Katya

Russia, 2004, low fantasy. BTVS.

Slayer – a young woman gifted with preternatural strength, endurance and faster than normal regenerative abilities. From ancient times, there could only be one such Slayer concurrently; when one dies – another random Potential awakens her abilities. After certain events in May 2003 all eligible Potentials around the world awakened their powers, including Katya (even if she doesn't know that she is a some kind of Slayer, unaware of her status and simply receiving the buff in powers). Monsters such as vampires lurk after dark, but keep to the shadows and not a lot of people know they (and Slayers) truly exist.

Name: Ekaterina Kulakova Age: 16

Katya was born in 1988, in Chebarkul, Russia. A small town near Chelyabinsk situated near Lake Chebarkul, it was a depressing place with little to no work, poor population and even poorer ecological situation. Grey-brown, decrepit monoblock buildings, rows and rows of them with dirt and rubbish scattered around. On most days there is a thick fog dome overhead that makes the sun on a cloudless day look like the moon, courtesy of quite a few Chebarkul industrial plants. Overall, the city is still stuck in the brutal 90s time period, the progress that is underway in Moscow lagging severely.

Катя живёт в раздолбанной двушке с матерью-алкашкой, taking care of her on daily basis; sometimes it feels like parent-child roles are reversed between them. Katya’s father died in Afghanistan when she was a baby; old photos, a fish tank and a bookcase full of smart books was all that left of him. Katya never knew her father, yet she misses him – or perhaps the idealized version of him that she conjured in her mind. Their flat has roaches (despite Katya’s attempts at keeping it clean), creaky floors, peeling wallpaper, run down furniture reeking of cheap tobacco and bare concrete walls in the bathroom, the tile having fallen away a long time ago. Katya’s room is somewhat cleaner as she keeps it locked so that her mom’s собутыльники don’t mess with her fish tanks.

Leaving school after grade 9, Katya currently attends a ПТУ, studying гостиничное дело, or ‘hospitality’, which is pretty much a waste of time. She doesn’t take it seriously.

Katya is a bit taller than an average girl at 175cm, has a fit, muscular even physique – she is strong and agile, like a honed weapon. Her skin is tanned, her eyes are emerald green and probably the most striking feature on her rather plain face; her hair, originally mousy blond, Katya dyes with henna which makes it very thick and healthy, in unnaturally dark red color; usually she keeps it in two braids that reach her shoulder blades. A messy fringe falls over her forehead. Katya wears cheap clothes she gets from a local second hand store, uncaring about fashion but preferring it practical as she fights often. A few scars mar her torso; her hands are rough and scarred as well.

On the silent side, perhaps even a bit gruff, Katya is first and foremost a survivor. Ultra-independent, ultra-responsible and ultra-distrusting, she is focused on taking care of herself and her mom. To get her to open up is nigh impossible, but if shown some genuine warmth and affection she might crumble. Outcasts and weaklings flock to her: in school she was surrounded by a few, let’s say, ‘omega’ girls (that is to say, quiet, shy girls from poor families that were otherwise bullied); Katya enjoyed being a protector of sorts, both against classmates and cruel teachers. Even before awakening her "powers" she frequently got into fights after school, sometimes even against boys.

When Katya was 15 she suddenly noticed she became much, much stronger than before, seemingly at random. More enduring. These powers were both blessing and a curse: they both helped her feel more secure and confident in herself, and have alienated her against others some. Katya broke her classmate’s ribs accidentally when she shoved that boy aside in class trying to get him to stop harassing one of her friends. She even had troubles with police but ultimately they ruled out it was an accident; but she had to leave school after 9th grade. Not that it bothered since her grades and attendance were abysmal.

As she gained her preternatural powers Katya learned to use them to her advantage, perhaps not in a very legal way. She started to go out after dark and hang around dark alleys, deserted streets and such, using herself as bait. When she was inevitably attacked by shady men (that sometimes have inexplicably inhuman strength and sharp teeth) Katya beat them down mercilessly, до кровавых соплей…perhaps even getting a some kind of sadistic satisfaction out of that, not that she will admit it even to herself. Their valuables became her valuables, which helped to keep her and her mom afloat. Katya says that she goes to a part-time job. Unbeknownst to Katya, her mom thinks her daughter goes out to sell herself – and disdains her for it partly, at the same time getting use of the money Katya brings in.

It goes without saying but Katya absolutely hates alcohol and those who drink it: "Бухло превращает людей в животных." When her mom is drunk Katya can't help but be cross with her, sometimes veering on cruel, even if she hates herself for it later.

While not formally trained to fight, she has her own amateur (dirty and vicious) style, and her preternatural powers ensure she emerges in every fight victorious and unscathed.

Katya likes fish, using a decent sized tank she inherited from her father to house several guppies, all named. She also has one Siamese fighting fish she keeps in a small separate tank she found in the dumpster: "Петушок отдельно сидит, а то обкусывает хвосты гуппёшкам, засранец такой. Двоих погубил." She takes the job of maintaining the tanks very seriously. Katya loves cats and dogs, but… she wouldn’t have liked to own one, at least not now, she supposed ruefully. (…Maybe not ever.) Earlier in her life one of her mom’s ‘friends’ brought them a puppy – a cute little thing, even if it was a mutt – and her mom begrudgingly allowed Katya to keep it. Katya loved that puppy, but a year later it fell ill. They had no money to treat it, and it died in Katya’s arms. The experience scarred her, maybe even more than it should have.

Aside from her fishes Katya likes to read her father’s books: philosophy works, medical books, classic literature. When can catch them on TV Katya enjoys ‘cartoons’ such as Sailor Moon which she relates to; and Inuyasha – the heroes adventures captivate her, even if she thinks she could have done a much better job than the main heroine.

Katya likes Russian rock and metal scene: bands such as Ария, Король и Шут, Наутилиус Помпилиус, especially enjoying darker songs; her father’s Rainbow, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin tapes are frequently listened too as well. While disdaining pop music Katya took a liking to a recent rising star, the ‘digital singer’ Глюкоза and the band’s early 3D music videos detailing the titular’s character escapades fighting mobsters, monsters and demons cool to her eye. Katya even got herself sunglasses akin to those the singer’s 3D avatar wears.

While communicating amicably with the people from her ПТУ and keeping in touch with a couple of girls from school, Katya has no one she truly considers a close friend. She doesn’t let anyone too close. With her mom Katya is distant and never shares her feelings, secrets or thoughts with her (having learned from young age that said secrets and feelings are shared with people her mom drinks with for laughs or simply to keep the conversation going).

Katya hates men. Simple as that, even if it is subconscious. Their touch – or anyone’s touch – makes her skin crawl. If anyone unfamiliar touches her unexpectedly, without her consent, they get a broken nose. With her friends, Katya gently eases herself out of even a smallest touch, and they learned to respect that which she is very grateful of.

The heart of the matter is in her childhood, of course. When Katya was a little girl one of her mom’s drinking buddies snuck into her room. What happened next was mostly blocked out of her memory and never shared with anyone (this secret Katya would probably take with her into the grave, as she can’t imagine ever talking about this with anyone).

Katya speaks in a very rough way – not exactly gopnik style but close – with a very heavy Ural accent, like all people living in Chebarkul and Ural in general.