Character Sheet for Zenaida Dove
Sex/Gender
female, female-identified
Species
White Dove (technically ringed turtle-dove) Streptopelia risoria
Character Description
Zenaida Dove is a sweet, caring dove. She’s the very model of the ‘nice’ teacher you remember from school. In her role as an English instructor she brings almost infinite patience and compassion in her quest to keep students interested in things like Shakespearean poetry, metaphor and the potential for the written word to inspire and challenge. Taking a class with her almost feels like visiting with your sweet aunt with some extra work on top. Of course, her interest in fostering her students can go further than the classroom and into more personal relationships. She normally teaches high school, but first year college literature is possible too.
Outside of the classroom Zenaida is a pretty unassuming person. She’s a bookish sort who spends most of her evenings reading. She seldom goes out, aside from the odd fancy restaurant visit (usually French) or a night going to the art gallery or history museum. She tends to wear conservative clothing that covers up her curvy body, as she’s usually too ashamed to show off much of herself.
Zenaida can be played single or married. If she’s single, she'll go on the odd blind date, or to mixer events (usually when her friends force her to go). When married, she’ll sometimes go out with her husband for the evening, but more often than not she'll be spending her milquetoast domestic life at home.
Personality
Zenaida is sweet and shy and caring more than anything else. True to her species, she doesn't have a violent bone in her body, When conflict occurs she tends to get passive and shy away, trying to smooth over any disagreements or find compromise. She wants to help everyone if she can. She also prefers quiet spaces and doesn't like to raise her voice.
She can get very passionate about literary arts, and will rarely get mad at people slandering ‘boring old books’ - she has opinions about the lack of reading and careful consideration in modern times. This is especially true when it comes to romance material, which she thinks gets unfairly criticized. She loves kids and teens and believes that every child has the potential to be a good person, and wants to help her students through the stormy transitory periods they’re navigating.
Likes/Dislikes
Likes:
Flowers, romance, violin music, sweets, french cuisine, paintings, movies, history, books, quiet evenings, rain, kind people, caring people, children and young people
Dislikes:
Loud noises, violence, ‘gritty realism’, cruelty, sour foods, pickles, war, people who dislike kids, horror and thriller movies, crowds
Background/History
Zenaida grew up in a small town to two very caring parents. Her family had once been farmers but they have moved into town to start a small store in the growing community. She was a single child but her parents didn't have much so she was never too spoiled. Zenaida as a child buried herself in the books from the town bookmobile while her parents were working long hours at the store. She devoured about everything she could read, from classic myth to plays to trashy romance and pulp sci-fi novels. And her hunger was for more. As a child she was pretty aloof - she had a few friends but she was definitely the nerd in school.
When she finished high school it was a natural thing that Zenaida go to university. She would be the first in her family to go and her parents pooled money to support her. Even then she had to work some nights as a nurse and dishwasher at the local hospital to keep herself afloat. This experience put her close to the reality of pain and injuries which she took as a motivator to be a person who would help people so they wouldn't have to suffer. But she was terrible at science and math, so the only clear path for her was a English Literature degree. After that she graduated from teachers college without issue. Her path was set - she knew she wanted to spread the joy of reading and help make more well rounded, sensitive people by introducing them to the literary classics.
She got placed in one of the larger cities not far from her hometown, in a high school (or college). She knew that she wanted to help those most in need. So began her career as a teacher which has extended to this day. Between then and now not much has changed; she’s gotten herself a small place, some dependable friends, maybe a husband. Her life still feels like it’s missing something though, but she can’t place what.
Relatives/Family
She has two elderly parents who are in a seniors apartment at this point. If included she has a husband and his family.
World/Setting
Flexible. Usually a modern world, perhaps with light fantasy elements.
Body
Zenaida is an all white dove with fluffy feathers. Her hands and feet are yellow scaled. Her eyes are a deep green and her ‘hair’ is also white feathered, which she usually draws up in a conservative bun or ponytail depending on the situation. Depending on how fit she is at the time she’s either moderately curvy or quite plump. Either way she’s got a cushy soft chest, quite naturally endowed with a bit of sag on her breasts.
Clothing
At home she’ll wear a casual sundress or dress, at work she usually wears a conservative purple suit or blouse and skirt, with a black bra and panties underneath. She always has rounded glasses on as her vision is quite bad.
Accessories
Sometimes she’ll wear a green necklace or pendant, and if she’s married, a wedding ring.
