delphine vane // district four

Delphine puts the 'i' in 'vain', metaphorically speaking. Her devotion to ensuring that she looks prim-and-proper, well put together, and positively radiant at all times sure shows in the way she presents herself. Hair always meticulously done, face made up and clear of any and all blemishes, Delphine is a testament to the wealth of the now prized District Four.

Delphine has long, dark hair, most often in locs expertly done to ensure the longevity of the style. Her skin is honey-brown, cool toned and well complimented by the dark, deep-set eyes that peer out from behind her hair like twin mirrors into the soul. She's well-known for the way her gaze seems to track others, inquisitive and wide, giving her the impression of a curious young deer. A single mole sits above her left eyebrow, a prominent period to punctuate her appearance.

The exterior Delphine shows is a little bit odd. By looking at her, one might assume that she's self-centered and loud, gaudy in all the wrong places. However, she's more off-putting than anything, lacking crucial social skills and the understanding of how to react to emotional situations. That isn't to say that she can't communicate; she certainly can, and is rather good at it. Delphine's incredibly polite, having learned well from her father, highly respected for his kind and understanding behavior.

Many might consider Delphine to be better to look at than to speak to. It's no secret that she's pretty, and those dark, large eyes can be deceptive in their desperation. Delphine, though she is externally quite guarded by a thorny wall of stone that protects her from feelings she can't understand, gets attached to others rather quickly. Her attachment issue runs deeper than a connection, and she has a hard time differentiating between obsession and care, lacking the necessary tools to detach herself from potentially toxic partners and friends. Furthermore, Delphine can come off as clingy and incredibly controlling at times.

Once you get passed that strange, awkward demeanor, though, Delphine can be quite pleasant. She's got a unique charisma that establishes her as someone you'd want to have on your side, and a charming little laugh that sounds like bells on the morning breeze. Whip-smart and witty, Delphine could sweet talk a bear out of its honey and boasts an impressive catalogue of grades. 

You wouldn't know it from looking at her, but Delphine's family structure growing up was anything but conventional. Her father, Conch, did his best to support Delphine and her mother, Betty, who was what may be historically described as "out of her mind". Childlike wonder knew no bounds, and Delphine's lack of understanding of her mother's strange and erratic behavior showed. When Betty was dancing through the kitchen at midnight, using wooden spoons as partners, Delphine was right beside her. Her belief of everything as a game was indicative of the innocence only a child could display.

Unfortunately, Betty's unusual way of being didn't turn off on her own. When Delphine was in the middle of her school day, and Conch was out working the docks, Betty drowned in the bathtub, and the illusion of childhood innocence was broken. Famously stone-hearted and lacking the proper tools to display emotion, Delphine bottled up the death of Betty and turned to craft as her support. She learned to weave, deft fingers tugging rope into the shape of well-structured and fantastically sturdy nets. Her expertise in craft-works didn't stop with nets, though. Rather, Delphine became rather proficient in the creation of fishing lures, traps, and other such woven and tied pieces. Curiously, her talent for it extended into the creation of jewelry, winding pearls into medallions with small pieces of rope or fishing wire. 

Even without Betty, Delphine knew nothing except comfort. Conch used his handsome salary on ensuring she was given the best schooling, clothing, and makeup that money could buy. In reality, Delphine doesn't know how much of her childhood was even supported by her mother, and she knows her socioeconomic standing is due almost entirely to Conch.