Daisy Garrison

Cast » Daisy Garrison

Daisy Garrison

Portrayed By	Joanna Garcia
Gender	Female
Species	Cursed
Date of Birth	January 20, 1978
Age	22
Zodiac Sign	Capricorn
Aliases	Kansas
Place of Birth	Topeka, KS
Current Location	Los Angeles, CA
Occupation	Personal Assistant to the Stars!
Known Relatives	Mother, father, five siblings
Significant Other	None
Special Powers	Demon Magnet
First Appearance	First Day

Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do… A recent transplant from Kansas, Daisy is a fresh-faced farm girl just trying to break her way into showbiz. She's managed to make it as far as personal assistant.

Table of Contents

Friends, Foes, and Acquaintances

History

The Basics

Daisy was born in Topeka, Kansas, the fifth of six children. Her family owned a small farm, which specialized in cash crops and agritourism. She never felt like she quite fit into her family and struggled to find her identity until trying out for the school play one day on a whim (or because she had a huge crush on the male lead, shh). Once the acting bug bit, there was no cure for the fever.

Last Christmas, someone 'in the biz' came to visit the farm and convinced her she'd be perfect for this movie he was working on down in LA. Naive girl then dropped out of KU, and at the stern disapproval of her parents, relocated to California. Imagine her surprise when she couldn't even get an audition. Since then, she's managed to find sporadic work as a personal assistant, but still maintains the dream she can make it big. But right now, the priority is keeping a roof overhead so that she doesn't have to admit defeat and move back home.

The Whole Story

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Myles Farthington was an accomplished and prominent sorcerer in 19th century London. But when he made the mistake of crossing and then losing in battle to another sorcerer, he found himself stripped of his powers, a punishment that would carry on down the Farthington line. His enemy would not kill him directly, but put upon him a curse that would draw to him all manner of dark things: demons, vampires, and other evildoers. It should have finished off the family line within a generation, two at the most, the the Farthingtons were a persevering bunch (and a tendency to breed like rabbits during their usually short life-spans didn't hurt either)…

Fast-forward a hundred years. It was 1978 when a young Amelia Farthington gave birth to a baby girl. Knowing only too well of the family curse, she was on the run, holing up in a shack in the middle of the Yukon, in hiding from a malevolent demon when labour began. The baby would be touched by the curse as well, she knew, and the crying infant would make it harder to stay hidden. She drew out the last weapon in her arsenal, a protection spell that she'd bought off an old Inuit shaman. Of course, Amelia didn't know the other half of the family legacy… The simple spell backfired horribly: the infant disappeared.

Half a world away, just outside Topeka, Kansas, the baby Daisy Garrison was sleeping peacefully in her bassinet. It was the last time anyone of this world would see her, but none would ever know to miss her. There was a tiny puff of smoke, a momentary shimmer in the air, and the baby Farthington became baby Daisy Garrison, as far as she or the family Garrison would ever know…

As far as anyone knows, Daisy Garrison was born on the family farm in rural Kansas, just east of Topeka. Born the fifth of six children, it was a special challenge to stand out, to find her niche and form her own identity, though she always felt like she was somehow different and destined to do greater things. Stuck in the middle of the 'little kids' in her family, she could be both a leader or a follower, but most often was neither, preferring to be off on her own, doing her thing, when she wasn't helping with the chores around the farm.

The farm wasn't particularly large, and not long after she was born, her parents slowly began to change it over from the traditional wheat farm, turning instead to cash crops and agritourism, which would earn them enough money to look after the family of eight in considerable comfort. They weren't rich, but it was enough to make them soundly upper middle class. Harsh winters no longer meant worrying about putting food on the table, since poor crops could be supplemented with sleigh rides, toboggan runs, and skating on the pond. It still required a lot of work and long hours, and the kids were expected to help out wherever necessary.

Daisy worked hard in school too, not quite the star pupil in the class, but usually ranking about third or fourth in her year, aided by a good memory and a knack for remembering random facts. She played on the soccer team, a solid if not especially remarkable player. She sang in the church choir, never a soloist, always just a midrange singer. It would be the story of her young life, working hard to end up not quite the best. She never gave her parents cause to worry, but there were never celebratory dinners in her honour that they would hold for those gold medal moments, like when her oldest brother made captain of his hockey team, or her sister won the regional spelling bee. She was always almost but not quite good enough.

She never quite felt like she fit in. It seemed she had to work twice as hard to be half as good as her siblings. But it wasn't as if she sat around lamenting this fact. She was generally fairly happy-go-lucky, and never quite came to recognize this source of frustration. She would feel guilty when taken by these fits of jealousy at the accomplishments of her siblings, confess them before Mass on Sunday, and then get on with her life.

Finally came high school. It wasn't as hard on her as it could be on some. Her freshman year, she enjoyed a protective barrier of being nigh invisible, or known only as 'so-and-so's sister'. Having jock big brothers around who wouldn't look too kindly to people picking on one of their own pretty much assured that she could walk the halls without worry. She joined some teams, mostly academic and music-based ones, played intramural soccer and badminton, and continued getting solid grades.

So it would remain for a few years until one day early in her sophomore year, she swung by an audition for the school play. She'd claim it was on a whim, but the real truth involved a burning crush on the favourite to get the male lead. She was a pretty enough girl, not exactly beautiful, but enough to catch the attention of a few boys in her time. But for some reason, this guy just made her gaga. So she did the unthinkable and actually tried out. It might have been the first impetuous thing she'd done in her life.

And it turned out she was pretty good at it! It was like she had been acting like someone else her entire life. She snagged herself a sizeable role, not exactly the female lead, but with lines and everything! She was made understudy to the female lead, and when an outbreak of mono struck the school at a fortuitous time, she actually got to step in and finish out the show's run.

People began to take notice of her. Not like the drama club was exactly key to being Miss Popular, but people would start to actually recognize her. By junior year, she managed to get the lead in the conventional way, and she even started doing a few plays at the community center. Acting was like a bug she had caught, and she loved the rush of being on stage.

Maybe it was finally having a passion, or maybe it was just that she was growing up, but Daisy began coming out of her shell. She stopped being so afraid to take risks, finding that sometimes things turned out for the best when you just jumped in and did them.

Her parents were ecstatic when she was accepted to KU. Education was important to them, not having had the opportunity to attend post-secondary themselves, so they pushed their children when it came to higher education. While Daisy was more ambivalent, it never occurred to her not to go, because it was simply what you did once you were finished high school.

She came home during the breaks to help out on the farm, and one Christmas they had, by chance, someone in the entertainment industry in LA, up on vacation on their farm. He said she was perfect for this movie he was making and encouraged her to come down to LA and audition. Not knowing any better, Daisy did just that. She dropped out of school, and much to the surprise and disapproval of her parents, she gave up everything to move to LA. After all, the guy had said she was perfect for the role, so it must be pretty much a done deal, right?

Imagine her surprise upon arriving to the audition to find she couldn't even get in because she didn't have an agent and she wasn't on the list. At least the guy hadn't lied that he was in the movie biz - but focus pullers don't exactly call the shots, as she discovered when she tried to use his name as leverage.

So now she's stranded in LA. To return home would be to admit her parents were right, and to face the future of no greater prospects than settling down and popping out a few kids. But she's sure, if she could just get that one lucky break, she could totally do this. In the meantime, there's rent and groceries to pay for. With no technical experience, she started working as a Personal Assistant for a mid-level producer. She must have done a good job, since another offer has come in. And for one of the biggest names in the biz! Things are surely looking up.

Timeline

December 15, 2001 First Day: Daisy meets her new boss. It's not quite what she was expecting.
December 16, 2001 Sharkbait: While out trying to do some Christmas shopping, Daisy meets someone who doesn't seem quite so shark-like.
December 17, 2001 Directions: After taking a wrong turn, Daisy stumbles into a seedy bar in South Central. Much to her surprise, she knows people there.
December 19, 2001 On Broadway: Catching up on her email in the library, Daisy has a very nice chat with a very nice man, at least as far as she knows.
December 20, 2001 Love-Potion-Number-Nine: Daisy is minding her own business when a random woman randomly kisses her. She is, to say the least, somewhat surprised.
December 23, 2001 Looking for Dinner: Out doing some last minute shopping, Daisy has a very close call but remains as oblivious as ever, thanks to some good timing.
December 24, 2001 You're Sick: Daisy and Julian meet for a date-like thing on Christmas Eve, only to have Simone come by and terrorize them both.
December 24, 2001 In Vino Veritas: Julian manages to get Daisy home in one piece, and over drinks, fills her in on some of the scary truths of the world.
December 27, 2001 Leave It To Fate: Running into each other in a store, Samuel and Daisy strike up some casual conversation.
December 27, 2001 More Things in Heaven and Earth: Celestina apologizes for the kissing incident and Daisy confides a little about how strange her life has become.

Quotes

"I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore." (Oh come on, I had to!)
"Good morning, Mr. Archer. I … didn't mean to interrupt."
"If you say so. I'm not - I'm sure you pay someone a lot of money to tell you about your image, so you don't need to hear my thoughts on it."
"Well, Mr. Archer, if you call me at three in the morning, I will bring over anything you like: ice cream, magazines, a clean suit, or a hazmat team, no questions asked. But - that's it. I'm not … like those women."
"No, I have to get something. And something good. Something that makes it seem like I am having a /great/ time here."
"It's stick with it or admit defeat, move back home, and lead the boring life my parents want for me. And I know boring is safe, but it's also, well, boring. You ever just /know/ you're … meant for something different?"
A high paying job I need, that's all I know"
"It would be nice to see more of the world though. But, well, maybe someday."
"Friends are useful for just being, you know, friends. But of course I'll take your number, if you don't mind. I can do with all the help I can get."
"Cursed to… Well, if that isn't one of the stranger things I've heard."
"My parents didn't even like me watching horror movies. Though I think that was more because of the time that evil clown gave me nightmares. Gosh, those aren't real, are they?"
"If you'd told me that a few days ago, I wouldn't have believed in it. But now… I don't know. There are more things in heaven and earth…"

Trivia

Daisy is a venerable demon magnet. She draws all manner of dark beasties to her. It doesn't work on all of them, so I welcome PCs to either use or disregard the hook as they will!

Friends, Foes, and Acquaintances

Jackson - Her current employer. She has no idea what to make of him yet, but isn't going to let that stop her from doing a good job!
Francis - She's run into him a few times by chance, and found him to be a lot more friendly and approachable than a lot of Angelenos.
Julian - While she found him friendly and approachable right off the bat, after learning he's been on Broadway, he went up a little more in her esteem. Now that he's saved her from a certain death at the hands of his undead ex, she's even willing to overlook the fact that he's not entirely human himself.
Nadira - Daisy has run into this woman a few times and she seems a friendly type. And now they both know better than to get lost in South Central.
Celestina - Daisy … didn't really know what to make of her initially, what with the kissing and the running off. But apologies have been made and accepted, and Daisy is tempted to see what the future holds in store.
Mariko - She's so friendly! Offering to walk Daisy home so that she wouldn't have to go it alone…
Dan - She feels badly for almost knocking him off his bike. And has no idea that he saved her in a fit of good timing.
Colin - Crazy person with some strange affliction who yelled at her randomly. But it's LA, so these things happen!
Simone - Scary!
Samuel - He's a little strange with the staring and the abrupt questions, but he seems friendly. Daisy wouldn't mind running into him again.

Hooks

Roommate - Daisy can't afford those city rates all on her own. Age/gender/species inconsequential.
Magnetism - As mentioned above, Daisy has a tendency to attract things that go bump in the night. If you'd like to be one of said things, just page!
No Business Like - Show business! Daisy's (sort of) in the industry, so perhaps our paths will meet.

Curses

The most potent of the Farthington curses, though it has diminished with time. Thanks to the misfiring protective spell, it has lain dormant all this time while in peaceful, rural Kansas. But now that she is in such a magically-charged city, the weak spell cannot contain it any longer. Not all demons and forces of darkness will necessarily be drawn to Daisy (not least of all to allow for consent!). But those who are affected will find her more easily, as they will be drawn to her on a metaphysical level. They will be able to feel that she is near, and there will be a compulsion to go to her, either strong or weak. It has a range of about one city block in diameter. It will not drive demons to act differently towards her than any other human. They will simply be drawn to her, and what they do from there will be according to their own natures.

But every magnet has two poles. Daisy has the dormant ability to be a demon repellant as well as attract them. When turned on, dark creatures will find themselves with no desire to go near her. It isn't fear so much as disinterest, like they might feel towards an animal or an inanimate object of no value to them. With time, she will be able to instil in them an aversion where they just feel like they want to be away from her. It doesn't work on every creature, but those who are drawn to her can also be repelled.

However, as is the situation if you have two bar magnets, one fixed (a demon normally can't stop being a demon, after all), and the other free to move, the moveable magnet will naturally swing around to the attractive polarity. So it is with Daisy. Her natural state is to attract demons, and it requires a moderate but consistent effort to be a repellant. Asleep, unconscious, tired, distracted, these will all see her swinging rapidly back to her default state and drawing the demons to her again. This is also an acquired skill, one which she hasn't actually learned yet. First she will need to discover the curse, and then it will still take steady practice before she can use this skill with any reliability.