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redstringraven · 2 days ago

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⋆｡ﾟPROFILE: Cassia Dubois a tmnt'03 original character

BASIC INFO:

Name: Cassia Alyssa Dubois Nickname: Cassie, “sweet girl” (Esme and Oliver only) Age: 17ish (post-season 4) ; 19ish (present) Gender: trans gal (she/her) Orientation: aromantic asexual (sex neutral) Species: human (3rd Earth) Height: 5’7 (170cm) Eye Color: chestnut brown Hair Color: brunette (dyed bubblegum-pink) Birthday: December 5th, 1987 (sagittarius) Enneagram: 7w8 Voice Claim: Penny Parker (Snapcube on Youtube)

Likes: 70s aesthetic, weird little trinkets, “cursed” memes, nicknames, street art, snickerdoodles

Dislikes: Purple Dragons, triceratons, watching sports (boring!), citrus smells, big dogs (doesn’t like being jumped on or barked at), losing the game

(( biography, personality, & relationships w/ cast under the cut! ))

BIO:

Cassia was born to Oliver and Esme Dubois on December 5th, 1987, after several attempts to carry a child to full term. She had a ‘normal’ and quiet childhood. Oliver’s occupation as a train conductor required him to travel and travel often, so she was primarily raised by her mother after the two decided it would be best for their child to have roots in one place. Despite the demands of his occupation, Oliver took whatever stray time his trips allowed him to find creative little ways to communicate with his wife and child, be it written letters, photos or puzzles or doodles, phone calls during hotel stays--whatever he could do to ensure that, no matter where he was, he was still present in Cassia’s life. Whenever he is in town, best believe the family’s schedules are cleared to maximize their time together.

As Cassia grew, she began to feel detached from the gender she was assigned at birth. While her parents always welcomed her to express herself in the ways that came to her naturally and made her happy, she began to notice the world around her didn’t. She began being bullied or ostracized by peers for being “too girly”, chastised by adults at school for behaving in ways that were “too feminine” and "concerning", finding more and more that when she’d daydream she’d picture herself as a girl among her few friends--all culminating in a breakdown when she was in her early teens. One evening, as Cassia sat in the kitchen doing homework while Esme prepared dinner, she began sobbing. She asked Esme why she had to be born a boy. She didn’t want to be one; she wanted to be a girl--like the few friends she had--be able to do what they could. Esme tried to assure her that who she was, and how she wanted to express herself, was her beautiful choice; that no one got to tell her who she's expected to be. And while Cassia seemed receptive to this, it didn't appear to be enough to stop the tears or pain. Concerned, saddened, and unsure what to do, Esme asked Cassia if she would like to be referred to as her “sweet girl” from then on. The sentiment seemed to work, and, slowly, Cassia calmed down. But as the rest of the night went on, Esme felt this wasn't as simple as a reaction to a bad day.

That evening, after Cassia had gone to bed, Esme and Oliver stayed on the phone long into the night discussing what happened before dinner and the pain their child had expressed. Esme began seeking out a therapist and making regular trips to the library for books to read between clients, and Oliver assisted how he could between stops. A friendly exchange with a passenger drew his attention to New York City’s LGBTQ+ Center and community as well. Slowly, but surely, they began Cassia’s transition process.

Oliver’s mother and brother were more than supportive, but Esme’s side of the family rejected Cassia’s transition. So, Esme rejected them. Cassia continues to have a wonderful relationship with her paternal grandmother and uncle, who love her very much. Cassia chose her new name, and she asked her parents to choose a middle-name for her. They chose ‘Alyssa’, after her paternal grandmother.

For the next few years, life was pretty normal and uneventful. Until it wasn’t.

One night, an alien race that called themselves the Triceraton Republic invaded Earth. Throughout the invasion, Cassia and Esme remained hidden in their apartment, but Oliver had been in the midst of a trip. They lost touch with him and fell into a state of fear and worry, having no way of knowing if he was safe or even alive. It wasn’t until after the triceratons fully abandoned Earth that they were able to contact him. While the family came out the other side unharmed, their sense of security had been severely shaken. Esme, already prone to anxiety and worry, struggled to navigate the weeks Oliver would be traveling. She and Cassia would both have long spells of insomnia throughout his trips that they tried to quell with “camp outs” in the living room, watching movies and sleeping in the comfort of a shared blanket fort around the couch. After a while, they almost allowed themselves to settle back into a semblance of normal...but a new danger began lurking in New York’s shadows.

Esme would hear talk from her clients about missing family members, co-workers or neighbors; children who’d gone missing after school, reports of suspected runaways and sightings of police walking neighborhood blocks. Rumors of strange shapes in alleyways--sickly looking animals. Cassia was asked to either go straight home or to the small salon where Esme worked after school. She was not to stay out past dusk, even with friends. For several weeks, that tension of fear and confusion clouded the household. But, much in the same way as the strange occurrences had begun… they stopped. And New York City grew ‘quiet’ once more.

Nearly a year passed, and Cassia tried once again to settle back into the mundane. News of long trips for her dad still riled a strong sense of anxiety, and she’d catch herself being a little less than bold when it came to city exploration.

It was one evening, while she was out later than expected, covering Purple Dragon tags with images of Kirby, Yoshi, and the Pink Panther, that she got surrounded by a small group of the sleazeballs. She managed to ‘fight off’ two on her own, spraying them in the face with her paint, and she nearly skated away before one managed to grab her hair. But he didn’t have her for long. A figure dropped down from a nearby roof and knocked him out. When she turned to look at the newcomer, Cassia found herself face to beak with a green… alien? creature of some sort. He pleaded for her not to spray him in the face with paint, too, and after a few seconds of tension, Cassia felt an odd sense of familiarity wash over her. He was scared of her—in some small way. She promised not to tell anyone about him (a bit of a white lie, as the moment she got home--and the reality of what had nearly transpired hit her--she burst into tears and told Esme everything, right down to the strange, turtle-like creature that’d had her back), and they went their separate ways.

It'd be another few weeks until Cassia crossed paths with the creature again, this time in the skate-park with his three brothers. She introduced herself (for real this time), and got to learn that her rescuer from that night went by ‘Mikey’. Turns out? He’s pretty groovy. And so are his brothers. Also, they shred?? That's SICK.

Cassia rarely joins the turtles’ on their more adventurous and drastic shenanigans, but she’s become a close and down to Earth friend. Esme has since met Mikey, and opened their home to him and his family should they ever need the escape or comfort.

PERSONALITY:

Bubbly, energetic, and out-going, Cassia has no problem expressing herself and relishes being an open book. If she’s not at school or at home, you’re likely to find her coasting around one of the city’s skate-parks, livening up a space with some creative street art, or at her favorite diner in a booth by a big bright window. Much of her street art involves pop-culture characters, with heavy influences of 60s and 70s bright colors and rounded shapes. If a space permits her to wear her skates, you can almost always expect to see her wearing her favorite pair of mint green roller skates with pink wheels and LED lights (her "watermelon wheels", if you will). Along with her trusty skates, she always carries a silly little backpack or satchel-purse with a few cans of spray-paint, chalk, and a pair of sneakers.

On top of being social, Cassia can be very physically affectionate. She’ll hold your hand or hug your arm while walking places with you (unless you express discomfort with this, of course), and she tends to grab arms, shoulders, or hands when excited and expressing joy. Sometimes she’ll gleefully drum her palms against your back or shoulders (or in the turtles' case, their shells). She’s aware that she can be overwhelming for more withdrawn or introverted personalities, and she does try to adjust her energy and volume levels when in the presence of those sorts of folks. Cassia won’t change who she is for you, but she will more than often adapt, so those around her still feel welcomed and comfortable.

She’s that girl who won’t even know you but will hype you up in the bathroom; if someone’s making you uncomfortable, she’ll make a scene for you--get them in a full nelson--who knows. Point is: befriend this silly girl, and you’ll have a friend for life. If she likes you, you'll have a nickname by the end of the week and regular donut drops on your front porch after you’ve had a rough day.

Relationships:

ESME & OLIVER DUBOIS:

Cassia and her parents are extremely close. Esme and Oliver were accepting of Cassia's transition immediately, and both are very involved in her life as well as the LGBTQ+ community in the city. Despite Oliver's work as a train conductor requiring him to travel often, he and Cassia have maintained a strong relationship through regular calls, letters, and other inventive forms of communication and gift exchange. Cassia's social calendar will go on pause when he's in town, so she has ample time to spend with him. When they're together, it's easy to see where Cassia gets her sense of humor, curiosity, and out-going nature. Esme works as a hairdresser, and, on her busier days, Cassia will take it upon herself to tidy the apartment or cook dinner to help out. Esme can be high-anxiety, resulting in both Cassia and Oliver being protective of her, but will snap into “mama bear” mode if she feels her daughter is being slighted or antagonized--anxiety be damned. Similarly, she makes an effort to keep her salon space decorated with small pride trinkets to signal safety for her clients. Every child deserves to feel loved, and she'll go out of her way to ensure this happens. This is one of the many reasons Cassia was confident her mother (and father) could be another potential safe haven for the boys; she knew after the initial shock wore off, both would be more than accepting and loving. And they were!

DONATELLO:

While Cassia and Don get along, they spend the least amount of time around each other. Don falls into the category of people who can get overwhelmed by Cassia's company, so she's careful to give him the space he needs. She'll pop in to check on him, ask what he's working on, gush over it for a minute or two, and then promptly heck off. The longer spans of time with him tend to occur when Mikey ropes Don in for shenanigans or when Don lets her help with a paint job on one of his latest projects. Where Cassia's fallen into a "little sister" role with the other brothers, she carries more of an "older sister" air around Don and will speak up for him if she senses him becoming uncomfortable or irritated--times when he might opt for a polite tone when something more direct is warranted. Not that Don ISN'T capable of making how he feels known, but... he did ask for no pickles. Very disappointed you didn't hear him the first time.

Nicknames for Don include: Grapes, Donnerd, and Mothman.

LEONARDO:

Cassia enjoys Leo's company but sometimes finds herself a little underwhelmed by him. Where Mikey and Raph are more willing dare-devils and mischief-makers, Leo’s often hesitant to participate or will draw attention to potential consequences for whatever activity they're about to do. While sometimes frustrating, she appreciates him for it at the end of the day. His concern--and willingness to be “the wet blanket”--reminds her of her mom. She understands Leo's firm hold on the reins is more out of love than it is trying to ruin anyone's fun. This connection has also lead to her seeking advice or guidance from him. She very much enjoys engaging in quiet quality time with Leo, be it doodling in her sketchbook while he reads or practicing a dance routine (with her headphones on!) while he meditates nearby. However… to say that she thrives when Leo's silly and playful side comes out would be the understatement of the century. There’s little she loves more than coaxing out his competitive edge. He can deny it all he wants, but it's there. She absolutely delights in the glint he gets in his eyes when he's about to show off.

Nicknames for Leo include: Blue's Clues, Pink Panther, and Aslan.

MICHELANGELO:

Mikey was the first of the turtles Cassia directly encountered, and he was the one she formed the most immediate connection to. They clicked near-instantly due to shared interests in art, skating, and general tomfoolery. They’re a couple of high-energy gremlins, both naturally curious, highly expressive, adventurous, and attention-loving. Cassia’s become something of an anchor for Mikey, being a source that helps keep him grounded from all the craziness in his life. She’s been a point of guidance as he’s found himself on the aroace spectrum--another common ground the two share. She’s also not afraid to ‘force’ him to slow down sometimes and process emotions he’s been avoiding. Many nights filled with facial masks, nail polish, and mugs of hot chocolate have been had. Esme's already been taking mental notes of the snacks and drinks Mikey responds positively to and doing her best to make sure a few extras are stored away in the pantry and fridge. Just in case he's hungry and needs to drop in. Cassia assures her that the boys DO have a home and resources, but... oh, you never know.

Nicknames for Mikey include: Tangerine, Jell-O, and Champ.

RAPHAEL:

Since Cassia's friendship with Mikey often involves ruffling Raph's feathers, much of her friendship with Raph is banter-centric, teasing, and empty threats from both parties. Cassia’s slightly more aware of and, I guess the word would be 'attentive', to Raph’s temper boundaries than Mikey. This is partially due to being less familiar of Raph’s finer lines in the sand than Mikey, but it's also a sincere effort NOT to actually piss him off. It's not that Raph’s heightened states scare her or make her uneasy, moreso that this is a temperament she hasn’t quite figured out how to navigate yet. She prefers not to set it off if she can help it. Raph and Cassia have a silent affection sort of thing going on, where Cassia will climb up onto Raph's shell, and he stops walking long enough for her to get up there and then goes about whatever he was doing. Their version of Cassia’s habitual hand or arm holding, but perhaps in a way Raph’s more receptive of. Sometimes, if she’s having a particularly high-anxiety night, she’ll text Raph and request a picture of Klunk or Spoon. A few minutes later, without fail, she’ll have a handful of cute cat pics to scroll through.

Nicknames for Raph include: Forks, Beyblade, and Kool-Aid.

MASTER SPLINTER:

Cassia and Splinter don't interact too much. Not that they deliberately avoid each other, of course, but Cassia does tend to bring a new wave of energy and noise to an already somewhat chaotic ‘household’. Splinter prefers to keep to his own activities or quietly excuse himself when he senses things are about to get rowdier than usual. Cassia’s been quick to catch on that Splinter falls into a similar camp as Don, Leo and her mother; she'll tone herself down around him (partially because she's realized his hearing is much more sensitive than most) and try to be a little less eager to instigate petty competition or mischief between the brothers. Despite that their personalities and forms of expression sometimes conflict, they get along well enough, and Cassia holds a lot of respect for him. Splinter hasn’t gotten to meet her parents yet, but she thinks the three of them will get along great.

Cassia always addresses Splinter as “Master Splinter” (or replies with "yes, sir" and "no, sir"), but when referring to him in conversation with others, she’ll sometimes say “the coolest slice of pepperjack this side of Brooklyn”.

BREANNE O'NEIL:

Bree and Cassia have shared some classes throughout high school and knew each other on a casual-acquaintance sort of level. They became closer friends after Cassia encountered the turtles in the skate-park. Both are artistic spirits--Cassia's favorite medium being street art and Bree's being painting or sketching--and they enjoy having art parties with Mikey. Like with Don, Cassia tends to step into more of a “big sister” role with Bree and won't hesitate to throw hands with anyone who gives her a hard time.

Nicknames for Bree include: Sundrop and "Breanne, Green Eggs and Ham". (bree's tag!)

MIN-JI SEONG:

While Min-ji and Cassia had seen each other around school, they had never properly interacted until Cassia's second encounter with the turtles. Due to Min-ji’s recent experiences with the Purple Dragons and the Foot, she was guarded and a little suspicious of Cassia's ease in accepting that there were mutant turtles in the city. As Min-ji became more comfortable around Cassia, they grew closer as friends. Enough so, that they had a nice little heart-to-heart after school one afternoon. Min-ji expressed concern for Cassia’s safety when it came to her antagonizing the Purple Dragons by painting over their tags, and Cassia in turn offered to help Min-ji process leftover pain and anger she harbored toward someone she thought she could trust. Min-ji often struggles with her confidence and self-esteem, but Cassia’s already made it a main mission to be her biggest hype-woman, as Raph’s already Min-ji’s biggest hype-man (Leo’s just gonna have to deal with that… unless he thinks he can prove otherwise).

Nicknames for Min-ji include: Ji-ji, Jeepers, Swan Song, and City Siren. (min-ji's tag!)

NYXRAM:

While Cassia and Nyxram haven’t met, it probably goes without saying that any encounters would be… tense. Especially on Cassia’s end of things. Even though Cassia and her family were fortunate enough to not have direct contact with triceratons during the invasion, the event was still traumatic and caused her family immense distress. Should Cassia find herself in Nyxram’s presence, she’d likely be overwhelmed by fear and anger but would clam up and try to make herself as invisible as possible.

(nyxram's tag!)

GWYNETH:

Cassia’s interactions with Gwyn have been quite minimal and civil. The two are friendly toward each other, but there is an underlying sense of unease and distrust. Whether it’s because Gwyn’s not from Earth or that Cassia can feel Gwyn doesn’t trust her, Cassia instinctively grows more alert in the liáfsian’s presence. The two only seem to be fully at ease around each other if Mikey or Raph are also sharing the space with them. Cassia does, if she were being honest with herself, harbor a small amount of resentment toward Gwyn for disappearing and hurting both Mikey and Bree’s feelings in doing so. ...there’s... also a small part of her that does wish Gwyn would move on to another planet, as her presence on Earth might draw the attention of other aliens. She hasn’t heard a lot about this Darach guy, but she’s heard enough to know she doesn’t want another invader blasting down her door or making her wonder if she'll ever see her father again.

(gwyneth's tag!)

AISLINN:

If Cassia’s interactions with Gwyn have been minimal, her interactions with Ash have been next to none. Cassia’s aware of Ash’s sentience and presence in the weapon Gwyn carries around, but she’s significantly less aware of any details surrounding Ash. At most, she knows Ash is aware of her surroundings, has enough of a personality to be a bit of a smartass sometimes, and that Gwyn gets bristly when someone focuses on Ash for too long. So, she lets Ash instigate any of their interactions. Which Ash usually doesn’t do.

(aislinn's tag!)

YUNSOL SEONG:

While Cassia has only briefly met Min-ji’s cousin, Yunsol, she and her mother have already extended a supportive hand to her. Yunsol had been facing severe bullying, blackmail, and emotional abuse from people she thought were her friends. They'd learned she was a lesbian, still timid about this revelation, and closeted from her family. Min-ji sought out Cassia and Esme for help resolving the situation, so Yunsol could be free of it without being forced to come out to her parents before she was ready. Though Cassia and Yunsol have yet to interact outside of this heavier context, they unknowingly HAVE crossed paths online. Yunsol is one of Cassia’s favorite sapphic fanfic writers. She has no idea how many nights Cassia’s been up well longer than she should have, lying on her stomach, kicking her feet in the air, and hugging a pillow against her face while she reads the sapphic adventures of Elle Woods. And Cassia has no idea how much each and every one of those keyboard smashing comments have warmed Yunsol's heart.

(yunsol's tag!)

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*gentle disclaimer that bree, min-ji, and yunsol belong to @/plantdonut!

#tmnt oc #tmnt 2003 oc #tmnt 2003 #original character #;hannah draws #;tmnt oc: cassia dubois #[ i'll add more tags later because oh my god i need to lie down ]#[ I DID IT I FINALLY FINISHED ONE e__e ]#[ if i botched spelling or sentences anywhere i'm gonna just... just deal with that later jfklds ]#[ screams at top of lung ]

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