Parsley Scarborough / District 12 / Fin

'Pretty' has never been a word used to describe Parsley. 'Strong', on the other hand, came up often, though not always in the most flattering contexts. She is dark-haired, dark-eyed, tan, and has always been a heavy set girl, with strong bones and big hands. She had had her fair share of tumbles and bruises as a child, but never broke. Now, as a young woman, Parsley is still 'strong.' She has wide hips, strong arms, and an open, honest face that often looks too serious for her age. 

Parsley dresses in useful clothes. She never had much to spend on 'nice' clothes, and given her work, she prefers things that are sturdy and easily cleaned. She is rarely ever seen without an apron on, and she usually has her sleeves rolled up. Since her hair is  curly, and tends to work itself out of any sort of braid or ponytail, she often wears scarves or bandannas on her head when she is working. Many of her clothes are either home-made from cheap but strong materials (in simple colors), or hand-me-downs from grateful families. She mends them when it is needed. 

Parsley is a woman of few words. She is an intent listener, and has incredible focus when she is doing her work. She can retain her calm even among the worst moments of people's lives, and stand fast in any storm. As long as there is something for her to do to make things better, she never stops working. She is not easily exhausted - but when she is working, she often forgets to eat and rest, and tends to push herself too far until she simply drops from exhaustion. She knows that doing so will cause her harm on the long run, but a midwife's work schedules itself, and she is very dedicated to her job.

As confident as she is in her work, Parsley tends to be shy around people when she is not working. She is especially awkward around older men, most of all doctors. She would like to be a doctor one day, but there is not much chance of that in District 12, and she often feels inadequate in her skills and knowledge whenever someone is beyond her help. Given the rumors surrounding her work (some of the more malicious ones claiming that she is an "angelmaker" that helps women disrupt unwanted pregnancies), she is rather lonely, and she is suspicious of people who try to start a civil conversation with her.

Parsley, quiet and focused as she is, is a caring person. Even though her work requires her to not identify with her patients, she has a soft heart, and she feels sympathy for everyone in need. This is what led her to open up her home to others who are less fortunate, and treat them as children and family. She is especially gentle with infants and toddlers, and tries to act as a maternal figure for kids who have none of their own. She doesn't always know how to do it, since she was raised under the caring yet stern parenting of the older midwife, but she usually makes awkward efforts to show affection to those she cares about.

Parsley was one of many children of a very poor District 12 family - not all of whom survived their first years. She was a difficult birth, and although she was strong from the moment she was born, hr mother was not sure she would have the strength to take care of her. The midwife that helped with the birth offered to take care of the child, give her a good home, and teach her when she was old enough. Since this life sounded better than the alternative, the baby girl was given to the midwife, who named her Parsley as a reference to an old story about a similar girl. 

Parsley was raised in the midwife's small house, set apart from others in town. While people needed the woman's help quite often, they also feared her, since she worked outside of the rules of District 12, and she had knowledge no one quite comprehended. They did not go quite as fat as calling her a witch, but they kept their distance, and no man ever thought of courting her. As a result, Parsley was raised by the midwife alone, and the dubious reputation rubbed off on her early. When she was old enough to start learning, the midwife began teaching her the trade, and Parsley proved herself to be a quick learner. She had a natural talent for helping children come into the world, and since she worked quietly and diligently, people began trusting her own sureness.

The midwife became ill shortly before Parsley turned 17. She knew there was no cure for her illness, so she spent what time she had left teaching Parsley everything she would need to know to carry on her work. When the old woman passed away, Parsley inherited her house, her livelihood - and her reputation. Now she works as a - very young - midwife and occasional healer, trying to battle the superstitions and rumors surrounding her work, and helping people who need help, whenever she can. She has also opened her house up to other people like herself, living on the fringes of trust and fear; she now acts as the "mother" of the Scarborough house.