Sonya

**Sonya** is one of the main character of Thick Skin, fighting alongside the ninja turtles after her escape from Arturo. She was mutated at the age of 7 by Arturo, after finding a mystery canister in his underground business. At 15, she was his most popular "tenant".

## Background

Sonya was born to Robert and Rose Chappell, a couple who run a small restaurant in New York City. Her father, who initially wished for a son, was overprotective of the girl, due to the harsh environment New York offered. Not much can be said about some of her childhood. She lived modestly with her parents, until the day of her 7th birthday at Central Park. She found herself wondering away from the party and had been taken by a small group of people posing as social workers. Sonya became a victim of human trafficking at a young age.

Later the same year of her capture, Sonya was not only victim to trafficking, but she was a victim to experimentation. Her captives had found a mysterious canister containing mysterious ooze sometime prior of her residence. Sonya became the first successful mutation and became popular with clients. By the age of 15, she "broke" and got her freedom by killing the man who claimed her, with the help of other mutants.

## Personality

Due to her nearly trapped state and lack of any friends, Sonya is very shy and timid. She finds it difficult to trust people, especially men. She was considered mentally unstable by the men and women she worked with before her escape. When she met the turtles, Sonya became less timid, building up courage every minute she spent with them. Sonya built a close friendship with Octavia Goodwin, the one who alerted others of her, and considered Octavia as her confidant, telling her and only her of what she thought and what she felt.

Out of all turtles, Sonya built a closer relationship with Raphael.

## Relationships

* Octavia: Best friend. Found Sonya during her time in The Circle, and was one reason why the turtles came to know her.
* Juno: Ally and mother-figure. Became a sort of mother for Sonya after meeting her, often trying to heal Sonya's mental and physical scars.
* Bill: Ally and father-figure.
* Splinter: Friend and teacher. Trains Sonya with whatever skill she hasn't yet acquired.
* Leonardo: Friend. Helped to free her after Octavia found her. He is usually Sonya's training opponent.
* Raphael: Friend and romantic interest. Helped free her after Octavia found her. Lets her be one of two people to know his Nightwatcher identity.
* Donatello: Friend. Helped free her after Octavia found her. He is the first one to provide medical attention.
* Michelangelo: Friend: Helped free her after Octavia found her. He allows her to help him cook in order to make her feel less stressed.
* April O'Neil: Ally and Friend. Sonya sees her as an older sister.
* Casey Jones: Ally and Friend.

## Trivia

* Sonya was inspired by Mona Lisa, a salamander mutant that first appeared in the 1987 cartoon, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles in the UK).
	+ She also inspired the relationship between Sonya and Raphael, since Mona Lisa was written as a romantic interest​
	+ Mona Lisa is planned to appear in a later season
* She is a revived original character that was intended to stay scrapped. The first iteration of Sonya was named Lily and was created in 2014, but was discareted a few months later.
* Her nickname, Sonny, is a nod to Sonnie's Edge, the initial first episode of Netflix anthology series Love, Death & Robots.
	+ Both Sonnie and Sonya's nickname are the same, just different spelling.
	+ Both characters are/were abused
	+ Sonnie's "beastie", Khanivore, is one of two inspiration for Sonya's mechanical spider legs, the other is Doctor Octopus from Marvel Comics
* Her favorite song is Show & Tell by Melanie Martinez, although the artist isn't her favorite.
	+ She prefers rap rock band, Hollywood Undead, over the pop artist.