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Quiet, shy, and mousy; twenty-five years old; responsible and down-to-earth.
Appearance
Emma is 25 years old, and stands about 5'9". Her glossy black hair is very long, generally falling at the waist or hips. Emma frequently wears her hair pulled back in a long braid, sometimes hung over her shoulder. (Her hair can also be depicted as being floor length for giggles.)
Her eyes are a rich emerald green, often buried by her heavy lashes or stray strands of hair. Emma's eyes have a tired cast to them and have the appearance of never being fully open, unless surprised.
Emma has a healthy build, with slight curves and notoriously thin ankles, in her opinion. She has pale skin and burns easily. Her right shoulder and left arm above the elbow display old scars from burns received in her childhood. She also has some minor burn scars on her upper torso, as well as one severe scar across her right side.
Clothing
Emma typically wears casual clothing of solid colors or plain patterns. She generally wears long skirts or dresses and long sleeves, to hide her scars and pale skin. Even at home she wears similar, but older, clothing. She dislikes any form of revealing clothing, and her dresses or blouses are not very form-fitting. Emma wears comfortable shoes with very low heels. When the weather turns cold, she commonly wears a long, dark "duster" sweater with a small collar to it. Her clothing is known to be conservative and often appears outdated. On a rare occasion, she will wear simple accessories that are usually made by her sister or students (such as a paper flower or a simple beaded necklace/bracelet), which would most likely be brightest colors in her wardrobe.
Simple Dress Jumper may be shades of grey, black, brown, green
Casual Outfit may be any dark or dull color
Simple Dress may be any dark or dull color, or have "old fashioned" or outdated print/pattern
Simple Dress may be any dark or dull color, or have "old fashioned" or outdated print/pattern
"Fancy" Dress may be a dark color
Sweater may be a dull or neutral color or have an outdated print/pattern
Victorian Dress may be any dark color; from Victorian story arc
Victorian Jacket may be any dark color; no puffs on sleeves; from Victorian story arc
Evening Wrap worn over evening gown; may be longer
Personality
Emma is very shy and generally speaks only when necessary. She has few aspirations for her own life, and from the time she was a teenager she has had the responsibility of raising both herself and her younger sister Lizzy.
Though she is a very compassionate and patient teacher, she became a teacher simply because she did not know what else to do. She has no passion or strong interest to speak of. Although she is pleasant toward those she knows, Emma is frequently ignored or forgotten, and growing up she was considered "spooky" by those around her. Emma frequently worries about her sister, and is constantly haunted by the thought that she may have forgotten something or done something incorrectly.
Emma excels with structure and routine, and any disruption to her habits can lead to insecurity and discomfort. However, with the sudden appearance of Nicholas and Abigail, Emma's world is shaken so rapidly that she is left with no choice but to adjust. Here she finally begins to develop the ability to speak for herself and have the strength and courage to speak her mind - even if it is only that she would prefer juice over tea.
After meeting Nicholas, their blossoming friendship encourages her to believe she could have healthy relationships outside of her family, and empowers her to begin to stand up to Abigail. She realizes she has a great distance to stretch and grow before she can begin to have the confidence that a woman like Abigail displays, but she also resists this quality for fear that she will develop some of the more distasteful characteristics of the rude and sarcastic woman. Emma finds herself becoming frustrated and irritable around Abigail, especially when she perceives that Nicholas is being bullied or belittled.
Biography
Born and raised in a small Welsh town, Emma's housewife mother and somewhat unsuccessful inventor father were killed in an explosion at her father's garage workshop. Then-teenage Emma was badly burned, having scars to this day, after running in to the building to help her parents. Since that time, she has had the responsibility of raising her younger sister Lizzy, maintaining their parents' home through their small inheritance while she worked odd jobs to pay for food and clothing.
When she finally determined to attend a university, Emma sent Lizzy to live with an aunt who refused to take in the two girls at the time of their parents' death, citing that she would be unable to care for and feed two more mouths. Young Emma moved to the dormitory at her school, where she threw herself into her studies, unsure of what area interested her or what job she would like to work toward.
Finally Emma decided to become a teacher after being told that her patience and kind demeanor would serve her well in such a position. She accepted the first position she was offered, as a lower elementary school teacher. After graduating and beginning her first job, she moved back into her parents' home with her younger sister, and continues to support the pair and act as Lizzy's parent. She worries about her sister and becomes frustrated with her antics at times. When she is given the opportunity to take a lengthy holiday to travel Europe and visit London, Emma is excited at the prospect, but also gravely concerned that no one will be caring for her sister properly.
After much internal debate, Emma leaves of her trip determined to enjoy every moment and cherish every sight and experience. It is in London, while traveling down an aged street and gazing at a map that she first meets Nicholas, as he stumbles out of a bookstore with an armful of purchases. She later meets Abigail in the same city, where the noisy young woman accidentally spills tea on her at a coffee shop. She is surprised to meet Abigail again later when visiting Nicholas and discovered that Abigail is attempting to "kidnap" Nicholas. She quickly becomes caught up in the situation and in the end finds herself aboard The Tempest as well.
