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

*a slim, petite young woman glances up at Ransom from where she is seated with her legs folded beneath her on her bunk, vivid blue eyes framed by long dark lashes immediately indicating a strong, spirited intellect* Melanie Connoy. *an aura of friendly openness permeates her pleasantly musical voice* Melanie Sarah Connoy, to be entirely accurate. But Melanie will certainly suffice. *

*scribbles it down on the paper* Next.. um, do you have a nickname? And if you do, how'd you get it?:

*shrugs her shoulders lightly, a delicate smile creeping across thin pink lips* People have been known to call me Mel or Mellie, I suppose... *she trails off carefully, her bright eyes dimming for a short moment* Of course, at this point 'Mellie' tends to mean Little Melanie--Melanie Ayanna--Promise's little girl... *licks her lips thoughtfully, taking a breath and then recovering her ordinary mien at Ransom's reassuring look* But yes, I'm often Mel. They're all short for Melanie... *as she finishes speaking, she offers a short burst of laughter* Of course... *shifts her position, swinging her legs around in front of her to dangle over the edge of the bed just above the marred hardwood bunkroom floor*

*nods a bit* When's your birthday and how old are you and all?:

*nods slowly, her gentle smile remaining on her lips* I'm twenty. My birthday is February 19th. *offers a somewhat faraway look toward one of the bunkroom windows* I think I'm starting to look my age. *takes a deep breath, then shrugs a little, pursing her lips* I suppose that was inevitable. For a while, I seemed older than my years...but twenty is truly an adult. Not that I mind, of course. I am quite pleased with who I am... *ponders this carefully* I mean, surely there are things that anyone would change about themselves, but I don't know if I would want to disturb the whole array of little bits like dominoes that brought me here, and gave me the sorts of friends and family that I now have. *glances back at Ransom and chuckles* This is what you get for asking me all these questions, Ransom... *shakes her head in amusement* I just go on and on about completely unrelated items. You need to stop me when I start doing this! *leans back on her hands, long waves of dark hair falling behind her shoulders*

*smirks a little* Next is looks so.. tell me what you look like, all right? *rolls his eyes* Humor me...:

*reaches up with one of her hands and twists a lock of her chocolate-brown, gently curling hair around her fingers* I have dark hair and blue eyes. *sits up a little straighter, tucking her hair behind her ear* *a star-shaped silver earring winks delicately before it is hidden by the gentle mane of dark curls* I'm not exactly what one might call tall... *is, in fact, 5'2"* That doesn't stop me from being imposing if I need to be. *little smile* After all, I mother everyone in this lodging house--perhaps too much, some of them, and perhaps not enough for others, but I admit to doing it--and manage it even from my height. *considers this for several moments* I've been told that I'm pretty, and I like to think that I am, because what nineteen-year-old wouldn't? *offers a bright smile beneath bright eyes* I dress as nicely as I can. I enjoy sewing, so I can keep my things in good repair, and I like to--you know--fix girls' hair and such. They tend to employ me before important dates or parties. *fusses a bit with the narrow band of pale blue around her waist, smiling* I can French braid, and do...well, nothing particularly fancy...but basic, pretty things. Simple things. You know what I mean. I'm better at doing other people's hair than my own. *reaches back to touch her hair, which is loose around her shoulders* I tend to just tie it back in a twist or pin it back when I am going out to sell papers.

Hmm.. *writes down some of that then looks back up* What kind of person are you? What's your personality like and all that?:

*she laughs a little, lightheartedly* I used to be one of those quiet, nervous sorts of people. Living around here, however... *she shakes her head a little, her laughter maintaining its bell-like tone* Honestly, I'm not. I'm friendly and nice. I tend to be kind. And--obliging. *her thin pink lips curve into a tight smile, slightly white around the edges* Perhaps I'm a bit of a pushover. I don't mean to be, exactly. It just happens to me sometimes.

*raises an eyebrow then grins* If you say so. *teasing, of course* Okay, so do you have any friends around here?:

*nods slowly* I try to be friendly with everyone around here; after all, we share the same living space, so it's certainly much more comfortable if we aren't upset with one another. For example, I enjoy Charity's company--she's a dear, and cares a great deal about everyone here. I... I don't even know what to say! Tiptoe is a darling, also. And Pat--she's so pleasant to be around. So refreshing. I enjoy everyone's company, though. Siren and Gertrude... *she wraps her arms around herself, taking a deep breath as she glances around the bunkroom* So many of them are so sweet to Jane, too. *glances toward her bed, which is nondescript aside from being somewhat neater than the others in the room* Jane... *a small lump that appears to be blankets is suddenly revealed to be a young girl, just over two years old, asleep* So.... Yes. Oh! I cannot forget to mention that I adore Leapfrog. He's such a little sweetie, although I'd never do him so great a disservice as to tell him that to his face! He's a good kid. A good boy. He'll grow up and make some girl very happy. Very--very happy. There's others too, of course, and many dear boys...

*nods some and taps the pen on the paper* And, uh, you got anyone special in your life right now? *grins* You know what I mean.:

*tightly* I'm married to a man by the name of Jason Connoy. *after a short moment's consideration* But--I'm--on my own, now. *she shrugs, almost nonchalantly; she has obviously strengthened a great deal in the time since his departure* He was a dear boy for so long, but I don't think he was ready for what I put him through. *she folds her hands, her _expression sincere* He was nineteen when I was seventeen--and that's when Jane...came into the picture. I heard somewhere that hasty marriages never turn out quite right, and I suppose I'm a living testament to that fact. *she folds her hands again, resting them on her lap, her bright blue eyes studying them* I spend a lot of time with the girls here, and the boys as well I guess, hoping to keep everyone out of my particular situation. What's the point of learning lessons from life if you can't pass them on, I ask?

So, you got any family? *scratches his head with the end of the pen* Mother, father.. sisters or brothers? Anything like that?:

*nods quickly, a few strands of her dark hair tumbling in front of her narrow shoulders* My brother, Daniel, and my parents all still live in Ryalin. That's the town I grew up in--it's in Connecticut. That's also where Jason came from, though I don't believe he's moved back there or I would have heard about it from Daniel. Daniel has been--angry. At Jason. It was a bit concerning at times, but I also appreciated it. *she offers a tiny shrug* I have a much older brother named William, and he moved away when I was probably ten years old. He's been living out in California with his wife and their children. I haven't met my nieces and nephews yet. I'm sure they're very nice. *her eyes flutter toward the window and she offers a smile*

*sighs, looking at the next question* Now you don't gotta say, but it'd be nice if you at least gave me something to write down... how'd you come to live at this fine place? *small smile*:

My entire history...was Jason. And Ryalin. Beyond my town and my husband, I don't know if I even existed before I got here. *her eyes brighten again, becoming once more their soft, uniformly blissful orbs* I've never felt so wonderful as since I started living here. I feel--wanted. Liked. Appreciated. *she reaches into her drawer and tugs out a ribbon, which she toys with* It's--it's wonderful, really. I adore everyone. I really, truly... I am so happy. Really. *grins at Ransom* It's your fault, too. So good work. *leans back on her hands again*

*nods and scans over the application* I think that's it... anything else you wanna add?:

I-- *shakes her head slightly* I enjoy sewing and baking and those sorts of things, and I really would like to listen to anyone with troubles to discuss. I have a bit of a knack for nursing, which seems to come in handy around here... *she laughs* I do hope everyone feels comfortable with me around. *twists the ribbon absently around her wrist, tying its ends into a tiny bow and smiling up over it*