Madeline Daresbury

Madeline Daresbury

~::Basics::~

Full name: Madeline Daresbury

Alias: The March Hare

Age: 29

DOB: 3/14/1987

Weight: 159.5 lbs

Gender/preferred pronouns: Female, she/her

Born: Gotham General Hospital, Gotham City

Job: Criminal, ex-baker

Sexuality: Asexual, Aromantic

Appearance:

Hair: Brown, has two long strands over her shoulders the rest is cut in a boy’s style.

Eyes: Amber

Height: 5'11

Build: On the slimmer side of average with a fair amount of lean muscle

Normal clothing: Usually unmatching. Prefers earth-toned colors over bright, popping colors

Costume: A white long-sleeved dress shirt under a dark brown waistcoat with a dark orange bow. High-waisted brown shorts with vertical striped tights and combat dress shoes. A belt holds two kamas at her waist. Carries a golden pocket watch. Wears either a hat with brown hare ears or a hare mask

~::HISTORY::~

Before becoming a criminal:

Childhood

(1-11)

Madeline grew up in what she thought was a loving home with her parents, older brother Marcus and little brother Ryan. Her mother owned a bakery (something she would later inherit).  Her father was a martial arts teacher who taught her Taekwondo and gymnastics, along with how to use close-combat weaponry.

Despite the fact that her parents loved her dearly, Madeline’s family had an interesting outlook on life. They firmly believed in survival of the fittest. They could be harsh and strict, and taught their children “survival skills” in ways that those outside the family would consider extreme. Madeline was the strongest and most capable of her siblings. Because of this, she developed a mindset where she felt the need to protect everyone who’s “weaker” than her... which in her mind is most people. 

(12)

When Ryan became sick (pneumonia), her parents didn’t realize the severity and thought he would fight it off. It quickly escalated and, in the end, killed him. Madeline was devastated, but so were her parents, who blamed each other and later divorced.

By this time Marcus was in his second year of college, Madeline was tossed between two people who didn’t know if they could raise a child. Madeline’s father became obsessed with her health, and whenever she stayed with him, she was on a rigorous diet and workout schedule. Her mother, on the other hand, tried to distract herself with work. Madeline, when with her mother, spent more time helping out in the bakery than doing her school work. One week she’s being hounded to be on a strict schedule, the next she’s trying to help run a business. 

(15)

After a few years of separation, Madeline’s father decided it would be better if he moved back home. Her mother knew she couldn’t keep running a business and trying to raise a teenager all by herself; she already had issues with overworking. In the end, she decided to drop Madeline off with Marcus. Marcus, while not thrilled, understood the importance of taking her in. He had his own life and was trying to save up to get a better apartment for his girlfriend. 

Marcus was, for the most part, distant and focused on his life, leaving Madeline to her own devices.  With her new freedom, Madeline chose to focus on work, mainly keeping her and Marcus’s home clean and keeping up with school work. Madeline continued to follow parts of her dad’s schedule while mixing her mother’s work ethic in. While it kept her distracted, it also prevented her from making many friends, as she was always ‘busy’. Her unusual maturity, workaholic nature, and tendency to be a little too overprotective also kept people away. 

(18)

Around the time Madeline turned eighteen, Marcus slowly started to push her away. He believed that she was mature enough to be on her own, and the way she followed in their parents’ footsteps had been making him increasingly uncomfortable. He didn’t immediately kick her out on her own, but slowly created distance and made it clear that they needed to separate. Madeline resisted the change for as long as she could but eventually caved to her brother’s wishes. From there, it took her a while to get settled on her own. At one point, she was even sleeping at her place of employment. 

(20)

Even with all this, Madeline still managed to get into Gotham University, where she graduated with a degree in business. Her college life was relatively uneventful. She was an excellent student, but her workaholic nature and lack of friendships continued. After she graduated, she would take over her mother’s business. 

How she became a criminal:

(25) 

Madeline, after graduating, took over her mother’s business. For a while, it was all just normal work, but after a few years, she began getting big and odd orders for colorful and lopsided cakes and Alice in Wonderland-themed… everything. Someone different came to pick it up every time, leading Madeline to believe a bunch of people had strange tastes - this was Gotham, after all. They seemed harmless; never once did they steal anything, and they always paid-- albeit with some fantastic, whimsical chatting. 

(26)

A year later, Madeline had mastered the strange dialect that the people from “Wonderland” used. She didn’t know what was going on with them, but if it helped her sell sweets, she was willing to play along. 

This all became clear when a short, blonde man, looking like he walked out of a fairy tale, came in. He spoke in the same manner as the other people from “Wonderland”, and always wore a top hat, which had to be a good century or two out of date. His name was Jervis Tetch, and Madeline had no idea that he was the “Mad Hatter.” After making an order that Madeline had long since accepted as “normal,”  he asked if it was her “Unbirthday.” 

“I’m…sorry?” Madeline asked. 

“Why, of course it is!” the man said. “Oh, you simply must come over for tea and cake today!” 

“But… I’m usually the one who makes the cakes…” Madeline pointed out. 

“And? Have you ever tasted your own desserts?” 

“I have to,” Madeline said. 

“I mean, really, truly, sat down and enjoyed them?” 

That made her stop and think. When was the last time she had cooked a dessert for herself? 

“So… I can make any dessert I like, and the other citizens of Wonderland will be there to celebrate my unbirthday with me?” Madeline asked, skeptical. 

“But of course!” Tetch laughed. “Can we expect to see you tonight? You mustn’t be late for your own unbirthday party, you know.” 

Madeline thought about it for a moment. “Can I invite other people?” 

“To your unbirthday party? Of course! The more the merrier, I always say!” 

Madeline didn’t want to admit that she was a little scared to go with Tetch. But he seemed harmless enough, and she felt better knowing that she could bring Marcus and a few friends along. Besides, she got to make her mom’s carrot cake recipe for the first time in forever. 

Her “unbirthday” was mostly Tetch talking to people that nobody else could see. Madeline was constantly asked if he was okay. The tea, at least, was fine, and of course, everybody loved the carrot cake-- even Tetch’s imaginary friends. 

“He’s fine,” she said. “He’s not dangerous, and he buys my cakes all the time. Besides…it’s been a long time since anyone’s invited me to anything.” 

They became fast friends soon after-- odd looks be damned. As time went on, however, Madeline began to suspect that not all was well in Wonderland

(27)

This friendship would later be tested when Jervis asked her to become “The March Hare” of Wonderland, in order to help him find Alice. After much inner conflict, she decided to dive into the rabbit hole and join the tea party.

Criminal career (29)

As the March Hare, she has been The Mad Hatter’s right-hand for two years and aided him in multiple crimes.

Her criminal exploits include kidnapping, breaking and entering, robbery, and physical violence against authority figures. 

Because of Madeline’s kind face, she’s been able to get much closer to whoever Tetch deemed as Alice. 

Madeline is more or less his full-time sidekick and muscle, doing things such as going out for him and handling his more labor-intensive work. Still continuing to cook for him of course. 

She helps him break out of Arkham whenever she escapes from Blackgate, (due to her being seen as more stable). 

Madeline, despite being capable of it, never killed any of the mind-controlled citizens-- just traumatized them and left them injured to some degree.

Personality traits:

Madeline is what most people would consider a good person; polite, extroverted, and always willing to help. These traits, however, can make people forget her criminal exploits with Tetch. Madeline may be kind, but she will do anything for those she cares about. Madeline doesn’t give up in the face of a problem. For better or for worse, she’s in it for the long haul.

Madeline is a very loyal and devoted person. She’s also incredibly organized and good at managing chaos. While she doesn’t enjoy hurting people, she sees it as a necessary evil she’ll do for the sake of those closest to her. Madeline is fairly polite and always willing to let people cry on her shoulder. Madeline continues to diligently work out and improve some of her skills so she doesn’t lose them. She’s not blind to others’ flaws, but believes that their good traits should always outweigh them. 

Good Traits: Diligent, hard-working, loyal, patient, friendly, empathetic

Bad Traits: Obsessive, overprotective, overly-empathetic, overachiever, nit-picky, expects too little of people, codependent

ESTJ

Other info:

Abandonment issues

Professional baker.

Graduated from Gotham University college with a degree in business.

Doesn’t watch the news; she finds it boring/depressing.

Favorite book is The Wizard of Oz

When not cooking or helping Tetch, Madeline is a bit of a fitness fanatic; she works out regularly. 

Cartoonishly bad aim. Cannot use a gun or even throw a book at someone.

Trained in using a dual kama and educated in taekwondo (see earlier in the bio). 

Kept in Blackgate as she’s not technically mentally ill. Due to her good attitude, she is labeled as low-risk and only gets upgraded to medium-risk when Tetch escapes. 

Has been mind-controlled by Tetch on a few occasions. This has led to her obsessively checking any item given to her. 

Strongly dislikes March Harriet and the White Rabbit; she views them as “tainting” the book and characters. Has been forced to work with both on certain occasions.