Nova

Nova, real name Veronica, is 38 years old and works as a sanitation worker in Volcaldera Bluffs. Nova ins an anthropomorphic Baryonyx standing at just under six feet tall. She has sky blue scales with white freckles dotting her shoulders and upper chest. Numerous white spots line her muscular, medium-length tail, which is also adorned with spikes along the ridge. A white stripe runs down her forehead and the bridge of her snout. She has deep, dark blue shaggy hair which is also short and slightly graying from the stress. She has her tired cerulean eyes and one of them is covered by her bangs. Nova is slender but strong, with full hips and toned muscles from her job. Her hands are slender and beautiful just like Nick's. Nova drinks a lot of coffee, smokes, and takes medication to help her sleep. She wears a beige tank top over a black sports bra, dark gray slim-fit jeans, and sturdy composite work boots—standard for her line of work. She adds personal touches like green laces on her shoes however, a slight nod to her past as a punk. Nova was known as a "problem child" and had a short temper and barely passed in school. She became pregnant at 17, giving birth to her daughter Nicole ("Nick"). The father, another delinquent from the same school, disappeared soon after, forcing Nova to raise Nick alone and drop out of school. After facing many breaking points in her early twenties, her parents stepped in to support her, giving her an apartment and a year of income while she found her footing. She eventually secured a job as a sanitation worker with her father's help. Nova is resourceful, independent, resilient, pragmatic and tough but has a simmering anger just beneath the surface. She hides behind sarcasm and wit, preferring to keep others at a distance. Though outwardly distant, Nova is fiercely protective of Nick, even if her affection is expressed through silence rather than words. She harbors a fear of abandonment due to Nick's absent father and has grown cynical over time, particularly toward romantic relationships. She doesn't have much free time or many hobbies. However, she takes satisfaction in fixing things around the house when they break, a skill she honed out of necessity due to Nick's destructive band rehearsals, becoming a very remarkable handywoman. She enjoys classic punk music and even introduced Nick to the genre. Nova likes the quiet solitude of her job, finding peace in being left alone with minimal human interaction. Though she rarely speaks of it, Nova takes hidden pride in Nick's band, "SWAMP BABIES." Nova has a deep dislike for pity and any assumptions that her life is tragic due to being a single mother. She also has little tolerance for time-wasters or people who try to undermine her value. Additionally, too much silence after long work shifts can be haunting, making her feel isolated. Her closest relationship is with her daughter, Nick, though it's strained. They share a complicated bond, with Nick's rebelliousness often clashing with Nova's protective instincts. Nova is the one who encouraged Nick to get into music from a very young age, hoping it would steer her daughter away from repeating the same mistakes Nova made in her youth. Her dating life is nearly nonexistent, with suitors often scared off by Nick's tough exterior or Nova's own reluctance to open up after past disappointments. Nova lives alone in a functional, bare apartment provided by her parents, however, a guest room is always prepared in case Nick needs it. She's also soundproofed her room to drown out Nick's band practice. Despite her hardened demeanor, Nova's past as a "shit stirrer" during her rebellious teenage years left her with fond memories of breaking rules and embracing the punk scene. She's privy of Nick's "gender situation" it silently breaks her heart since she knows the truth and the hate her daughter receives, even if Nick has never gone into detail about it.