UNITED STATES OF AMERICA |
Actor |
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P«MARTIN««ALEXIS««K««USA««««« |
5USA8908146F120S0«STUDENT/EMBASSY INTERN«« |
The earliest years of her Alexis Katarina Martin's life were perhaps the happiest — a sad fact, since she can barely remember them. Her parents were young, poor, and in love, which meant that life wasn't easy but it was happy when the small family was together. Unfortunately, keeping a family together isn't the goal of the United States Army, and her father, Ezra Martin, was sent around the world on dangerous missions while Lexie's mom struggled with being a young, and for all intents and purposes, a single mother of a small child. Living in a small town in the bay area of northern California, Maria and Lexie communicated with Ezra via phone and Lexie got to see him in short bursts of time when he came home between operations — those times were too few and too far between in the most literally sense of the phrase.
Maria's parents were a strong support system for their daughter and their granddaughter, the little blonde baby having both wrapped around her tiny little finger. They did not approve of Ezra and Maria's marriage, claiming Maria was too young and also, being Russian immigrants, they had harbored hopes of their daughter marrying the son of some close family friends, also Russian immigrants. They had enough money that Maria and Lexie didn't want for anything — except for Ezra — and they pressured Maria to leave her husband, unhappy with his career choice and insisting she could do better — for her sake and Lexie's.
Maria's life was cut short when she was killed in a car accident one morning after dropping Alexis off at school, the little girl having just begun kindergarten. Alexis' last memory of her mother was Maria waving at her through the rain-splattered windshield of her sedan. Lexie would remember the rain as tear drops, and, later on, would always be a bit afraid of driving in the rain, though it's by no means an incapacitating phobia.
Lexie's grandparents quickly gained custody of the child — with Ezra incomunicado god knows where, the courts were happy to keep the motherless child with family members. Unfortunately for father and daughter, Lexie's grandparents, feeling that Lexie was better off without her father in her life, managed to diminish his contact until it was non-existent. Alexis had an ever-diminishing memory of her father as it was, since she was so small and had not seen him for some time, and soon enough it was "out of sight, out of mind."
With her mother dead and her father off saving the world, Alexis thrived in the small town. Her grandparents owned a flower shop in the center of town; after school, she would go to the shop to work on her homework or help with work. She learned Russian fluently while excelling in school as well as sports: first ballet until it was clear she wasn't going to have the typical petite gymnast's body, she turned to diving and swimming, and later, in junior high, cheerleading and kick boxing.
At school, Alexis was popular, finding herself constantly surrounded by peers wanting her approval and following her lead, even when she wasn't trying to be a leader. She set trends inadvertently, and grew frustrated when something she had done to be unique would be picked up by her "entourage." Still, an only child with only middle-aged grandparents to talk to at home, Lexie enjoyed the attention and became the typical queen bee of her school: homecoming queen, head cheerleader, salutatorian, class president.
Her life seemed perfect to those peering in from the outside — Lexie was pretty and smart and popular, the world her oyster. She had boys falling at her feet and the entire school trying to be her friend, and unlike many students, she had a ticket out of the small town lifestyle. Lexie was going places.
While Lexie was bright, she wasn't brilliant or a genius — she didn't get offers of free ride scholarships to any school she chose, but she did get accepted to several universities. She selected Brown University, in pursuit of a double major of international relations and French with a minor in Russian — her goal to be an ambassador to either a Russian or French speaking country. She also made the cheerleading squad, continuing her reign as a queen bee.
Now 21, Alexis has chosen to study abroad for a year, and as of September 2010, is living in Paris where she is interning at an embassy while studying French literature and language at the Universite de Paris.
Charisma. Beauty. Confidence. Talent. Intelligence. Ambition.
These are the hallmarks of the typical "It Girl" or "Queen Bee." Every town and every school has them. It's not always the prettiest or the smartest or the wittiest. It's some magical combination of the qualities that makes this particular girl the center of their little universe, making everyone around them satellite planets in orbit — sometimes, whether the girl in question wants them to or not. From the first day in kindergarten, it is apparent who has the makings for this alpha female position and who doesn't — there are many potentials, but in the end there can only be one.
Alexis has been that girl her whole life — against all odds, and even, sometimes, against her own wishes.
Though her family background is hardly the typical "Queen Bee's" posh setting, Alexis has a sharp intelligence that results in a sharp tongue and sharp wit — she can be sarcastic, but she usually does not use that power to hurt the innocent. While her beauty and charisma naturally draw people to her, she has little patience with fake people and was actually one of those rare breeds of popular girls who really is "sweet once you get to know her."
When pushed, she'll push back, and when she sees someone weaker than she is being mistreated, she'll push their bullies even harder. Luckily, no one wants to piss off the girl with a hundred best friends, so Alexis is used to getting her way. That, and she was for all intents and purposes an only child, raised by doting grandparents.
Despite having a rough childhood, losing her mother to death and her father via estrangement, very few people have ever seen her as vulnerable or innocent — she is careful to always present a strong, capable face to the public. Her beauty may be an asset that could be used to manipulate people to get what she wants, but Alexis is determined to get by on wit and ability.
Ya govoru po-russki
She speaks and understands Russian fluently and with a fairly good though generic (not geographically specific) accent, thanks to her grandparents. Her writing and reading of it are good though not as fluent as a native speaker, due to starting that at a later date.
Je parle Francais
While already bilingual, speaking Russian and English, Alexis took French for four years in high school and became a bit of a francophile, making it her second major in college. With six years of French study and a few months of living in Paris behind her, she is fluent, though her accent and grammar still come across as a little bit "studied" rather than native.
Acrobatic, Athletic and Agile
Gymnastics, diving, kickboxing and cheerleading have made quite the athlete out of Alexis. She can jump, backflip, somersault, and cartwheel on ground or through the air. She has good endurance, stamina and strength thanks to years of training and conditioning. These skills, while usually put to work in cheerleading routines or at the gym, could one day transfer into a bit of parkour or self defense.
Flower Power
She's grown up in a flower shop. The girl has inherited a green thumb and a near encyclopedic knowledge of decorative plants, how to care for them, and how to arrange them.
Basic First Aid
Alexis has basic first-aid training, having taken a sports medicine course in high school.
My Dad Can Kick Your Dad's Ass
While she may be estranged from him, if she chose to ask for help, Alexis' dad is a special forces soldier turned spy. Not someone you want to piss off.
My Dedushka Can Kick Your Ass
She does not know this tidbit, but her grandfather is a Russian spy, and still pretty handy with a gun and a fist, plus he sees himself as Lexie's father. Anyone who messes with her will have to answer to him.
Friends in High Places
After attending Brown for a couple of years, Lexie has friends in high places. Or at least friends with parents in high places. These include a few senators, a governor, a couple of dozen high-faluting lawyers that she may be able to call on for favors. Or, there's always blackmail! A camera phone is a handy thing at college parties.
Pretty Woman
While she doesn't want to admit that being pretty earns her any benefit over someone less average, it does. Sometimes it makes people more willing to listen or pay attention. Other times, it makes them likely to underestimate her intelligence; this means she can fly under the radar while being the center of attention in a strange sort of paradox.
Naivete, thy name is Alexis
Lexie isn't the type to come across as sweet and vulnerable most of the time, but when it comes to espionage, she knows nothing, and ignorance in this world is something that can get you dead.
Disjointed
Alexis once dislocated her right shoulder in a cheerleading stunt. The shoulder is now very easy to be re-injured and the pain is incapacitating until someone puts it back in place. She hasn't yet mastered Mel Gibson's self-treatment style ala Lethal Weapon, however, and needs help with this.
Family Ties
Alexis would risk her life for her grandmother and grandfather without a question if they were in danger. She'll find that the same is true for her father, if he comes back into the picture, despite mixed feelings and a lifetime of feeling abandoned. This can be used against her.
Short Temper, Big Heart
Alexis has a soft spot for the underdog, those weaker than her, and she is willing to speak up when she sees them being bullied or oppressed or otherwise treated unfairly. This means her usual cool demeanor will suddenly give way to a hot temper and she'll take on those stronger and bigger than her if she sees someone being stepped on — even if it means she's stepped on along with them.