Marie Augustina Walsh (née Rogers)

Name: Marie Augustina Walsh (Formerly Rogers)
Birthday:: October 17th
Age:: 28
HEIGHT :: 5'10
WEIGHT :: 132 lbs.
EYE COLOR :: Blue
HAIR COLOR :: Brown
Hometown :: Eugene, Oregon
Occupation :: Choir Director and Music Professor

Notable Markings: Like her sister, Marie has several scars from her father's treatment of them. Most notable are cigarette burns on the backs of her shoulders, along with miscellaneous scars on her knees and arms from being tossed around. Less visible, but still there, are self-harm scars on the insides of her wrists.

Appearance:
Marie is a tall woman with medium length brown hair, blunt cut bangs, and clear blue eyes. Her sister used to joke that she should become a model, but Marie insists she's only average looking. She typically wears business casual clothing--dark skirts, light-colored blouses, and a broad collection of cardigans and oversized sweaters.

Personality:
Marie is a kind, generous woman--almost to the point of fault. She will give and give and work herself to the bone for others but struggles to take the time or spend money on herself. She admires her sister deeply and wants to be more assertive and confident like Lina, but she struggles to stand up for her own needs. Should any of her students or colleagues be mistreated, however, she will jump in on the side of justice without any hesitation.

It took Marie some time to decide that she was confident enough to pursue a doctorate in music so that she could teach at the collegiate level. Before that, she directed a high school choir, and her classroom was well known as a safe-haven among the students. She is always happy to be a listening ear and a sympathetic voice when students need her.

Marie hasn't pursued romance up to this point--she knows most people think of her as 'cute' in a childlike way, and people are constantly telling her how sweet she is and how some guy will be lucky to have her...but no one ever makes a move. She's starting to worry that she won't be able to have any children of her own like she's always wanted. She wants to find someone like Elliot, who will be a steady and loving presence in her and her hypothetical children's' lives.

Background:

• Marie is the younger daughter of David and Katherine Rogers. From an early age, both girls were subjugated to abuse, mostly witnessing her mother get physically and emotionally abused by their father.
• After the girls witnessed their mother's murder, their father was sent to prison.
• After they lost their mother, and their father was incarcerated, Lina and Marie moved to Kenai Alaska from Northern California, to live with their mother's brother who was their last living relative.
• Marie was frightened at first--she thought that Elliot might be like their father, who could seem kind and happy until he lost his temper. She stayed close to Lina for the first few months, refusing to sleep in a separate room or be away from her for more than a few minutes.
• Eventually, however, Marie came to realize that Elliot was as far from their father as any person could be. She soon came to adore him, and even slips up and calls him dad from time to time.
• After Lina left when she was just beginning high school, Marie floundered. She was horribly lonely in school and spent most of her time reading because she was too afraid to talk to the other kids. The only class where she was really happy was the Choir, but she got bullied for being a teacher's pet.
• The popular sopranos made Marie's life a living hell after she got a solo one of them wanted. Her anxiety spiraled and she dropped out of the choir.
• During this wave of depression, Marie started self-harming. At first, she'd only do it when Elliot was away, so she wouldn't get caught. But as things got worse, she felt like she couldn't go without it.
• Elliot caught her. He took her in to get counseling, and since then she's been on antidepressants. She made him swear not to tell Lina.
• When she turned 21, she changed her last name to Walsh. She didn't want to bear a murderer's name anymore.
• A year and a half ago, after finishing her doctorate, Marie moved to the lower forty-eight for work as an instructor at a college in Oregon. Lina calls her once a week to check in on her, and see how she’s doing.

Skills:
- Can load, fire, clean, and dismantle a handgun.
- Plays piano, guitar, and ukelele
- Sings mezzo-soprano
- Speaks decent French