Maru is good fun on a good day. She's got this sarcastic and slightly controvertial humour, the kind that is just a tad too honest. She's not afraid to make fun of herself and she's not afraid to lampshade the industry and everyone around her, after all she's been in it basically since she was born. She's got this way of making someone feel like they're part of a special look behind the scenes, part of a secret, as she jokes in hushed tones of industry truths, all in a light-hearted joking manner. Hints at maintaining her image, blatant mentions of diets, jokes that the managers probably want her to keep shut, etc. Not only does Maru know how to seem honest and endear herself, she's also well versed in shifting the blame/bad light onto others. She can get too real in her cynicism and too mean in her shade. One needs thick skin to be friends with her. 

Maru is filled with ambition. She sees herself doing great things, she sees herself on top of the entertainment world, and oh how she wants to get there. She's also stubborn and clings to her own ways. She wants to get on top of the foodchain, but she doesn't want to sell out her integrity and genius for it. She wants the world to play by her rules, even if she knows very well that it can't. It leaves a lot of conflict within her, and frustration when things aren't going her way. Her ambition knows no boundaries, and she has the cunning to work on achieving her dreams behind the scenes as well as in front of them. Maru is naturally a fun person to talk to, that part isn't faked, but hey that doesn't mean she's not well aware of the power of contacts and good relations either. She's not really outright a back-stabber, that's not quite her style, but Maru can certainly be selectively helpful. Help those who are of no competition to her, help those whose full potential she can benefit from. Maru's cunning and manipulations are all like that, not quite malicious, but somehow she ends up the better for it. 

 

Their international success only fuels her ego, even if she knows well that the international fandom doesn't pay their bills, and it'd be useless without a strong Korean base. But they love her- eh she means their music, and so her ego is fuelled and her risks are verified, and Maru can do no wrong in Maru's eyes. Fundamentally self-centered, Maru looks out for herself first, though she knows how to look out for others in a way that benefits herself as well. Call attention to the member best at variety in an interview, or highlight the visual in a song at key moments so they can catch the eye. If it benefits the group, it benefits her. She doesn't mind much if the spotlight isn't on her, what Maru cares about is music, as long as she's the highest regarded behind the scene, the visual can smile at the camera all she wants. After all, the more fans are pulled to the group, the more her genius will be heard, but you better believe that she makes sure it's known that it's her genius that's brought them this far.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maru's dad dotes on her, he has from the momeny she showed such musical aptitude. He's as proud as can be of her achievements, and shows them off at anyone who listens. Instead of photos in his wallet Seungwoo has audio files on his phone and they're getting wipped out as soon as anyone asks about his daughter. He's conservative and traditional, tends to be no-nonsense and tsundere, except when he can't contain his pride. He's the one who's always told Maru that she can achieve greatness, and boi did she believe him.

 

 

Her mother is a bit more down to earth, she tried to keep Maru humble but that didn't exactly work out. She's been a stay home mom and housewife all her life, and she's the one who essentially raised Maru, but Maru still feels closer to her dad because of the musical interests they shared. Minhee is the one who actually cares about Maru's health and wellbeing, and is often trying to keep her humble or trying to curb her bad traits, while Seungwoo only asks about her new musical pursuits and praises her into high heavens.

 

USERNAME, ALIAS Urangutang, Shay.
 

 

Also I've given you someone who essentially thinks she's kind of above it all, both due to her own connections and upbringing as well as her own skills. Feel free to dash those believes however you see fit. Maru has to learn that the industry isn't all roses and moonshine, it's not all boundless ambitions and ladders to success, and her own selfish pursuit of artistic musicality vs. mainstream success will have consequences for her group.