Gem Toturi

Name: Gem Toturi
Age: 27 (Bethas 13, 2686)
Race: Human
Place of Origin: Old Rose Harbor

Backstory:

Born in a brothel, Gem might have wound up in the same line of work as her mother, Seffira Toturi, if it weren’t for the tavern next door. The barkeep’s wife, Elena, was a midwife, and, being called to the birth, was loath to allow an innocent child to grow up in such a setting. And so when her mother, feeling similarly, asked she be raised in the apartment next door, set apart from the prostitution and sin, Elena took her in.

Gem was expected, however, to earn her keep once she was old enough, and began as a server and smalltime janitor on the premises. It was there during her adolescent years that she learned to sing, dance, play a guitar, flute, and various drums, and even juggle from the tavern’s various and multitalented performers, and to mix drinks from the barkeep himself. She was always rather star struck when well-known performers came, and wanted their apparently rich and glamorous lifestyle for herself. Elena had hoped to teach her the more honorable and ladylike occupation of midwifery, and though she picked up some hints on general medical care it didn’t really garner her interest. Elena and her husband, Torynce, did not keep her from her mother, though, and so she learned the tricks of seduction as well.

She had always had that “baby fat” look, and while her mother, Elena, and Torynce insisted it would go away as she grew, it didn’t seem to happen. But it didn’t damper her spirit or confidence. If anything, it seemed to bolster it- unless it is insulted, in which case she reacts violently. Her weight hid an underlying layer of easily-built muscle and she was actually quite strong, though she remains surprisingly flexible. She learned all the tips and tricks of drinking and is quite capable of drinking the most experienced under the table. Growing up in a tavern, her strength came in handy for that and other purposes- as Elena and Torynce grew older, she took it upon herself to toss out riffraff as a bouncer. She learned to fight the drunkard’s fight- quick and dirty, with every ounce of force she possessed. She has knocked out many patrons who were too rowdy or too touchy for her tastes, and tossed the bodies out on the front stoop.

Gem never lacked for her necessities, though luxuries were never within reach, however much she desired them. She loved Torynce and Elena as a father and second mother, and so she was heartbroken when Torynce died after a month-long battle with Klakkis Morosia when she was twenty-two. She took up the position of barkeep of the tavern, and her talents there were honed more finely. While it was difficult, she and Elena had managed to keep the tavern afloat and set aside some savings for a few years. Recently, however, the tavern had begun to fail, and the two of them had had to sell the premises.

Since then, Elena has been allowed to room with Seffira under the condition that she help keep the prostitutes from becoming pregnant, though she is allowed to carry on her previous practice.

Gem, however, has been attempting to make it on her own. She has managed to keep afloat without reverting to her mother’s profession by entertaining and bartending. She makes enough to rent a room and make ends meet, but still has no luxuries to speak of. She has had a hard time keeping a job, as her strong-willed and confident nature won’t put up with drunken insults or inappropriate acts (such as touching when or where she or other girls don’t want to be touched), and she has been fired for brawling with such patrons. She has tried hiring on as a bouncer to avoid this, but it neither pays as well, nor do employers want a “volatile woman” in charge of expelling patrons.

Personality:

Gem is incredibly confident. If she wants something, she goes after it. She is a shameless flirt, though that doesn’t mean she’s looking for anything. She’s been known to give mixed signals. She loves to hug and kiss, but doesn’t do pie. She likes the frivolity of boyfriends, but definitely holds herself in high esteem, and won’t give herself away without reason.

She is liable to make cracks about her weight, but don’t laugh too hard, agree to readily, or (Alioe forbid) make a comment of your own. She’s sent a number of people to the floor for it.

She doesn’t really have a sweet tooth, but does have a “fat tooth”- when she’s had a long day she wants nothing more than to sit down with a pint and a buttered up, fried dish of food. Her weight is as it is not for lack of exercise, but for lack of willpower where food is concerned.

She loves a challenge to her abilities- she is not well educated, and so may not do well in a battle of wits, but drinking contests, arm-wrestling overconfident men, or singing and dancing competitions are her forte. She is fairly competitive and rarely backs down when challenged in her fields of expertise.

Despite her apparent masculine pastimes, she is quite feminine.

Description:

Gem is not small. Heavy-set and standing at 5’7”, she is actually rather imposing. Naturally, her figure leaves something to be desired, though she has learned the benefits of a good solid corset, and is never seen without one, giving her figure her desired hourglass shape. With her almost unfortunately large bosom and backside, she definitely has curves- voluptuous, you might say. However, she does have a great pair of legs, and sets them to her advantage in heels at all times. She has become quite adept at doing all activities in her 2-4 inch heels- even running!

Her pretty oval face shows a wide, easy smile. Arched eyebrows top chocolate brown, almond eyes, underneath a high forehead and widow’s peak. Her hair is a dark brown, with faint auburn shimmers in the sunlight, though you can’t see it anywhere else- her hair is dark enough that it is black when wet. She often wears it in a high pompadour with a feathered pin, loose curls and waves descending to her waist. On nicer occasions it is piled up in a fancy updo with combs and beaded hair pins.

She wears only light makeup, as anything heavy is usually worn off over the course of an evening at work. She doesn’t need a lot to begin with as she has a good complexion, excepting a few beauty marks from Old Rose’s strong sunshine.

Residence:

A room in the Blue Umbrella, a tenant house not far from Angler’s alley.

Inventory:

Clothing: Corsets (black, red, or green); skirts (complimentary shades to the corsets); bustles (complimentary shades to the skirts); one good hooded black coat (rarely needed); several pairs of heels; hair combs, pins and barrettes, often feathered, flowered, or beaded
one small dagger, strapped high on her thigh just for emergencies, as she usually just punches you out
keys- her room and into her mother’s for emergencies
Trinkets and mementos- a few small pieces of jewelry (rarely worn), pictures, pretty stones and feathers from the sea, the last beer bottle from her first drinking contest (age 15; opponent 23 yr. old male- she won) in which there is usually a flower or two in water

Career

Bartender, bouncer, entertainer

Singing
Dancing
Musical: guitar, flute, various types of drums
Juggling (bottles, glasses, etc.)
Strength, flexibility, dexterity
Fighting/brawling

Goals:

Long term: Become a famous singer or dancer, wealthy enough to have whatever she wants
Short term: Hold down a job long enough to be more than a bartender
Shorter term: Have some fun doing it!