» PLAYER INFORMATIONPlayer NAME: Koree
Current AGE: 28
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sweettalker » CHARACTER INFORMATIONCharacter NAME: Starfire (Koriand'r)
Canon & MEDIUM: Teen Titans
Canon PULL-POINT: Post series
Character AGE: 16-17 (Approximate)
Character ABILITIES: Abilities - Teen Titans Wiki
Character HISTORY: Teen Titans Wiki - Starfire: History
Character PERSONALITY: Starfire is the most sensitive member of the team, surprisingly enough if you know the first part of her history. She's a bubbly, giggly, caring young girl striving to fit in on Earth and learn all of its customs. Overall she's a very virtuous person, but she has her playful side, finding plenty in life to rejoice in, to smile and laugh about.
In some instances she can be very patient (she waited for what might very well be about two years for Robin to come around to the romantic tension between them, but admittedly her feelings were largely unopposed also), but most of the time she displays charming quirks and a knack for getting into things kind of the same way a kitten manages to get into all kinds of things around the home.
For starters? She thinks that mustard is a beverage, not a condiment.
She mistook mint frosting and ice cream for pizza toppings.
She thinks that chickens are adorable, and plays with them like one would play with parakeets or canaries.
She sleeps with her head hanging off the edge of the bed and her feet on the pillow.
Did I mention that she drinks mustard like it's Dr. Pepper?
Her way of speaking tends to err on the extremely polite side, and she seems to regard things in a formal manner. Traditions are to be observed, she's not really much for just randomly cutting loose if ONLY because she's striving so hard to blend in (while still being herself) that she finds procedures easier to follow. You would NEVER GUESS by personality alone that she was actually the second born of the high rulers of Tamaran, a planet whose people are natural born warriors. Make no mistake, though. You see that nice Beemer over there? Starfire could punt that thing around like it was a hacky sack and then kick it across the city like a soccer ball (Note: This will be capped if the mods request it.).
She's also pretty much optimism personified on a daily basis.
From the perspective of your average Earthling Starfire is very friendly (very, VERY friendly), even to strangers.
We're not talking about your average friendly and optimistic, Starfire is naively friendly and optimistic. It's not even really a matter of ignorance or being too trusting, rather it's that Starfire chooses to see the good in others and believes that no one is beyond forgiveness and redemption. She has a very pure heart and is unfamiliar with human culture, but her sincere nature, open mind, and strong heart endears her to almost everyone that she meets. She's always well intended and seldom gets angry. Starfire is loyal, brave, and even tempered, if a bit clueless. She constantly butchers various idioms and sayings ("Potatoing the couch", "the mall of shopping", "kick the butt", and "opening a can of the butt whoop" being just a few examples). The others seem to expect this as just the way Starfire speaks, however, since no one corrects her on it. As a princess of Tamaran she has also been shown to have a strong sense of obligation to her people. Galfore had to advise her to listen to her heart not only for Tamaran, but also for her own sake. She seems to have taken the lesson to heart. While she still often puts the needs of others above her own she also seems more willing to stand up for herself and fight for what she wants, certainly when it comes to her sister at least. When it comes to Robin and being more assertive about her feelings...? That's another matter ENTIRELY.
According to the "Go!" comic series Starfire was fairly young when her home planet was attacked by the Gordanians. Her home world was once a lush, vivacious tropical one with an atmosphere similar to that of Earth's, but the battles reduced it to a desert wasteland with permanently overcast skies.
Tamaraneans harness the power of their emotions to function from the moment of birth (as stated by Starfire: Even newborns can fly.). Unbridled joy, righteous fury, and bounding confidence for example. It makes them an unbelievably powerful race of fighters and yet it also leaves them incredibly vulnerable.
The people of Tamaran are warriors. They don't even have a word for "nice"! Starfire comments that the closest word is "rutha" which means "weak". On Tamaran kindness and displays of affection are only to be shown in private rather than public-- at least around strangers --and in general are viewed as weakness. Also according to Starfire the only person to show her kindness back home was her caregiver, Galfore, however she does have one older sister (Komand'r/Blackfire) and younger brother (Wildfire). It seems strange that her immediate family wasn't included in this list, but again-- according to the comics --Starfire DOES actually have a good relationship with at least Wildfire, and their parents (Myand'r and Luand'r) clearly cared the world for their children because they died of grief when Wildfire was lost.
This happened because Blackfire betrayed her planet and her people by striking a deal with the Gordanians. There's conflicting information on whether Wildfire was sent away to save his life or if he-- like Starfire --was sold into Gordanian slavery by Blackfire, but either way the two younger siblings were forcefully separated from their home. It was the last time that either child would see their parents, since as I mentioned before they fell ill and died of grief.
Before that, beyond that Starfire is a happy individual. I don't think that the Tamarnean's way of life is necessarily equivalent to anger and brutality. Though many of their customs, puberty, and even their approach to battles for the throne might be "survival of the fittest" they do portray a certain sense of community and loyalty to their fellow Tamaraneans. They do not as a whole seem to be as bright as more intellectual races, but Starfire continually expresses a surprising level of understanding for things when in the company of her friends, so I think it's safe to say that as warriors part of their natural skill set is to be observant of their surroundings. In a way they ARE quite intelligent, but they are still regarded as simple "muscle" and treated as such as slaves and when looked down upon by other aliens as "barbaric" and incompetent (see "Troq").
I think that all of this culminates to create the version of Starfire that the Titans first encounter in the episode "Go!" (Season 5; Ep. 62), in which she has just FURIOUSLY escaped her Gordanian captors and flees to Earth. She addresses the people of Earth in an incredibly aggressive manner while looking for someone to unlock her hand restraints. Some poor idiot snaps a photo and the flash of the camera as well as their distrustful and terrified reactions only anger her more. She proceeds to seemingly trash the city in an effort to get out of her shackles. While attempting to break the handcuffs that confined her she drew the attention of four local heroes (Robin, Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy), incidentally bringing them all together for the first time.
In Starfire's defense the Titans (then individual heroes) didn't exactly try the tactful approach when they met her either. Robin attacked her and started a fight upon sight in an effort to keep her from destroying the city. This issue was compounded by the fact she did not speak English at the time. Beast Boy and Cyborg join in and she is immediately distrustful of them all when they later try to offer her assistance (only at Raven's intervention). The first thing that she does when Robin gets her cuffs off is to grab him and kiss him-- I mean, you know. To learn English.
Yeah. That's it. >_> (Okay no, really, that WAS it.)
Starfire goes on to order them to leave her alone unless they wish to be destroyed. It likely sounded more like a threat than a warning, but the truth of the matter was that she was indeed warning them to leave her be since the Gordanians were after her. She didn't wish to be responsible for the destruction of an innocent city and its people no matter how ill-received and unwelcome she felt. This is proven later when the Gordainian's leader announces that (due to the heroes resistance and direct interferance) Jump City would be destroyed. Starfire yells at Robin for "the being nice" after she'd explicitly told him to leave her alone. This was frustration and guilt speaking, clearly, because otherwise she would not have agreed to stay to help defend the city and defeat her captors. Starfire placed her trust in Robin and the others and was not disappointed by the results.
That said, it took some convincing, but eventually Starfire came around to accept their help and together they defeat the Gordanians pursuing her. Feeling welcomed and content for the first time in a long time she chooses to make her new home on Earth with her new found friends. She has stopped speaking and acting aggressively and reveals a very sweet and playful side to herself. It's very apparent by the rest of the series exactly how much Robin's risk to show her so much kindness has rubbed off on her (In the movie after the end of the series she expresses that she's had feelings for him ever since they met.), as she is even polite when addressing enemies and for the most part insists on fighting fairly.
On the OTHER end of the spectrum: Blackfire has always been Starfire's polar opposite. Where Starfire is warm and friendly, outgoing, trusting, and fiercely loyal Blackfire is manipulative, shallow, untrustworthy, and selfish. Her main interest is in what other people have be that friends, possessions, even love interests.
Over the course of the series she has several major developments and encounters. In the second episode we meet her sister, Blackfire (Komand'r). Blackfire is secretly on the run from the Centuri police for stealing a precious stone from them. Upon arriving at Earth she quickly passes off the jewel to Starfire under the guise of a gifted necklace. At first Starfire is overjoyed to see her sister again (begging the question of if Blackfire's betrayal was public knowledge-- doubtful), but quickly realizes that nothing has changed since the last time they were together. Blackfire immediately claims the spotlight. Starfire's insecurities about fitting in on Earth come to light in a major way. Despite having just arrived that same day her sister seems to be dialed in to just the right station. Starfire doesn't fully understand Earthling slang yet, and even the way the sisters talk is completely different. Blackfire is laid back and seems to have no trouble picking up the language (slang and all), dazzling the other Titans with stories of her exploits. In fact, Blackfire doesn't even need to LEARN English, coupled with the fact that she's so at ease on Earth suggests that this is NOT her first visit, though likely her first time in Jump City itself.
Starfire becomes a bit jealous and hurt by feeling as though she is being replaced, especially after the Titans invite Blackfire to become a member of the team. Starfire then decides perhaps it's best if she lets this happen, but Robin stops her before she can go, seeming to understand exactly what was going through her mind. The Centuri police arrive just then as the two share a moment and mistakenly chase and capture Star. When they finally clarify that they've gotten the wrong sister she confronts Blackfire, who has always been better at "everything". Starfire proves, however, that her time on Earth has given her the edge over her sister in the fighting department. Blackfire swears payback, but Star doesn't seem concerned.
Much of the Titans series is episodic rather than following any sort of steady plot line, with a few exceptions. Even so Starfire managed to have a few character centric episodes, I've covered some of the major ones, but not all (that's a LOT of episodes to cover).
In one episode the Titans have a huge fight with one another on the day of Blorthog, the Tamaranean holiday for renewing friendships. Unfortunately the timing is off. Starfire walks in on a scene where all four of her friends are fighting with one another over something. Realistically it's just the result of shoving five teenagers into one apartment with no supervision, they're bound to bicker and fight now and then, right? Starfire doesn't see it that way. She's not from Earth, after all, and also being so sensitive to the emotions of others as well as her own she becomes overwhelmed by everything that she sees. She addresses her fears that the fighting will lead to them drifint apart and their friendship dying, and though Robin, Beast Boy, and Raven all TRY to reassure her she remains unconvinced.
That's the moment that they leave to fight Warp, and out of frustration Starfire ends up chasing him into his portal as he's escaping. She blames him for ruining Blorthog (though honestly he had NOTHING to do with it), uncharacteristic-- true --but everyone has a breaking point, and endangering her friends and (even worse, because they're honestly pretty capable physically:) their friendship is definitely one of them. She seemed to just be looking for someone to take her anger out on, again that's unusual for Star, but her desperation and anger made it possible for her to keep going.
It isn't until much later in the series, but in the episode "Troq" we get a little insight to the treatment of Starfire's people by other races and a huge taste of her strength of character and principle. A racist alien named Val-Yor arrives on Earth and recruits the Titans to help with a mission to an alien planet. Through the entire episode he is condescending to Starfire and uses the racial slurs "Troq" and "Troqqi", but in such a way that the Titans easily mistake it for a nickname like he's given the rest of them, partly due to being starstruck as well. Starfire holds her tongue and bears it tolerably (this speaks volumes for her as a person, I think), but reveals that it bothers her greatly when Cyborg mistakenly refers to her as a Troq. Once it's all been explained to Robin and the others she stops him from coming to her defense and proves herself the bigger person by saving Val-Yor's life despite his treatment of her and insistance that she can't help. She remarks that he may hold little value of her life but that she still values his. Afterwards he makes a poor attempt at making peace by remarking that she "must be one of the good ones", but still seems to be missing the point. Seeing that he will not change his mind or properly apologize the Titans kindly ask him to take a hike, and Starfire reveals that the reason she was able to endure his harsh treatment is that she fully understands whose opinions she should value.
» EXSILIUM INFORMATION
Chosen WEAPON: Existing -- Her starbolts
Chosen SKILLSET: Fighter
» SAMPLES
First PERSON: [ The recording picks up with a skewed view of the scene of a disaster area. From where it's propped at an angle on the counter it literally looks like a yellow paint bomb went off in this kitchen. Since this is a video it might be difficult to identify, but the substance on the walls looks suspiciously like either mustard or cheese.
... Or both.
In the epicenter of the explosion stands Starfire, normally orange with vibrant red hair now temporarily colored the same as the counters, walls, fridge, stove, and parts of the ceiling. There is melted mustard-cheese on the ceiling how is that even possible.
It doesn't look like she'll be speaking at first (her entire face is covered in goo...), but then a long, purple tongue emerges from about where her mouth should be and makes quick work of that area. She puts down the spoon and uses her free hands to wipe her eyes clean. ]
Yes! It is perfect! Though I was not aware that cooking this would be quite so... explosive.
[ There's a moment when Star reaches for a towel to help her clean her face-- OOPS. She's been broadcasting? For how long? Oh well. She puts on a bright smile anyway while she cleans her hair. ]
Friends! Oh, such delightful timing my recording device has! Many blessings and joyous greetings to you all. I have made the fondue! I am told that this is a popular past time among friends in most countries, yes? I have already prepared an assortment of wonderful foods for the dipping and consumption!
[ With pure Tamaranean strength Starfire does indeed lift TWO ARMS FULL of snack foods... not all of them great for fondue. Are those CANDY canes?? ]
I have obtained crackers, cookies, strawberries, tortilla chips, peppers, the sticks of bread, and the red and white canes of sugary delight! Won't you come and join me? There is enough for you all, and more!
Please, I wish to share. There are also movies so that we might enjoy potatoing the couch while we gorge ourselves on--
[ SPLAT.
... Well that's ONE way to end the video feed. Death by molten cheese. ]
Third PERSON: Being uncertain of how much abuse the training facilities could take (and nervous to try again after an incident with one of the punching bags) meant finding other ways to train in the meantime. Months and months ago Raven had shared the art of meditation with Starfire, something that she was glad to turn to when the situation became overwhelming. Twice now she'd barely escaped from "the masked" with her life. Twice she'd failed to find any answers to the questions she sought. If there was to be any hope of defeating them then they HAD to find a weakness, though Starfire thought rather optimistically that perhaps their future objective would make things easier.
Within moments of taking up her position above her bed she had her legs folded comfortably and her hands placed, thinking back.
Arriving in Exsilium, by far it wasn't the STRANGEST thing to ever happen to her, but it was perhaps the most disturbing. She wasn't keen on the idea of being stranded away from her friends in such a strange place, and there seemed to be no immediate response from the other Titans. What had happened, and how had they been separated? Would she ever see Jump City or her friends again?
Hmm... perhaps that was thinking a bit too far back, and simultaneously too far forward.
At least there would be plenty to keep her occupied in the meantime, such as the mystery behind the technology utilized by "the masked". "Focus your inner thoughts." Raven's words came back to remind her. It was... difficult (the feeling of being sick for her home was distracting at best), but eventually she managed.
The battle had been brief, but why? It took someone with great skill to bring the warrior Titan to her knees, but they somehow had managed while she herself hadn't even so much as made a scratch. Next time would be different. It HAD to be if she was to have any hope of seeing her friends again.
» ADDITIONAL NOTES
