Out-of-Character Information

Name: Nikki
Are you over 15?: y
Time Zone: -5 GMT
Personal Journal: skorupi
Reliable Method of Contact: zoop!
Other characters in the game: Shadow the Hedgehog
Anything Else?: (◕‿◕✿)

In-Character Information

Name: Isabelle
Game/Series: Animal Crossing
Teacher/Student/Other: Other
Canon Point: N/A
Age: 19
Job: Secretary. Yes, to everyone. By the way, she isn't overworked.
Dorm or Living Arrangement: Dorm, please. uwu♥ She's not picky.

Personality:

Isabelle is the picture-perfect impression of a loyal canine, to be certain. To begin with, she bears a friendly and kind personality overall, the type of person who always has something nice to say and a big, bright smile. She enjoys the presence of people and likes to socialize, being more outgoing than she is an introvert, and tends to hold people she's fond of very close and dear to her heart. She has plenty of positive energy to spare, and truth be told, that's nothing to just bark about. Optimism is the best policy, after all. Who wants to work with someone who's unhappy and grouchy all the time?

She isn't completely greedy and definitely has the capability of being generous to people. Heck if she won't, say, give people apples from home, help them out, and do what she can to make their lives better, right? She doesn't just think about herself, putting other people before her more often than is healthy at times. She would much rather slave all night to get her mayor's work done than to spend ten hours asleep, for instance. It may hamper her ability to stay awake, as well as affecting her health, but it's okay because she worked hard for someone. Nothing else matters.

Heavens knows she's as loyal as a golden retriever is to its owner. To her friends, she will stand by them no matter what, trusting them no matter the circumstance. If she has to, she will even go as far as coming to their defense, something that barks wonders, given she deeply dislikes confrontations. She doesn't like coming across as mean to people, let alone gathering the courage to face them head-on with minimal consequences, so for her to go to that length for someone means she really likes them. After all, being there for one's friends is what good puppies do, and she won't skimp out on being the best puppy in the world.

While she may sound like the perfect dog, however, she isn't without her flaws. Her slight lack of bravery noted above is just one of the many. Even while growing up and being confronted by her parents and teachers, she had- and has- trouble standing up to people and defending herself. If something bad happened and it was all her fault, she'd never forgive herself. This includes hurting peoples' delicate feelings. Why, being rude isn't professional, let alone nice, and she doesn't want to come off that way by accident. If necessary, she will still face people with the issue at hand, despite it all. Doing one's job doesn't necessarily mean doing what they like, and even if she doesn't like it, she'll give it her all!

Speaking of departments she is lacking in, while her mind isn't tiny by any means, her attention span is anything but good. She can easily become distracted to the point of being unable to listen, more than likely because of important things that need to be taken care of ASAP. She is also forgetful, sometimes letting things slip her mind to make way for more pertinent stuff, especially if it pertains to her work. (She had to go eat? She totally forgot amidst all of the organizing she was doing! That's okay, though. She could always eat later.)

If unrecognizable at this point, it should be made clear that Isabelle is possibly the hardest working, most obedient dog one may ever meet. She doesn't only do her job, heavens, no. She goes above and beyond, making sure that everything is done quickly and done right. By everything, I do mean everything. She will make sure there is nothing left to do, nothing left to clean, nothing left to fix, nothing left to complain about, nothing left to throw out, nothing left to alphabetize, and so on and so forth. She has to be on her feet all the time. It's kind of an impulse that has grown on her out of habit. Again, this is to the point of it being unhealthy, as she frequently gets overworked and gets pretty tired, but she won't let that stop her.

This girl? She needs a goddamn intervention. An intervention and a doggy bone.

Given she tends to scramble about to get everything she needs done, well... done, she sometimes trips over her feet, screws up, or gets too ahead of herself. (I.E. Preparing ceremonies before the mayor even gives the okay to do so.) She tries to be careful - heavens knows she's a very cautious girl - but it's never enough. She is clumsy in both body and mind, attempting to catch up with everything her mind and the world at large demands from her. As a result, she can sometimes be seen with scrapes on her knees, her hair disheveled, and her mind out of whack, but that's okay, right? Just another result of working so hard, and it's not even that big of a deal! Not to her, at least.

Given her disposition and her way of living, she doesn't like to see people giving up, slacking off, or worse, refusing to do anything. As a result, she can be very encouraging, whether or not someone might want her to be. She will try to get people to giddy-up and go with a big ol', "You can do it!" and a bucket full of her support. She won't get angry if they don't listen to her, given she isn't quick to annoy and has an even temper, but she will be a little disheartened. People are capable of doing so much with their lives if they just go at it, she believes. She even feels that she's walking proof of this. Because of that, she wants people to give it their all, leaving not a single glass half-empty (or half-full).

Just because she works hard, however, doesn't mean she's incapable of taking on some leisure time. Sometimes, it becomes a reality and she manages to detach herself from her jobs. During that time, she enjoys many different hobbies, such as shopping and going to the beach, but good luck getting her to that point. Oftentimes, she simply winds up losing herself in her thoughts during work, daydreaming about big vacations and getting caught in the rain. She'd love to do so many things, to see the world, to indulge, but fun is never something she puts above work, so it rarely comes to fruition. Jobs before slobs and all that.

What, you mean she's still pretty angelic? She'd never do anything wrong? Heavens to betsy, no. Isabelle has a secret dark side, a dark side that has cookies, to be sure. She is a sweet girl, but underneath that exterior is a little troublemaker waiting to be unleashed. She's able to keep herself collected most of the time, but old habits die hard. She is still perfectly able of sneaking extra sweets when she shouldn't, performing the ol' whipped cream and feather trick on others, and running off with the ball during a game of fetch. They may be little things for some, but for her and her family, they are pretty big no-nos! It's- It's okay, though. Just one time won't hurt, right? Or two? Or three! Three works.

All-in-all, while Isabelle is certainly an ambitious and zealous pup, she can and likely will still bend the rules. She's the type who will work hard and joke about sticking citizens in barrels for a day while doing so. (She literally does this in-game.) She may mess up and she may forget something big, but one thing is certain: she tries her best to be the best doggy she can be!

Backstory:

Imagine this: a picturesque scene of a town at its finest. Its apple trees are in bloom, its temperatures generally colder than some, but not unbearably so. It's small and not too lively, but quiet and quaint, perfect for any family, especially one with children. Crime is at a low, if existent at all, and its people are chipper, perky, and at peace with their wonderful life. In this town, anyone can feel unstoppable, the sun's bright rays welcoming them into the city's warm embrace.

It's the very town one puppy named Isabelle grew up in, alongside her twin brother, Digby. They both belonged to a family of four shih tzus, including themselves. Her family was overall focused on their careers and their duties in life, but it didn't mean that familial love wasn't a forefront. Isabelle grew up with love all around her, her dad being a protector to her (perhaps too much so) and her mom being a sweet and uplifting presence. Digby, her brother, was growing at the time to be a fine dog, as well, and she felt no shortage of affection from him, as well.

All-in-all, her life was pretty darn great. Well, rather, it was mostly great, but she was not without her crises. In her younger years, she was always a bit less of a go-getter, not nearly as much as her parents, and she always caused more of a ruckus. She liked to pull pranks and behave like a bit of a delinquent to the point that they always knew who stole the cookies from the cookie jar. That sock in the fridge? It was likely Isabelle's doing. Ice down Digby's shirt? It had to be Isabelle. She was nothing short of an excitable, yet troublesome child, and while she maintained a sugary sweet demeanor, the devilish side of her always lurked.

Needless to say, her parents weren't very fond of that, but no matter how hard they tried, they felt as though Isabelle could not be tamed, that she would forever be the problematic dog of the family. This remained until she came of middle school age, when the rougher discipline started to extend even outside of her home. She was out of her comfort zone. She was around other animals she didn't recognize. Worst of all, she was slacking behind in her schooling, and it caused her to receive quite an earful every single day.

At first, Isabelle didn't mind too terribly, knowing that she had fun waiting for her when she got home, but as her homework and schooling got more tiring and her teachers got more unhappy, her way of thinking started to change. She'd come home feeling despondent instead of her perky self, heading straight to get her homework out of the way in the sloppiest manner possible before going to bed. (Heck, sometimes, she didn't even do her homework, resulting in quite a few late assignments. That didn't help things.) She didn't hang around her brother as much, nor her family, and she'd even skip dinner just to be done with her day. She was getting exhausted and tired. She didn't want this life.

One night, however, she had an epiphany that changed her life forever:

She didn't have to have this life. She had the power to change it. She just had to do what her mother and father always told her to do. She had to work harder.

Therefore, she began to put more effort into her schooling, into healthier habits, and into a generally trouble-free, diligent lifestyle. To her surprise, it all worked out. She began to use the school's library a lot, and soon enough, she was caught up in her studies, all because she worked to learn and didn't slack. Her teachers became proud of her, as did her family, and it resulted in her mood being far more lifted than it once was. She felt accomplished and as if she was doing something with her life, a feeling she never imagined would be this good, this addictive.

She worked harder and harder, stuck on the idea of persevering and laboring and being rewarded for her good deeds. It became a habit, and from a habit, it became a lifestyle, to the point that she no longer thought of the rewards of her work beyond the sense of accomplishment. As she grew up and studied, went to a few expert communication classes, and volunteered for branches of Re-Tail in her town, she started to latch onto her duties like a leech. She simply couldn't slow down, and she didn't, choosing instead to head for Smashville to unearth bigger prospects there, just around the time Digby headed off to work for the Happy Home Showcase.

Oh, there were bigger prospects, alright. The village of Smashville had just lost their mayor, Tortimer, to retirement, thankfully for happier reasons as opposed to him growing ill or something. Out of sheer luck, she gathered, he and Isabelle met, just before his trip to his brand-new resort island. Noticing her stand-up attitude and determination, as well as her prior experience, he assigned her with a very important job: find a suitable new mayor and appoint him to the office. If the mayor sees fit, maybe she could even- wait for it- be their secretary.

Needless to say, melting into a puddle of cute puppy fluff over the idea was a bit of an understatement for her feelings. She accepted the job immediately, getting straight to work on finding the perfect person to take Tortimer's place, and she quickly found one, a boy just arriving to Smashville by train. His memory seemed to be a bit off, but that was okay! He still seemed like a fine mayor in the works, and she was already holding faith in his abilities. She immediately offered to be his secretary.... or, no, she informed him that she was going to be his secretary, as if it had already been set in stone. She got a little ahead of herself, but it hardly mattered as it all worked out in the end. She was the mayor's new secretary, and she was going to help turn Smashville into one heck of a town!

That brings us to present time, to a cheery little puppy dog with a spring and a jingle in each step. She is waking up for another fine day at the office, having taken a two-hour nap in her very chair, and she's just raring to go! That is, until Pete the pelican chooses to stop at their doorstep and offer her an invitation to Smash Academy.

She is to become the head secretary of the biggest academy in Final Destination City.

Oh. My. Gosh.

She hardly wants to leave, but the mayor insists on her doing so, thanking her for getting the town off to a great start and encouraging her to work there. Working there means influencing people of many worlds, something that may cause her outreach to make it to the entire universe. If she does her best, she might become the most accomplished shih tzu in history.

Oh. My. Gobble gosh.

The mayor tells her that if she's needed, she'll be called over. Heck, if she wants to leave Smash and return to her job as the mayor's secretary, the doors are always open, but for now, she should go. She hurries to pack her bags and get herself out the door, heading Smash Academy's way on foot. Prospects are only getting bigger and bigger, and she can't ignore an opportunity like this! What's she got to lose?

... Her sanity?

Anything Else?:

Her birthday is canonically December 20th. As a result, she is also a Sagittarius!
Her height (not canon, unfortunately) is about 2'7", and her weight is about 65 lbs. TEENY DOGGY.
Her name is a pun. Isabelle? Is a bell? Yeah. Yeah.
Her homeland's town fruit is the apple! Therefore, she has a particular liking for them over other fruits, namely because of nostalgia and having gotten used to them.
She still has a certain seashell a certain mayor gave her. She looks at it whenever she feels sad and it makes her feel like a spring chicken again! Spring dog? Whatever.
On her free hours, however few they are, she has many hobbies! She particularly enjoys gardening, decorating, playgrounds, going to the beach, shopping, makeovers, and... gosh. There's not a lot she doesn't like, let's be real.
Also she thinks K.K. Slider is soooo dreeeamy. She has a framed picture of him in her drawer that she looks at before bed some nights, shhh. (Also, her favorite K.K. songs? K.K. Sonata, Cafe K.K., and Bubblegum K.K. ♥)
Her favorite flowers are dandelions! Her favorite tropical fruits are bananas! Her favorite fish are koi! Her favorite bugs are honey bees! Her favorite sea creatures are sea stars! Her favorite food is a cinnamon bun! Her favorite drink is plain ol' water! Yeah!!!!!!!!!!

In-Character 1st person sample:
Oh, is it on? Hello? Testing, 1... 2... 3?

[ The audio comes first, but then comes the video, blinking on with the slight fizz from microphone static in the background. The feed is a little choppy, but worry not: she plans on getting a separate webcam for this thing at some point. She found it best to take one of the Headmaster's older computers out of generosity, saving a newer one for a student or for something else important. Needless to say, its functionality is lacking, but it'll do.

At any rate, here she is, a cute little puppy dog with a wiggly tail standing just in front of the laptop, hands smoothed down her sides and her hair and clothes slightly unkempt. She's been hard at work already, both with trying to get settled in and with understanding how her new job works. A secretary's job is never done! ]

It's working now! Oh- [ An uneasy chuckle comes, but is quickly replaced by a chipper and beaming smile. ] How silly of me. I should be introducing myself! I'm really sorry. I got a bit... distracted. [ Her voice takes on a hushed tone. ] I think the laptop's a bit finicky...

But anyway, hello, Smash Academy! I am very excited to be here at your esteemed academy. [ She gives a polite, ladylike bow, her bells in her hair jingling with the motion. ] My name is Isabelle, and I will be the school's new general secretary. I'll be taking care of any of the offices I can, just to give the teachers a hand. I hope to make your lives easier! They must be hard with all the hustle and bustle...

[ She clears her throat for a brief moment and claps her hands together, her tail still going ninety miles an hour behind her. ]

I think my first order of business should be to get to know everyone! [ She gives a tilt of the head, her disposition generally friendly. ] What are your names? Are you students, teachers, or staff members? Oh, and if there's anything I can help out with, please feel free to let me know! I'd like to help everyone in any way I can.

[ She places her hands on her fists, and one could swear that cute little sparkles are starting to dance off of her body from Deep Anime-like Determination™! ★ ]

You can count on me!

[ She dissolves into a small fit of giggles before she shuts off the feed. ]

In-Character 3rd person sample:
( Here, if you will. )