User:LadyLameness/Kimmalyn

{/{character |titles=Callsign: Quirk |world=Detritus |books=Skyward

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Kimmalyn (Callsign: Quirk) is a cadet in DDF Flight School. Skyward six. She forgets her flight number the first time Skyward Flight is called into duty. Her original callsign was Quick, however, she changed it to Quirk after multiple members of her squad misremembered it.

Appearance and Personality

Kimmalyn is approximately seventeen years old and has tan brown skin and long, curly black hair. She is the great-granddaughter of the assistant quartermaster from the Antioch gunship and has a slight accent, that may be common to her home cavern, Bountiful Cavern. She is a very energetic and excitable person, which can sometimes come across as silly to others. She is not shy with physical affection even with people she does not know, and is a cheerful and friendly person. She enjoys small pleasures and is a perky and upbeat person.

She is a genuinely kind person who considers others comfort as much as her own and will willingly decrease her comfort of living to help increase another's, so that they do not have to carry discomfort themselves. She is perceptive about her friends and will specifically check in with them if something seems to be wrong and help where she can. She does not shy away from bringing up sensitive topics, however, is sympathetic and empathetic when discussing issues.

Despite this, Kimmalyn does not always recognize when she enables bad behavior in others, joining in with her classmates in calling Jorgen names and praising Spensa for her actions during the light-lance ring game. She is quick to follow orders, even from those who do not necessarily have authority to give them. She frequently uses the phrase, 'bless your stars', however, the intention behind her comments can range from fondness to insulting.^{[citation needed]} Kimmalyn also has a habit of insulting the people around her using subtle and confusing language so they do not catch on to her intention. This is a trait she has picked up from living in Bountiful Cavern where it is considered rude to outright insult people, but acceptable if veiled with politeness and obscurity.^{[citation needed]}

Religiosity

She likes to quote someone called the Saint, though no one else knows who that is. It is later revealed that most of the Saint's "sayings" actually originated with Kimmalyn^{[citation needed]}. Kimmalyn justifies a majority of her actions or choices with sayings by the Saint. When Spensa suggested that Kimmalyn use the callsign Saint, she vehemently refused.

History

Kimmalyn is from Bountiful Cavern and the daughter of AA gunners. She was trained on the smaller AA guns by her father prior to Flight School, though it is unclear when she began to use these guns. Part of her father's training involve a mushroom that resembled a squirrel.

She did not plan to take the entrance exam for Flight School but was approached by DDF recruiters who wanted to see a demonstration of her weaponry skills. Once seeing her abilities they encouraged her to apply for the DDF and sit the entrance exam. After passing the entrance exam, Kimmalyn was placed in Skyward Flight under the tutorledge of Cobb. She was roomed with the other female members of her flight, with the exception of Spensa, who was denied accomodation. Before it became known that Spensa would not be rooming with them, Kimmalyn offered to switch out sleeping arrangements with the other girl every second night so that Spensa would not have to always sleep on a cot instead of a bed.

On the first day of Flight School, Kimmalyn ran into, and befriended Spensa, shortly after leaving the elevator from Igneous. The two girls were the first to arrive at the classroom, introducing themselves to their classmates when they arrived. When Jorgen arrived and chided the other members of Skyward Flight for not being organized then ordered them to attention, Kimmalyn immediately jumped to attention, however, in her excitement, she saluted Jorgen with both hands while also standing on her toes. Jorgen harshly criticized her, calling her pose ridiculous, leading to Spensa jumping to Kimmalyn's defense. Kimmalyn, while initially hurt by Jorgen's comment, was pleased by Spensa's response.

Like many of the other members of Skyward Flight, Kimmalyn crashed her mockpit during their first lesson by accidentally misusing her control sphere. When the lesson was interrupted by a Krell attack, Kimmalyn, along with the rest of Skyward Flight, were ordered to take to the sky and line up close to the battle to deceive the Krell into thinking there were more pilots ready to join the conflict. When Krell attacked the group, she maneuvered herself away from her flightmates so that she could line up a clear shot with her destructors, firing upon, and destroying, the Krell that had targeted Jorgen. Once back at the DDF base, the other members of Skyward Flight praised her on her shooting, though she did not know how to react to the compliments.

The next day when Kimmalyn noticed that Spensa did not seem to be leaving with the group during lunch, she attempted to stay behind to see what was wrong. She was stopped by Cobb who explained to her the situation. After Cobb mentioned to her that the other women had forgotten her lunch Kimmalyn snuck food back with her from the mess hall to pass onto Spensa. When the class resumed, the cadets began testing out the weapons functions on their mockpits. After allowing the cadets to attempt to shoot targets with their destructors, Cobb ordered Kimmalyn to demonstrate how efffectively the weapons could be used. When the class attempted dogfighting after her demonstration, Kimmalyn's mockpit was destroyed almost immediately.

During the light-lance ring game Kimmalyn crashed on the first round, on the fourth ring, being the second person to lose out after Bim. After the game, she complemented Spensa on her ploy to stop Jorgen and win the game before going to grab something to drink. When she returned, she was shocked to find out that Spensa was the daughter of Chaser. She however got over her shock quickly, approaching Spensa the next day to talk to her about it and ask if that was the reason behind Spensa's anger. Despite her initial reaction, she was not put off by the revelation and admired Spensa's courage in standing up against the backlash she had received because of her father's actions.

A few days later, Skyward Flight was once again sent into battle against the Krell, this time fighting alongside full pilots. During the battle, Kimmalyn attempts to help Morningtide by sniping the Krell that were chasing her, however, was ultimately too late and by doing so left herself exposed to Krell attack with no wingmate nearby. Although Spensa initially wanted to go and help her, Jorgen ordered her to help Bim, going to help Kimmalyn himself.

After the battle where Hurl died, Kimmalyn quit the DDF, blaming her poor flying skills for Hurl's death.

Abilities

Kimmalyn is expert markswoman, specializing in long distance sniping of moving ships. She has trained on the smaller AA guns which have rotating seats that mimic those used in starfighters. Skill with these guns often translates well into skill with the destructor guns on DDF jets. Kimmalyn is an impressive shot and was specifically encouraged by DDF recruiters to take the pilots test because of her weaponry abilities. She is far more skilful than most DDF pilots when using destructors as she is trained to hit moving targets, with most only using the guns for long range against stationary units. She is aware of her skill with shooting, however, is either not used to praise from others or just unsure as to how to accept it.

Kimmalyn was not a good flyer when she began at Flight School, and likely had never been in a starfighter before that time. Her flying skills do improve while she is a cadet and she is competent in the cockpit by the time she quits the DDF, however, she does not achieve the same level of proficiency as some of her classmates.

She crashes her mockpit the first time she tries to launch it, crashing into the ground in surprise that she had gotten her ship into the air. She was a bit embarrassed by her attempt. The first time she is put in a dogfight simulator, she is destroyed almost immediately.

Relationships

Spensa

Kimmalyn meets Spensa on the first day of Flight School and the two become quick friends. Kimmalyn is not put out by the other women's strong personality, or her temper. Spensa quickly becomes protective of Kimmalyn, jumping to the women's aid when she is harshly criticized by Jorgen. She picks up the use of Jerkface as Jorgen's callsign quickly after Spensa suggests it, also using it as an insult to him. Kimmalyn sees no issue with Spensa's actions against Jorgen in the light-lance game, praising her for her conduct.

Spensa was not sure what she thought of Kimmalyn's callsign and considered talking with her about it, though it is unclear if she ever did.

Kimmalyn is aware of who Spensa's father and has heard the stories about him. Although she is, at first, shocked to find out Spensa's parentage, she does not treat Spensa differently after the revelation, nor does she shy away from the topic or Spensa's tendency towards anger. She is impressed by Spensa's ability to stand up against the rumors and admires Spensa's courage.

Quotes

We can do this. Just take a deep breath. Reach up. Pluck a star. That’s what the Saint says. - Chapter 6

That’s a damn near perfect line. Except for you, Quirk.” “Quick, sir,” Kimmalyn said—indeed, her ship had gone up maybe fifty feet above the rest of us. “And . . . I’m just gonna sit tight here, snug and happy I didn’t crash into anyone. As the Saint said, ‘Ain’t nothing wrong with being a little wrong once in a while.’ ” Ch 10

“Cobb told us you forgot to bring a lunch,” she whispered. Then she stood up and walked the other way, speaking loudly. “What a lovely view of the sky we have! As the Saint always said, ‘Good thing it’s light during the day, otherwise we wouldn’t be able to see how pretty daytime is!’ ” Ch 13

“Kind of like trying to hit the floor with a rock, sir,” she said. “They aren’t even moving.” Ch 14

“So,” she said, hovering beside my seat as I rested and drank from my canteen, “is that why you’re always so bellicose?” “Bellicose?” I asked, unfamiliar with the word. “So willing to seize the stars with one hand and shove them in your pocket,” Kimmalyn said. She leaned in, as if the next part were somehow naughty. “You know. Heated.” “Heated.” “Maybe even . . . once in a while . . . cross.” “Is my father why I’m such a mess of anger, bravado, and temper? Is the fact that they call him a coward the reason I walk around with my sword in hand, screaming that I’ll make a pile of everyone’s skulls, then stand on that to help me behead the people who were too tall for me to reach?” Kimmalyn smiled fondly. “Bless my stars?” I asked her. “Every single one of them, Spensa. Every single bouncing star.” “Well, bless you for standing up straight,” she said, then put up her fists. “Pride is a virtue in those who make it one.” Ch 16

Trivia

• The phrase 'bless your stars', commonly used by Kimmalyn, is likely based on the southern US phrase, 'Bless your stars'. Both phrases are used in a variety of circumstances to convey expressions that range from sincerity to mockery.

Notes

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