i kept being alive when i should have been burning

» HANDLE: Laura
» CONTACT: locution / locution
» AGE: Over 18
» CHARACTER(S) IN-GAME: N/A

» NAME: Lieutenant Ellen Ripley
» CANON: Alien
» CANON POINT: Post-Aliens, after she and the gang go into hypersleep
» AGE: Early 30s

» SETTING: GENERAL INFO / RIPLEY SPECIFIC
» SHORT DESCRIPTION: pragmatic, resilient, decisive, protective, emotional*
( *Particularly when angry, Ripley is prone to swearing and physically aggressive outbursts, including pettily using automatic doors to stop someone from exiting a conversation and decking a double-crossing middle manager. She also breaks down over the losses she suffers over the course of the series. )

» INFLUENTIAL EVENTS:

JOINING THE US MERCHANT NAVY & WEYLAND-YUTANI
With a background in engineering and a tenure as a commercial pilot, Ripley's career was defined by practicality. Her experience in the US Merchant Navy fostered an appreciation for discipline and respect for the law, with Ripley alone defending protocol and hierarchy in Alien (much to the annoyance of her laidback coworkers). However, much of her space voyages occurred on commercial freighters, including her turn as warrant officer of the Nostromo — that is to say, in pursuit of a paycheck, counting down the hours left on each shift. As such, she was content with her middle-ranking position and held no grand ambitions. She travelled not in pursuit of discovery or peace-keeping, but rather out of a desire to provide for herself and her daughter, Amanda.

Due to her growing disinterest with corporate voyages and desire to spend more time with Amanda, she intended for her most recent trip to be her last.

ENCOUNTERING THE ALIEN
After the Company (Weyland-Yutani) ordered the Nostromo to investigate an unknown signal on planet LV-426, a parasitic alien attached itself to one of her fellow crewmates and impregnated him, breeding a creature (known as a xenomorph) fearsome enough to hunt the crew. Showing her characteristic unsentimental steel, Ripley denied her captain's orders to admit the contaminated crew member and stood by her decision even when reprimanded. She believed it necessary not only because of her dedication to procedure, but also due to her cool assessment of the potential danger. Trusting her gut instincts and utilizing her observational skills, only Ripley noticed the suspicious nature of the mysterious transmission. In her dogged pursuit of answers, Ripley managed to uncover a corporate conspiracy (where her captain failed to ask the right questions) and identified a traitor in the crew's midst. Throughout the conflict, she displayed a take-charge attitude and composure, even as her crewmates were picked off one by one. Furthermore, she never doubted her intelligence and hunches. Her tendency to trust her judgment above others only magnified after she was proven correct on all counts.

LOSING THE NOSTROMO CREW
After her crew was picked off one by one, Ripley alone survived through a mix of resourcefulness and sheer determination, jettisoning the xenomorph into deep space. Despite their lack of camaraderie, the loss of the crew grieved and frightened her, haunting her nightmares. Due to their loss, she retained a deep respect for order and regulations (as they could have saved her crew) but developed a keen suspicion of corporations. In general, Ripley became hardened, with her natural skepticism validated by her experiences. After being found and awoken by the Company, her story was not believed, leaving her alone, rank-less, and anxious. She also learned that her daughter had died while she was in hypersleep. Consequently, her dealings with the Company shifted, characterized by dry and cutting remarks along with outright aggression over their dismissal of her. She outright insulted her superiors, asking, "Did IQ's drop sharply while I was away?" and deemed the Company's bottom line to be "bullshit."

She never doubted that she knew the truth of what happened on LV-426.

CHOOSING TO FACE THE ALIEN AGAIN
Company man Burke informed her that her fears of the alien's return may have become a reality after a colony on LV-426 went offline. Despite her reservations, Ripley agreed to investigate on the condition that any aliens would be killed. She did so both for her own peace of mind and to protect any remaining colonists, the rescue team, and humanity itself.

Even after the Company deemed her expendable, Ripley retained a belief in justice and sense of honour. This led her to return to the colony and later to condemn Burk. When Burke revealed himself to be a traitor, Ripley verbally denounced him as scum but still advocated for returning him to the station alive, if only so he could be held accountable for his actions. When she arrived on the decimated colony, she met its lone survivor: a young girl (Newt), reminiscent of her daughter. Her instant connection with Newt showcased her continued interest in personal attachments and fiercely protective instincts, even drawing her into a nest overrun with aliens and their monstrous queen. Even if she only saved one little girl (and killed countless alien predators), Ripley knew she had made the right choice.

» FIT:

With her professional experience manning space freighters and track record of surviving space horrors, she fits well aboard the Reverie Terminal. Still, she was recently diagnosed with PTSD and comorbid generalized anxiety disorder, likely due to her encounter with the xenomorph, so she will experience difficulty adjusting to this foreign and frightening station. Although without her recently established personal network (including Newt, a charming marine, and a loyal android), Ripley's adaptability and hardiness will serve her well.

» POWERS: She's a bog-standard human, albeit with an impressive aeronautics background, along with a history of working and kicking ass in outer space.
» NOTES: N/A