Laurie Lovelash

:"Sorry, sorry- the heart wants what it wants..." - Lovelash apologising for Artie's behaviour.
Laurie 'Openheart' Lovelash is an agent of the UNWD and former animal conservationist. After a botched experimental heart surgery, her heart became sentient and ravenous, and the two use their cooperation to take down foes.
==Character==
===Appearance===
Lovelash is a pale-skinned woman of medium height with rose-pink hair. She has sideswept bangs and a romantic braid encircling her head. On her chest is a Y-incision from her surgery. She wears loose-fitting shirts and cargo trousers, leather gloves and boots, and leather pouches on her belt. She has a patch covering her left knee with the UNWD insignia on. Due to her state of semi-aliveness, her face has an uncanny pallor that she partially remedies using blusher.
Her heart, affectionately known as Artie, is attached to her right hand with a red string. The string can elongate to up to 30 feet. Artie is a stylised red heart with a round, teeth-filled mouth and a diagonal scar. Lovelash carries a red whip in her other hand.
===Personality===
Somewhat reserved, Laurie has a quiet nature and enjoys the company of likeminded people. Although she likes to be around others, she prefers to hang around and do nothing as opposed to constant activity. She is extremely mindful of others' presence and as such factors this into combat constantly. She is content and undemanding, often simply enjoying what she has without wanting for much else.
Conversely, Artie is aggressive and highly protective of Laurie, behaving like a trained attack dog. When restless, it can become far more vicious, especially if Laurie experiences a strong desire for an object or outcome.
===Skills & Abilities===
While Laurie is a keen whip-fighter, dextrous combatant and adept animal handler, her main offensive and tactical perk is Artie, her 'attack heart'. Cooperating with the highly aggressive organ, the two can organise brutal attacks, effective intimidations and thrilling pursuits. The red string connecting the two can also be used to ensnare foes. Artie's biting power is comparable to a particularly violent piranha, and it is able to maim foes with ease.
Due to her heart being outside her body, Laurie experiences some fringe perks: enemies that hunt by tracking their prey's heartbeat can be easily fooled by Artie while Laurie sneaks up from the rear, and through instructing Artie carefully, Laurie can drop her blood pressure, pulse and body heat to avoid detection in other circumstances. She is also somewhat more durable than the average human, as despite injury her heart can continue to supply her with blood until help arrives; if Artie is destroyed, however, Laurie will die.
==History==
Once an animal conservationist at a small reserve, Lovelash stumbled upon two small-time criminals attempting to steal lion cubs at night to sell to exotic pet shops. As she defended the creatures, the older lions woke up, and the mother charged the site of the crime at the reserve's outskirts. Although this effectively scared off the thieves, Laurie's heart gave out with fright. Guilty and not wanting to have a dead body on their hands, the two crooks took her to an associate to see what they could do.
The ensuing quackery performed by someone who did not have a medical license (or lost it after this event) was supposed to strengthen Laurie's heart and bring her back to life. Some would say that it did. Artie, now alive and hungry, frightened away all three people present, and waited patiently for Laurie to be awake.
After some time of trying to hide her situation, Laurie's secret 'pet' was finally discovered when a disgruntled giraffe attempted to attack her and Artie lashed out, bursting out of her jacket to defend her. Before anyone could identify the 'dangerous animal', Laurie fled and was soon after scouted by the UNWD, who promised that they'd swiftly cover up the bizarre 'animal attack' in exchange for her becoming an agent. Laurie accepted under the false name Openheart.
==Relationships==
===Agent Ryder===
:“She controls those creatures so masterfully... I think Artie could take a few pointers.”
Ryder and Lovelash bond over their ability to handle animals. Impressively, Ryder has a fairly good relationship with Artie, who usually distrusts anyone other than Lovelash herself. Lovelash in turn is friendly with Ryder's charges, particularly the gentle Akayake.
===Doctor October===
:“I'm so sorry, doc! That's just how Artie gets...”
Although Lovelash is good friends with the doctor, Artie is extremely apprehensive of them, primarily due to physical examinations or jabs. Although October understands and tries to appease the heart, they do panic somewhat whenever they have to give Lovelash an injection.
==Trivia==
* The red string alludes to the 'red string of fate' said to connect soulmates.
Category:Females
Category:UNWD
Category:Elite Normos