Gossamer (Engineered to Serve)
Gossamer is an Astrean and the younger gene-sister of Threnody.
Gossamer is a recently licensed star pilot, not yet assigned to any ship.
Appearance
Gossamer is somewhat short by Astrean standards, and slightly more plump than the average, but that puts her within the range of supermodel by human standards. She has full female curves, all softened by a layer of baby-fat that makes her appear much younger, and more innocent.
Even for gene-sisters, the resemblance between Gossamer and Threnody is surprising. Gossamer looks for all the world like a slightly smaller, and much softer, version of Threnody. The differences are all small, but so numerous that they add up to create surprising contrasts between the two.
Personality
Biography
Skills and abilities
Relationships
Threnody
Threnody is Gossamer's older gene-sister. The pair have a more sisterly relationship than most gene-sisters, with Threnody playing the role of the wise elder and mentor to the younger and more naïve Gossamer.
Gossamer generally appreciates Threnody's care and attention, though sometimes the latter can become too nosey and too controlling. When that happens, Gossamer resists, usually sparking a bitter and angry fight between the two.
Gossamer resents when Threnody treats her like a child, and doesn't respect Gossamer's choices or desires. In retaliation, she often acts out, sometimes self-destructively, which only increases the friction between the two. She also indulges in activities and ideas that Threnody objects to, sometimes behind Threnody's back and sometimes quite openly, often encouraged or surreptitiously aided by Zenith.
Despite their frequent and bitter fights, Gossamer truly appreciates Threnody's concern for her, and is deeply touched by the fact that the otherwise stoic and reserved Threnody cares so much. Their fights, while frequent and bitter, never last long. Either whatever set it off is simply forgotten, or Zenith - annoyed at having to choose sides - forces a final confrontation and reconciliation. Then they kiss, make up, and move on as if nothing ever happened.
Zenith
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Gossamer sees Zenith as something between a second older sister (along with Threnody), and a close friend of her own age. She finds her a fascinating contrast to the somewhat stoic and rigid Threnody. She confides in Zenith, and tells her things she would never dare tell Threnody. Zenith, in return, opens up with Gossamer, and shares with her ideas and perspectives that would shock and horrify Threnody's somewhat conservative Astrean attitudes.
In fact, it was Zenith who opened up Gossamer's eyes to the universe beyond Astrea, and lit within her the desire to go out and see it one day. Zenith encouraged Gossamer's curiosity, and fed it with information and stories about the outside (often wildly embellished), and suggestions for how she might experience it for herself one day. Gossamer is entranced by Zenith's worldliness, and her casual disdain for the strict Astrean virtues that Threnody is so rigid about.
Gossamer also indulges in sexual experimentation with Zenith, pointedly behind Threnody's back, and at least partly because she knows Threnody - despite being very close friends with Zenith - would disapprove. These trysts ignited a taste for pushing boundaries and sampling the taboo. For Gossamer, that is a large part of what Zenith is for her: a way to explore boundaries, and see beyond them.
This was what ultimately led to her desire to take a vacation on a human world. Even Zenith was surprised by this idea, and a little cautious about it, but once Gossamer insisted that was what she wanted, Zenith backed her up and even helped make the arrangements.
