sporting a small gap between her teeth after her braces were removed at age twelve.

Social anxiety played a huge part in her life, as well. Her parents came to realize that, by sheltering Shy, they were only doing damage. Enrolling her in social events like sports usually wound up with Shy having an anxiety attack or getting injured. No doubt this little experiment was short lived.

Shyla's parents grew desperate. It got to the point that Shy flat-out refused to try anymore social events, musical, sporting or otherwise.

The next course of action? Therpy and medication. Lots of it.

Videogames, videogames, videogames. Aside from study, that's all that Shyla did. It was so much easier to become someone else. Someone strong, bold, beautiful. Someone who made a difference in the world. Admittedly, this where Shy's mind was most of the time. Imagining epic adventures about the tall, gorgeous gun-toting sword-weilding characters she'd created... and, of course, the occasional daydream about romantic rendezvous. She'd never admit it, though.

It became commonplace for Shy to tote her laptop and other electronics with her wherever she went. It became something of a security blanket, even to the point that she'd get anxious if she didn't have access to them.

"Be careful what you wish for", so the saying goes. Shy had always believed in fate. She believed that what was meant to happen would happen, regardless of what you did to try and sway the powers of the universe.

This belief didn't prevent her from being totally shocked when one of her dreams came true.

The memory of her bonding with the Warshade is fuzzy at best. The rain poured down on Steel Canyon. Droplets pounded the pavement seemingly as hard as the heart in her chest as she booked it to the Steel U library. It had been something of a morning for Shy. She'd slept in, spilled OJ on her shirt, stubbed her toe and barely managed to have a couple minutes worth of a shower with no hot-water. It was indeed "one of those days." As she rounded the final corner before hitting the campus, a sudden gust of wind turned her umbrella inside-out. Books and papers were flung every which way, quickly becoming soaked. In the mess of it all, Shy tripped over her own feet and stumbled into the road. The car in the oncoming lane skidded to a stop, but not soon enough.

The petite girl was thrown twenty or so feet, arm broken in three different places. Blood ran from her facial orifices and mixed with the rainwater as it pooled in a dark, oddly shaped halo about her unconcious head. As people waited for the ambulance to arrive, hopes quickly sank of the girl's recovery. Her breathing was shallow, heartbeat weak and sporratic. Shy's normally faintly rouged cheeks were replaced by a sickly white as she clung to life with everything she had. Cue the Warshade, and not a moment too soon.

The frail girl awoke in a hospital bed several hours later. Her left forearm sported a new cast, and her head throbbed so hard it made her ears ring. Several IV tubes protruded from her frail arms connected to various drips. She just felt... strange. It could have been the morphine, but the pieces slowly started to fall together. Her parents and a nurse stood at her bedside discussing something that Shy couldn't quite hear, but she could tell from the tone it was serious.

"Where am I..?" she'd mumbled to the doctor. "The medical facility in Atlas Park." the doctor replied. "But... that's for Supers." The doctor simply nodded. It all became abruptly clear what had happened.

Thus began Shy's life as the unlikely hero.

The changes to Shy's personality were plain as day, but even moreso when she was out of the hospital and not continiously medicated. She became slightly more adventurous, not -quite- so anti-social. But the biggest change for her was her temperment. She had always been quiet, polite, easy-going, even to a fault. She found herself getting far more easily angered post-meld.

The time came for Shy to take advantage of her Warshade, and off she went to Atlas to sign on the dotted line.

For quite some time, she didn't sport a hero name or even an outfit. But eventually, something within Shy took hold. A dark something. And it started pushing her in directions she never thought she'd see, nevermind get involved in.

Shy despises being called a "Squid."
She has something of a temper.
Shy sometimes argues with her Warshade out loud. It makes her look kind of crazy.
She generally doesn't drink and has never done drugs.
Her hair has been dyed blue since she was about fourteen years old. It's naturally a mousey brown.
Shy loves tea, and drinks several cups a day.
She secretly digs 'bad-boys.'
She has four Sugar Gliders named Eenie, Meenie, Miney, and Moe. She couldn't decide which to buy, so she got all of them!
Shy eats outrageously healthy at home, but indulges on the spicy noodles from the little Asian restaurant next to her apartment almost daily.
Shy is afraid to get tattoos, even though she thinks they're beautiful. Maybe one day!
Shy dislikes girly movies.
Her ears stick out juuuust a little. Her ears were pierced at one point, but she never wears earrings.
She can't swim!
She has a little blue scooter which she uses to get around.
She's terrified of spiders.
Shy originally wanted to be a make-up artist, but... well, frankly, she sucks at it.
Her eyes are actually two different colours; One dark green, one dark blue. You can't tell because of the sparkles, though.
Shy wishes she were taller and curvier!
She dabbles in Wicca and The Arts, but isn't very good at it.

Fox - "Fox is-... He's special. Things were kind of awkward at first, what with me stopping and staring then running away initially. He kills people, which is kinda scary. But it's also kinda hot. I, uhm... I adore him, honestly. There's very few people I know that I'd go to the same lengths for as I would for Fox. You're not gonna tell him I said that, right? ... right?!"

Beat Em Up - "Luke's kind of an oddball. He's got a good heart, though. He's a very passionate person under all that awkward. I really admire him for that. He also plays arcade games and likes dubstep. I just... wish he would stop getting into so many fights. It makes me worry!"

Platformer - "Maxine's a sweet girl. Funny, too. I mean... she thinks life is a video-game, but we all have our faults! I'm glad she has Luke to look after her, and I'd definitely step up to bat if it meant keeping her safe. She makes me worry more than Luke. Do I worry too much?"