Zhang NARI

"Blood does not matter."

PERSONALITYTRAITS :  confident, cunning, patient, outgoing, loyal || selfish, obnoxious, cautious, manipulative, passionate

PERSONALITY :

Born Red, but raised Silver;

Nari always holds her head high, regardless of what anyone says or thinks about her. The gossips and the little rebellions can be easily quelled anyway. With just a conversation or two, she can easily change their mind. So why would she value someone's true thoughts and feelings when they can be changed so easily? 

Of course the only exception to this is her family -- the Zhang family who took her in. She owes them her life and as such would follow them to the ends of the earth. After all, to people she is idebted to, she will do anything to pay them back. In the case of her family, she's vowed to have the Zhang name resonate throughout Norta. For this reason she seeks to be the best queen there could ever be in history. 

A worthy queen;

A queen is someone who will be the shining gem of a country. A king is certainly its leader, but a queen is both the mother of the country and a sort of master behind the king. This is what Nari was taught; be patient, be cunning, lay out your plans carefully, and so this is how she will be. She does not rush to decisions and definitely does not make impulsive ones, however her passion for winning and for proving herself are a different story. She is careful yet reckless, in the sense that she picks her fights yet continues fighting a war even though she knows she should not be fighting it, just for the sake of something she's passionate about.

A queen is someone who will not only handle her country, but the others as well. She is well versed in communicating with people; regardless if she had her power or not her charisma and her wordings would often manipulate a person to feel or do something they do not intend to. Because of this she is often mistaken to always be using her powers, but that isn't the case. Of course the humiliation where one realizes this after one has accused her of using her powers is incredibly satisfying.

A queen is someone who will stand by her king, regardless if he runs to his death. Obviously this is not something she would do, but something said to simply keep up appearances. Her loyalty lies only with the Zhang family, the king and the whole country be damned. Both Reds and Silvers be damned.

A queen is someone who is cold and calculating, but will only show warmth and welcome. Someone who can and will predict somebody's intentions, but will act surprise nonetheless. Simply for the sake of appearances.

For the sake of appearances;

Nari has been acting for the sake of appearing as a worthy queen for so long that she is often confused on how to honestly react to somebody. This can be especially be seen when interacting with her closest step-brother. The only thing she knows is how to validate or how to manipulate; honestly expressing herself is out of the question. 

"Blood does not matter."

The Reds are desperate, the Silvers are overly confident. It does not matter to Nari whether you're Red or Silver. How you carry yourself and what you do does. This matters even more since she is in the middle of Red and Silver -- she considers neither as allies and both as possible enemies. When one wins her trust though, she does not back out from supporting them and will do anything to help them regardless of blood colour. 

BACKGROUND :

In the beginning --
The Hans were proud Reds, even in this cruel world where Silvers rule and Reds were treated as mere fodder fo the Red's pleasures, they were proud of their blood. However pride wouldn't feed them or provide them with more rations, especially with their ever growing family, which is why Han Yeri  opted to work  for the Silvers, a server at the Hall of Sun, despite her degrading health. 

There she met the Zhang family; a silver family who agreed to take on her youngest daughter as a servant for the family in exchange for a few hundred crowns every month. Han Seoyoo was only three when the deal was made, and was only four when the Zhang family noticed she was different. From what they could observe, she could create illusions. At first these illusions seemed to be like fleeting ghosts, images you could see at the edge of your vision or slight sounds you could hear from seemingly nowhere. If one of the Zhang siblings had not noticed that Nari was the source, the Zhang family would've thought they've all lost their minds.  

The Zhangs debated on what to do with her. A Red with abilities. At first Nari didn't understand why the Zhangs simply didn't reveal her to the rest of the Silvers and led her to her death, or maybe have the other Silvers disect her. She didn't want to understand why they started paying more attention to her, the little Red they've randomly picked and was helping her develop her skill. She felt that she didn't need to understand why they have her a new name, a new identity. Why they treated her like one of theirs.

The Zhangs honed her skill to the point where she could conjure an illusion of an explosion that was so realistic, you could almost feel the heat along your skin. But it was only that -- an illusion. The best they could have her do with the time they had was to create a vision of an explosion plus an illusion for the surroundings. It meant she couldn't use it against other people and they she had to hold the illusion until everyone had turned away or such. They adopted her as a part of the Zhang family, stating that she was hidden at home due to bad health but because they've taken such good care of her she's recovered, although not completely, but enough to show her might in the Queenstrial. She was oficially introduced as Zhang Nari.

From Red to Silver -- 
Since then Nari has been Silver, from the way she walks to how she picks her dresses, even to how she thinks of Reds. She's shrugged off her Red heritage, convinced that she deserved to walk not only among Silvers, but as part of them. Especially since she's aware of what her mother had done to keep the rest of the family healthy -- it was something she could understand but would never forgive. How a Red can sell out their own family when it was all they had?

The Zhang was her family now and they definitely were not in anyway a bad family. The parents were proud, of course, as they were Silver. They showered their children with many gifts, Nari included, but the Zhang family definitely had other plans with their Silver blood.

Red within Silver --
The siblings had once told Nari how she was not the first Red they've taken from a family, that their parents claim that it was charity how they would ask for the youngest from a Red family for a couple of crowns every month. It would mean one less to send to the Choke, they said. Obviously these were just their father's excuses to enslave the Reds but the siblings didn't want to say anything. The problem was, siblings had grown close to a few of these Reds and has since been reluctant in acting like the high Silvers they were. They told Nari that they wanted to help the Reds. Nari didn't understand it and thought that her step-siblings only took for granted their position of being born Silvers. She didn't despise them, but she definitely did not slack off on becoming the favourite child.

Queenstrial --
Who wouldn't be happy hearing that one would be participating in the Queenstrial? She, somebody who was sold off, was now participating in an event only second in importance to a Coronation. She's been training for this, honing her skills and learning how to wage war with or without weapons. It didn't matter if she was Red once, at least that's what she thought. Her father assured her, nobody would find out. They had been preparing her for this, the lessons, the daily skin painting that only comes off when she takes a bath, everything they had been doing for the past few years. It was a dangerous plan and Nari understood the possible consequences of her families actions, but her pride was too great to back down from the challenge of the Queenstrial.

"You are magnificent," her father told her the night of the announcement. The night when all eyes would be on her. The night when her stage would officially begin. "I have absolutely no doubt that you will do me proud." Of course she would do him proud, it was the only thing she knew. The nights of her parents' whispers came back to her. She was part of a much bigger picture, a great plan of theirs and she was not to know, but a sleepless night lead to the unintentional eavesdropping. She was a piece of her parents' plan and she was definitely going to make sure it succeeded.

The Bigger Picture --
Nari knew little about the bigger picture, her father's bigger plans. She knew about Yixing's occasional escape during the nights, sometimes she even helped him. She knew that their father had found out. But she wasn't aware that they were siding themselves with the Guard. Her father forbid her from knowing anything they had planned; lest a Whisper gets into her head and finds everything out.

The Zhang had agreed to assist the Guard -- it started with Yixing quietly rebelling against his blood by assisting the Guard with crowns and supplies, then developed to his father finding out about Yixing's involvement with the Guard to the Zhang's plans of overthrowing the current rulers of the Silvers. They would be insiders for the Reds: not only providing information for key people and places but also quietly steering them in the direction of the Guard. They would not be part of the Guard, but simply allies. There was nothing they wanted in return, Nari's father would say with a slight smirk, "but to see the world be handed to its rightful owners."

There was obviously a reward for her father if the Reds succeed in their Rebellion, something even the Reds don't know about.

TRIVIA :

▸Nari is known as an Oblivilion (and the Zhangs think it's illusion), but her power is actually manipulation of a person's senses. Even she doesn't know this though. It's more than just amplifying or manipulating emotions, but also the basic five senses;  being able to manipulate a person's sight so Nari resembles one's beloved, them hearning her voice a bit higher or lower than it actually is -- these are just a few basic examples of the her true power.

▸Because of her intricate hairstyles, she and her helpers usually wake up even before the sun rises so she could get ready just in time for breakfast.

▸Her favourite past-time is walking around and observing people or reading stratgey books.

▸She's been trained in close-combat fighting, able to perform Judo grabs or Aikido counters. She doesn't have the power to do much damage though, and the fighting tricks she'd learned are only useful as self-defense.

▸Zhang is a family of Oblivions.

"My loyalty lies with you; do with it what you will."

RELATIONSHIPS : 

▸ adoptive mother — Zhang Chiya (45) / wife, strategist / Silver / caring, quiet, cunning / 6

Chiya serves as a strategist for her husband, and as such she must carry herself as one. She is known to be quiet and reserved, but especially brutal and cold when needed. She is only a little bit different in front of her family; often striking up conversations just for the sake of it. For Nari, it's a bit more different. Nari is usually the one starting the conversations; asking for her mother's opinion on current matters to hopefully learn how she thinks, inquiring her if she thinks Nari could do anything to improve herself, etc. Nari thinks highly of her mother and Chiya is proud of this. Whenever her mother approves of it, Nari is often walking beside her mother, hoping to absorb more of the older woman's knowledge.

 

▸ adoptive father — Zhang Yiling (48) / mediator, general / Silver / commanding, confident, opportunistic / 4

Yiling a mediator -- the one who oversees meetings between Silvers in the absence of the King. He is as loud and explosive as his power when commanding the other houses. He is very proud and because of this, very demanding. He expects nothing less but the best from his family. He praises effort and showers his children when they're exerting effort but punishes them the moment they slack off. Nari is his favourite child, the girl who wants to prove herself the most. She's always serving her father during meal times and would often tell him about the information she's learned about the other houses. Nari is always looking to impress her father.

 

▸ step brother — Zhang Yixing (25) / mediator-in-training / Silver / friendly, caring, kind, selfless / 9

Yixing is Nari's bestfriend, unlike how she treats most people which means Nari is often doing everything to validate Yixing or is trying to make him happy, which ends up as an awkward attempt of having a conversation. Yixing is always trying to help Nari be more of herself and less of a product of his parent's schemes. He's the main reason why the Zhang siblings are reluctant in fully embracing their silver blood. For Nari, he was the one to accept her into the Zhang family with open arms and therefore, someone Nari would gladly die for. 

Nari can often be seen visiting Yixing in his spare time. She's takes care to not be in his way, although he always insists she is not. 

 

▸ step brother — Zhang Chou (23) / solider / Silver / cheerful, confident, carefree / 7

The only thing Chou inherited from his father are his powers and how loud they both are. While his father booms commands, Chou beams jokes and happy thoughts. Nari is incredibly close to him despite of this. Because of his carefree nature, there isn't any need to put up airs around him. Unlike with Yixing (who insists that Nari acts natural but this puts pressure on her more because she's not used to it), Chou just lets Nari be, if she wanted to put on airs he just lets her and would just throw jabs at her when she does. Because of this, Nari's sarcasm and cheerfulness naturally comes out whenever she's with him. 

 

▸ rival (of sorts) — Kang Miyoon (22) / profile / 2

As a daughter of the Kang family, Nari respected her. As someone who would be participating in the Queenstrial she was cautious of her. But for keeping up appearances, Nari would often walk up to Miyoon with a small smile to give her regards and strike up a short conversation. They seem to be on neutral ground -- clueless people would even say they get along great -- but of course people who knew better know that the pair were like a snake and a wolf, both cautiously and anxiously waiting to strike.

 

▸ Future King — Byun Baekhyun (23) / profile / 3

Most, if not all, of the participants in the Queenstrial all have their own way of appealing to Baekhyun, though it may or may not be effective. Nari isn't an exception to this. She approaches the king-to-be every now and then, starting conversations about current events or sometimes to make quips about the other Silvers. Most of the time it's them playing pretend; a pair of Silvers seemingly to be friendly with each other, but in reality they were only hoping to get information from the other. Other times it was like the only truly intelligent person they could talk to was each other, sometimes lacing code words and hint within their casual-sounding conversation. 

"AS RED as dawn, AS Silver as a blade."

 

THOUGHTS ON THE BREWING REBELLION AND WHY? (CAN BE AS SIMPLE AS HATE IT COS THEY'RE SILVER TBH, KNOWING THOSE SIMPLE MINDED PIGS):

▸ "The Reds can try. Through their desperation they may even succeed, but the chances are miniscule," she sighed, "There is reason why Silvers reign today. That reason is not something a mere gun or explosive can fix."

"To betray my family would be to forfeit my life."

 

"WILL YOU JOIN THE GUARD?" : 

▸ "To join the Guard would be to join the losing side. They're inferior to the Silvers and they simply cause terror. Joining the guard would also mean betraying my family. And so I will not."

"WHAT ARE YOU FIGHTING FOR?" : 

▸ "I fight for my family. I fight for my blood, the Silvers. I fight for peace," she smirked slightly, "and I fight to win."

"I LOVE YOU." : 

▸ Nari put on a stern face, "I am thankful for your feelings. However, I cannot reciprocate them." 

"NOW A QUESTION FOR THE CREATOR OF THE CHARACTER; WOULD YOU MIND HORRIBLY IF YOUR CHARACTER SUFFERS A HORRIFYING BUT TOTALLY JUSTIFIED DEATH?" : 

▸ I wouldn't mind at all, although if ever I would like her to see other Reds or see how Reds fight before she gets horribly murdered.

whutever09 : rikki

LAST WORDS : This went in a different direction that I inteded lol. I 'm completely fine if you ignore the Love Interest section. I must confess I'm guilty of reading the first book and abandoning the second (lol) so some of the insipiration for this was someone that was the complete opposite of Mare. Some other inspiration came from the Young Elites xD

PASSWORD? : imbadatpickingsongsomg
 

SCENE REQUESTS : 

▸ A scene where she swears that she won't be using her powers on her family, but is doubted and questioned anyway (either by her family or not)
▸ Somebody commenting on how Nari's fighting with a dress
▸ Nari killing somebody by making them feel like they're on fire, then her realizing she can do more than just create illusions
▸ "You swear you're Silver. Then let's have you bleed."

turn in : story : cheatsheet