*sighs and looks over the papers* All right, first things first, what's your real name? First and last.:

*her hands are clasped so tightly together that her knuckles are white* *stands very still and composed in front of the desk, her clenched hands the only betrayal of her forced calm demeanor* My name is Gertrude Brewster.

*looks at him suspiciously* Why do you ask? Well, I suppose it would make sense, for security reasons and whatnot, but... *shakes her head slightly, as if to shake off the thought* No, I'm afraid I don't have one. Though they occasionally call me Gert, if that counts. I'm not exactly a nick-namey kind of a person. *slight shrug*

I'm 18, born on March the third. *She looks older than she is, though not necessarily physically older. She looks stressed and tired, with circled eyes and a look of being wise beyond her years.*

Good lord, maybe I won't stay here after all. Why on earth would you need to know that? Police rules or something? Shady business, this... *again, shrugs her suspicion off and humors him* Well, in any case... I'm about 5 foot 8, of average build, with mousey brown hair and light green eyes. My hair's almost always pulled back into a bun. *pats her nose* This is my most notable feature, sad to say. It's rather large and... prominant. Three out of four seasons, I'm pale. *shrugs* I wear dark skirts and white or other pale blouses. I have a pair of good, worn black boots that I wear until the summer comes. I love going barefoot. Though I fail to see how that relates to anything... *shrugs* I try to keep tidy. I know I'm sure no Esmerelda, but I'm not at Quasimoto status et. If you catch me at just the right light, angle and wind conditions, I can appear to be almost pretty, but most of the time, like right now, *offers a slight, self-depricating smile* I'm not much to look at. Oh, and for the record, I have no major scars, no tattoos and no other easily recognizable physical characteristics.

*unconsciously wrings her hands a bit* *glances down at his papers before continuing* I'm no trouble, really. I tend to keep to myself and I'm not much of one to interact... You'll barely notice I'm in the house. Um... that about covers it, really- I'm barely noticable. And the whole 'look out for the quiet ones' thing is truly overrated. *pauses* If you get to know me, though, you'll see I'm more than I seem. I'm realistic, cynical, bitter, jaded, outspoken, tired, driven, honest and shy. I'm a whole lot of things. But hey, who isn't? *Gertrude is intelligent and educated, but hardly a show off. She doubts her abilities, and is her own worst critic. She likes her privacy, and most often hates to be the center of attention. Gertrude is really quite reserved and quiet, almost to the point where she seems detached. Though a genuinely nice person, her solitary nature often makes her come across as aloof and cold. Also, she definately has the makings of a "woman's libber".* *shrugs* I'm not really as horrible as I seem. *smiles a bit*

*looks away* What's your definition of a friend? I'd like to think so, I mean... All the people here seem to be really nice. Friendly. Well, mostly. *chuckles* There's always somebody who doesn't get it yet... That you gotta go along to get along, is all I mean. *shakes head slightly* What it comes down to, though, is it's not who I consider to be a friend, but who considers me to be one, that counts. *Gertrude is a sort of loner, but she want's desperately to change that. In modern terms, it could be said that she has a mild case of Avoidant disorder.* *pauses, realizing something* *thinks: What's it to you, anyways?*

*frowns* I guess you could say so. Sean Powell. *gives him a look that makes it clear that she wants the subject changed*

*hides a look of disdain- about his use of the pen, not about the mention of family* I sure do. I'm the oldest child of ten! My parents just didn't know when to quit. *smirks* There's Henry, you might know him, he sells papers too. Next is Ruth, then twins Thomas and Elsie, then Arthur. Then there's the other set of twins, Robert and Hazel. Last are Mae and lil' Jamie. Those eight are the reason that Henry and I are out working. Too many mouths to feed on my parents measly salaries. With us two oldest out of the way, and bringing our parents what we can spare *and more*, it makes life easier. We have no other relatives in this state. *With all the pressure that her family, perhaps unknowingly, provides here, no wonder she's stressed.*

Like I said, my family needs the extra income. Da works in the factories, and it's not exactly stable wages, and the money Ma gets in from her sewing isn't enough to keep the debt collectors at bay. So me and Henry went to work, too. I plan on getting the hell out of here as soon as I can. And that's gonna be pretty soon. I'm saving what I make at Dr. Gray's for a room of my own. I've almost got enough now *gives her first genuine smile*

Nah, I don't suppose there is. But say, what's with all these questions, anyways? Census time or somethin'?*shakes head a little and smiles ismisavely* *pauses* Oh, wait, I do have something else to say. About my, heh, real job. I'm still selling papers, but... By some strange miracle I managed to snag a job at the local clinic. It's godaweful, menial, taxing... Dr. Gray's a spook and the others tend to treat me with disdain because of my lack of certain organs, but... I can deal with that. You have no idea how happy I am to have that stupid job. *pauses, her smile fading* It's too good to be true, really. It sort of worries me... *quickly shakes head* Sorry, you don't want to hear about it, eh? So I guess that it. *pauses* I have to get going, anyways. 'Duty calls' and all that. *gives another slight, dismisave smile, and scampers off*