Out of Character InformationName: Al
Username: (if applicable)
cottonandiceAre you over the age of eighteen? Pretty sure I'm still over eighteen since the last app I put in.
Current characters in Baedal:
the_in_houseIn Character InformationBasicsCharacter Name: Olivia (“Fauxlivia”) Dunham
Username:
ruinedu2Fandom: FRINGE
Played By: Anna Torv
Icon: http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/112873221/40916028Canon Character Section Physical Description: Olivia Dunham is in her early thirties, tallish, with blonde hair dyed auburn, worn long and with a fringe. She dresses practically, casually, and appropriately for her job, in dark cargo pants and jackets, while favouring splashes of colour in her choices of shirt. Her green eyes are bright and expressive, and she's quick with a smile. Her work is physically demanding, requiring her to take care of herself, and it shows. Her frame is lean, but toned. She's no brute, but it's obvious she possesses some strength. That she carries herself with confidence and authority only helps to further exemplify that strength.
Sexuality: Canonically, Olivia has been shown exclusively in heterosexual relationships. She was engaged, and had an affair that resulted in a pregnancy (as well as the dissolution of her engagement), suggesting at least a strong preference for men. It's possible that the right woman could come along and turn Liv's head, but she isn't likely to be the pursuer in such a situation. If she feels it could benefit her mission, Olivia isn't above flirting with either gender in order to obtain trust, though she's more likely to suggest that the result will be friendship over any sort of sexual relationship. Especially anything meaningful.
History: Olivia Dunham, "our" universe
at Fringe Wiki and
at Fringepedia.
Olivia Dunham, alternate universe at Fringepedia and
at Fringe Wiki. (The way the articles are written, it's easier to look at Olivia for foundation, and then “Fauxlivia” to see how she differs.)
Here is some bonus information on how the alternate universe “Fauxlivia” comes from varies from ours. I'll be taking her from the episode
6:02 AM EST.
Olivia Dunham comes from a world that started coming apart at the seams when she was only a child. In a universe parallel to Olivia's own, a boy named Peter Bishop died. He was by all accounts a very ordinary boy, but he was loved by a father of extraordinary intellect. Walter Bishop, a brilliant scientist, was so anguished by this loss that he could not bear to let Peter's counterpart in Olivia's home universe suffer the same fate. So it was that the boy's father crossed over to Olivia's universe from his own, and took the other Peter back to his world, where he could treat his illness and cure him. He had every intention of returning the boy to his rightful home...
Things just didn't work out that way.
Walter's act of intended kindness had disastrous consequences. Taking Peter from his world began events that were slowly destroying that world. Vortices opened up, tears seemingly in the universe itself, and thousands upon thousands died. Over the years, this became the norm. These destabilising moments were called Fringe events, and a division of the Department of Defense, headed by that universe's Walter Bishop, was devised. Technology was developed, and Fringe Division contained these Fringe events, minimising the loss of life as best as could be hoped for. But that was only part of it. Entire species were dying out, diseases like cholera and smallpox ran rampant, and though humanity is an adaptive species, clever and cunning with all their gizmos and gadgets...
They could not reverse the damage. The end of the world was inevitable; they could only delay it.
Olivia Dunham grew up fairly ordinarily, given the circumstances. But should you ask anyone in the world, they could cite a story of personal tragedy, and Olivia was no exception. Hers would arguably be the loss of her beloved sister Rachel in childbirth, to a virus called VPE. That virus also claimed the life of Rachel's daughter. Despite this, Olivia and her mother Marilyn both soldiered on.
Quite a bit more literally, in Olivia's case. She joined Fringe Division, a very good fit for her. She was a talented marksman – with an Olympic medal to show for her efforts – in addition to simply being an excellent field agent. She showed a determination in her work, the efforts to keep people alive longer. To keep her entire universe intact longer. She weathered all manner of strange and bizarre incidents without hardly batting an eye, speaking strongly to her adaptability.
She was also ruthlessly efficient.
It was for this reason that when a group of agents from the universe parallel to hers invaded, she was chosen to replace their version of Olivia Dunham. Over there, with the help of her shapeshifter agents, she began assimilating the details of that Olivia's life, dyeing her hair back to her natural blonde to match, figuring out her likes and dislikes. One thing was absolutely true: they were not the same woman.
Their skills differed, largely due to the experiments with Cortexiphan that the other Olivia had undergone. They gave her tele- and pyrokinesis, and she was also gifted with eidetic memory. To compensate for the lack of that was a struggle, but this Olivia was a skilled liar, able to deflect suspicion when she would screw up a detail. Ready with an explanation for every moment misremembered. Down to thinking Ronald Reagan had been the star of Casablanca.
Part of her mission was to observe Peter Bishop, whom the other Olivia worked closely with and had romantic feelings toward. She took advantage of those, seducing him so he would be more forgiving of her slip-ups, while she searched for pieces of a machine capable of saving her universe. Somewhere along the line, she fell in love with Peter, just as the other Olivia had. When her ruse was finally discovered, after she'd recovered the parts she needed, she confessed that what began as an assignment developed into something real.
Not that he believed her, and she couldn't blame him for it.
With the help of one of her shapeshifter agents, she was able to crossover again back into her own universe. Shortly before that, the other universe's Olivia had escaped and crossed back into her own universe through the use of her Cortexiphan-enabled ability.
The machine piece delivered, her mission accomplished, Olivia was able to return to her old life, and her fiancé, Frank Stanton. No one was the wiser that she had even been gone, since the other Olivia had been brainwashed into believing this life was hers. Frank proposed marriage shortly after Olivia's return, and she accepted. ...Somewhat to the chagrin of fellow agent Lincoln Lee – now her new boss, promoted after former head Phillip Broyles' disappearance – who had harboured rather thinly veiled feelings for Olivia for quite some time. All the same, he gave his blessing, more concerned about seeing her happy than with him.
But the happiness was not to last, as after being kidnapped on a mission and believing she was infected with a parasite, it was discovered that Olivia was pregnant. Despite that no one knew she hadn't been in her own universe for quite some time, Stanton, an epidemiologist, had been elsewhere dealing with an outbreak of smallpox. There was no way he was the father of Olivia's child.
He was moved out of their apartment before she even arrived home.
Secretary Bishop offered Olivia his full support, telling her that he was aware she was carrying his grandchild. The identity of the child's father was kept a secret by both. Sadly, however, Olivia learned she was a carrier for VPE. To carry her child to term would likely kill the both of them. It was recommended by her doctor that she terminate her pregnancy.
Bishop had other plans. The DNA from his grandchild could be isolated, he reasoned, Olivia's stripped away so that only Peter's contribution remained. The machine that was meant to save their world could only be operated by Peter Bishop. Walter hoped that Peter's child – or his genetics – would be enough to activate it. So, he arranged to have Olivia kidnapped and her pregnancy accelerated, so the VPE would not be able to replicate fast enough to kill mother or baby.
Though she escaped her captors, it was only after she'd been brought suddenly to term. Finding a phone, she was able to call for help, and Lincoln Lee came to her rescue, with a cab driver named Henry in tow. Panicked and fearing for the life of her baby, Henry told her he had delivered a child in the back of his cab once, assuring her he would get her through this. Olivia made Lincoln promise that no matter what happened, he would save her baby. Her son.
Olivia nearly died in Lee's arms, but she gave birth to an otherwise healthy boy she named Henry. Motherhood was an unexpected turn in her life, but one she embraced readily. Her mother assured her that the trick to raising children was simply to love them, and the rest would follow, and Olivia reasoned she would soon find out how true that was.
While she recovered in the hospital, Bishop's scientists isolated Peter's DNA from a blood sample of Henry's. No one was the wiser about who was behind Olivia's kidnapping, or why it happened at all. Soon, Walter had the machine activated.
To save that universe, the machine would destroy the other universe. That universe would be subject to the same terrors their universe endured since the grieving father's misguided mission to save the life of a boy very much like his son, but not his son.
And that son would be destroyed along with the rest of them.
The machine's activation triggered all the warnings of a Fringe event, and Olivia was dispatched with her team on her day off to investigate. Upon arrival at Liberty Island, the team was informed it was a false alarm. Olivia knew better. After arranging for Lincoln to stay with Henry, and bring him to her mother's if she did not return, Olivia stole away to Liberty Island to steal the technology that would allow her to cross over to the other universe and warn them about what Secretary Bishop was trying to do. She believed Peter could convince Bishop to turn off the machine and spare his world, and the two could decide how to move forward from there. Anything to save both worlds.
Because she believed both worlds
could be saved.
The infiltration had been a success, as had securing the tech, but her intrusion had not gone unnoticed. Olivia evaded pursuit until she hit a dead end, and decided her only way out was to activate the technology and cross over to the other side.
Baedal had other plans.
Powers: “Fauxlivia” wasn't subjected to the Cortexiphan experiments Olivia Prime was, so she unfortunately doesn't possess the same telekinetic, pyrokinetic, psychic or empathic abilities of her alternate universe counterpart. She makes up for this by being a BAMF and a HBIC.
Talents/Abilities: Working for the Fringe Division of the Department of Defense, Olivia Dunham has all the skills expected of a field agent. She holds an Olympic medal in marksmanship, is more than proficient in hand-to-hand combat, and is able to perform emergency first aid if the situation calls for it. (Generally speaking, she can keep someone alive long enough for help to arrive, provided help can arrive in a timely manner.) She can pick locks, kick in doors, and sing the most soothing lullabies ever. I know you're jelly.
Personality: As a member of Fringe Division, Olivia Dunham possesses a dogged determination to her cases. Finding the causes of events that threaten the very fabric of her universe, and then containing them is something she understandably takes very seriously. Safe-guarding the people around her, both in a general sense and especially pertaining to those she's emotionally close to, is one of her top priorities and arguably the reason she chose the career path she's on.
For all that Olivia is dedicated and serious about her work, she's also quick with a smile and finds a lot of enjoyment in her life, even with something so dark looming as the end of days. Her colleagues for the most part are also her friends, which means she's likely to engage in playful banter in the field – though never inappropriately.
Her life is not without its dark shadows – her sister Rachel died in childbirth, followed by her daughter. Her fiancé Frank Stanton left her after he discovered her infidelity in perhaps the worst way for the both of them. An affair with a man named Peter Bishop while on assignment in the other universe resulted in a pregnancy, and while the other Olivia Dunham was living her life with Frank, he had been absent for some time to tend to a smallpox outbreak. The timing meant there was no way Stanton was the father of Olivia's unborn child, and he left. She was devastated by this, and it does haunt her still. She lost Peter, then Frank, and knew she would have to lose her child as well when it was discovered she was a carrier for the virus that killed Rachel and her baby.
A fighter, and against all odds and with to the help of well-meaning if sinister kidnappers, she and her child both survived an accelerated pregnancy. The experience has left her shaken, but profoundly grateful, because she can enjoy motherhood. A possibility she thought lost to her.
Her strong sense of justice dictates that she'll still prosecute her kidnappers, whoever they are. Henry's safety is her new priority, and woe be to any who would threaten that.
Being taken from her family, her friends, and her son will be jarring, but Olivia is at her core enduring and adaptive. She will do whatever it takes to return home.
Object: No item of any significance, but Olivia was carrying her wallet with ID and a few family photos, and was armed with firearms, ammunition, and a knife when she attempted to crossover to the other universe. She was also in possession of the technology meant to allow her to cross between universes.
Reason for playing: Samm will track me down and beat me if I don't app Liv. Olivia is used to strange happenings, which I think will allow her to integrate fairly easily into Baedal society. Olivia will allow me to be more aggressive where Kalinda is likely to be more subversive. I'm looking toward involvement with the Helsing branch, but have no concrete plans for her as yet.
She should totally join the Parents' Club, too.Gods: Eliandre or Gediron. Being an agent of the Department of Defense means Liv has a strong belief in what is just, giving her some appeal perhaps to Eliandre. On that same token, Olivia is also a warrior, which makes her a good fit for Gediron.
Writing Samples First-Person Network Post: Perhaps refreshingly, when video flickers into life, the person transmitting it is framed well, like they have experience with CiD equipment, or at least something similar to it. Green eyes focus on the lens rather than on her own image. “My name is Olivia Dunham,” the auburn-haired woman offers. For all that she isn't in familiar surroundings, she shows no sign of panic. “I'm an agent with the Department of Defense. I was in the middle of a mission... This was not my destination. Is there someone out there who can let me out of this room?”
Agent Dunham's brows furrow faintly and her gaze flickers up, likely toward the door in question. “Otherwise I'd like to speak to whomever's in charge.”
First-Person Journal Post: I need a clear head if I'm going to get out of this. If I'm going to see Henry again. My mother. Lincoln. I don't know if I can outrun them. I know I can't outrun a bullet. I don't think Secretary Bishop will have me killed, but I'm not going to stick around to find out. I think if I turn left up ahead, there's a way out.
Oh no. No, shit!
Shit! Blocked off. It's now or never, Liv. Keep breathing, and take a quick crash course in Crazy Universe-Hopping Technology. How hard can it be? At least you don't need injections this time, no shapeshifters. Awful familiar, you were running when you crossed back again. So this should be a piece of cake. You just have to find Peter. How hard can that be? Just announce yourself to the nearest police officer and that should get their Broyles' attention real quick.
On the count of three. One... Two...
Three.
Third-Person Action Post: There was a certain satisfaction to the sound of her footsteps echoing in the cold and barren halls on the way to Newton's cell. A good ending to a terrible day. The loss of her agent was regrettable, or was about to be, but she was a capable agent. She had the drive to succeed all on her own. She didn't
need the shapeshifter's help.
She slid the door panel aside, perfect level for her to peer through to where he remained seated. Her gaze remained impassive as he looked up and asked her one simple question. “Is the Van Horne disc secure?”
“It is.” She didn't attempt to hide the satisfied tinge to her tone. She set a small, thin, square sheet on the ledge cut away in the door. He stood then, and examined it. He knew what it meant, and
wisely, he didn't protest. But he couldn't help but state his case. “You're going to have a very difficult time without me, you know?”
“Well,” she smiled then, “There are plenty of machines
here.” In this other universe – this place the two of them had so perfectly infiltrated. Her gaze hardened. “I can befriend a vacuum cleaner.”
Amusement brought the corners of Newton's mouth up, making a series of three creases on his face that only served to make him look more cheery. In spite of everything about to happen. He was handsome. She'd remember him handsome. “You're very good at that.”
“At what?” she demanded.
“At continuing to try to convince yourself that you don't care.” A beat of silence passed between them, charged, but not necessarily tense. “But you do care, don't you?
“Every night, when your head hits the pillow, in the last moments before you go to sleep, your emotions betray you.” His eyes crinkled around the edges with mirth. He was enjoying challenging her competency, and he watched that carefully too-neutral expression as he did so. “And you question your ability to pull this off.
“Words like
integrity, self-respect - they haunt you. They form a line you're unwilling to cross.” He didn't dare laugh, but Olivia suspected that he wanted to when he got to his punchline. “And that will lead to your undoing.”
Her nostrils didn't even flare. If her emotions betrayed her at all, it was
only in those moments just before sleep. In the sanctity and dark of her own (the Other Olivia's own) bedroom.
“But I suppose that's not my problem anymore,” Newton concluded.
Olivia waited only scant seconds before she slid the hatch closed again without any other outward indication of her thoughts. She turned away from the door and started back down the hall again, mind racing as she kept her pace deceptively leisurely, though purposefully measured.
It was the last time she would see him. In moments, he would be laying on the floor of his cell in a puddle of his own mercury-blood. Dead at her hands just as surely as his own. And in those final moments, they both would know that he was right about her.
But after those moments passed, and Newton was gone, Olivia would be the the last and the only one to know.
MiscOther: I have no intention of the tech Olivia stole to allow her to jump between universes to work at all in Baedal, but I think there's some RP potential in her carrying it over with her. If it's a can of worms, however, I'm more than happy to say it got lost to the ether in the transition.