Character

Zandra Plackett

Chaotic Neutral

Written by L. Howarth

Good intentions. Questionable execution. I say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing…but I don’t walk away anymore. One day at a time, even when it hurts like hell — because I’ve been worse, and I’m not going back.

Loosely CanonHumanFemale

London, United Kingdom | Larkhall Prison / Post-Larkhall
25 May / 30 years old
Straight
Single Ship

Fandoms

Bad Girls

3 stories
2 posts
8 followers

Bio

ZANDRA'S STORY:

Unlike many of her fellow inmates at Larkhall Prison, Zandra is serving ten months for a crime she didn't commit. When her upper-class boyfriend, Robin Dunstan, was caught in possession of stolen credit cards, Zandra took the blame and consequently found herself behind Larkhall's bars. The truth remains known only to Zandra and Robin.

Robin showed little appreciation for Zandra's sacrifice. Instead, he retreated to the shelter of his disapproving parents, who had always looked down their noses at her. Their disdain only intensified after Zandra received her sentence, while Robin increasingly distanced himself and left her to face the realities of prison without him.

Having already planned to marry Robin upon her release, Zandra was encouraged by her fellow inmates to bring the wedding forward and marry him inside Larkhall instead. She threw herself into the idea, excitedly planning their wedding despite Robin's lack of enthusiasm, until Wing Governor Helen Stewart revealed the devastating truth: Robin was already engaged to someone else.

Soon after, Zandra discovered that she had fallen pregnant shortly before entering Larkhall. Desperate to hold onto the future she'd imagined with Robin, she pinned her hopes on their baby bringing them back together and finally securing his commitment. It didn't.

Zandra's difficulties began long before Larkhall. Passed through numerous care and foster homes during her formative years, she grew up with the deeply rooted belief that nobody truly cared about her and that, sooner or later, people would leave. Combined with the instability and trauma she experienced throughout her young life, that fear helped pave the way towards drug addiction. Despite numerous attempts at rehab, Zandra has struggled to break the cycle. She desperately wants something—or someone—to give her a reason to stop, without yet understanding that lasting recovery will ultimately have to begin with her.

After getting to know her Personal Officer, Dominic McAllister, Zandra quickly came to believe that he was the best "screw" on G-Wing. His patience, encouragement and genuine concern for her made Zandra feel as though she was worth something at a time when she desperately needed to believe it. His support strengthened her desire to overcome her addiction, although Zandra's feelings for him soon developed beyond those of an inmate towards her Personal Officer. Despite knowing that a relationship between them may never be possible, one of Zandra's dreams is to leave Larkhall behind and build a life with Dominic.

One of the crueller realities of Zandra's life is that many of the people she has come to genuinely care about are inside the very place she desperately wants to escape. Several of the women she considers friends are serving sentences far longer than her own, meaning that leaving Larkhall will inevitably mean leaving some of them behind. Crystal Gordon, her cellmate and best friend, is one exception. Though the pair got off on the wrong foot, Crystal has become someone Zandra can confide in, laugh with and trust implicitly.

Zandra may not be the strongest woman on G-Wing and can find herself physically overpowered when conflicts turn violent, but that rarely stops her from standing her ground. Armed with a sharp tongue, quick wit and biting sarcasm, she's rarely afraid to say exactly what she thinks. Unfortunately, Zandra's emotions can get the better of her just as quickly, and when she feels frightened, rejected or cornered, she's prone to lashing out before thinking about the consequences.

BEYOND LARKHALL:

Zandra's story doesn't have to end at Larkhall.
While this profile is primarily rooted in her time on G-Wing, I'm equally interested in exploring Zandra's life beyond prison. Her release offers the chance to take the character into territory canon never allowed her to reach: recovery, motherhood, relationships, friendships and the difficult process of building an ordinary life after years of instability.
My post-Larkhall portrayal follows Zandra as she attempts to leave behind the chaos that once defined her. She is older and more self-aware, but she hasn't suddenly become a different person. She's still blunt, impulsive, sarcastic and capable of making an absolute mess of things. The difference is that she's learning how to recognise those patterns—and, occasionally, how not to repeat them.
Stories outside Larkhall can take place at different points in Zandra's life and don't necessarily need to follow one fixed continuity. I'm happy to discuss timelines, existing connections and new relationships depending on the story and character involved.

PERSONALITY & TRAITS:

Courageous:

Zandra may be frightened, outmatched or completely out of her depth, but that rarely stops her from standing her ground. Her courage isn't an absence of fear; more often, it's her refusal to back down despite it.

Resilient:

Zandra has been knocked down more times than she cares to count. She doesn't always cope well, and getting back up isn't always graceful, but somehow she keeps going. Even at her lowest, there's a stubbornness in her that refuses to disappear completely.

Dreamer:

Zandra has always imagined that something better is waiting for her around the corner. Whether it's love, family, freedom or simply somewhere she finally belongs, she clings fiercely to the possibility of a happier life. Her dreams give her hope, although they can also leave her vulnerable to seeing people and relationships as she wants them to be rather than as they truly are.

Loyal Friend:

Once Zandra genuinely cares about someone, she cares deeply. She can be fiercely protective of the people she considers friends and, despite her own problems, will try to be there when they need her. That loyalty isn't always sensible, though—Zandra has a habit of giving far too much of herself to people she loves, even when they haven't earned it.

Witty and Sarcastic:

Zandra has a sharp tongue and an even sharper sense of humour. Sarcasm comes naturally to her, whether she's taking the piss, trying to make someone laugh or using humour to disguise how she's really feeling. Unfortunately, she doesn't always know when to stop, and her mouth has a habit of getting her into situations it can't necessarily get her back out of.

Blunt and Emotionally Reactive:

Zandra rarely hides what she's thinking, particularly when she's angry, frightened or feels rejected. She experiences emotions intensely and can react before she's had time to properly process them, sometimes saying or doing things she later regrets. Beneath the outbursts, however, is often somebody who's hurt, scared or desperately trying not to feel powerless.

OCCUPATION:

Larkhall Era:

Unemployed - Aspiring Model

Post-Larkhall:

Support Worker - Addiction & Recovery

FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS:

CONTENT WARNING

The following section contains references to pregnancy termination, drug use and suicidal thoughts. These subjects form part of Zandra's canon storyline.

FAMILY:

SON:

Robbie

When Zandra discovered she was pregnant, her initial feelings were complicated. Despite the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy and her increasingly fractured relationship with Robin, the prospect of becoming a mother gave her something she had always desperately wanted: a family of her own. Zandra became determined to give Robbie the love and stability she had never experienced growing up, vowing that her son would never feel as unwanted as she had.
At the same time, the prospect of raising a child alone terrified her. Robin had abandoned her for another woman, leaving Zandra facing both pregnancy and motherhood from inside prison without the man she'd expected to share either with. Overwhelmed by what lay ahead, she initially decided to have a termination and remained adamant that it was the right decision, despite those around her encouraging her to think carefully about what she wanted.
It wasn't until Zandra was taken to hospital for the procedure that the reality of her decision truly hit her. Unable to go through with it, she fled from custody and sought out Robin, desperately hoping that the pregnancy might still give them a chance of becoming a family. Instead, Robin made it painfully clear that he wanted no involvement. Zandra returned to Larkhall still pregnant, but with a new resolve: if Robin wouldn't be there for their child, she would raise Robbie without him.
Despite continuing to struggle with drugs throughout her pregnancy, Robbie's birth gave Zandra a powerful reason to try again. After being placed with him in Larkhall's mother-and-baby unit, she attempted to stop using while simultaneously adjusting to caring for her newborn son. Withdrawal, exhaustion and sleepless nights quickly took their toll, leaving Zandra vulnerable when another inmate offered her drugs in exchange for a phone card.
Although sorely tempted, Zandra ultimately chose not to use and attempted to return the drugs. When she explained her change of heart to the inmate who had supplied them, however, the woman turned vicious and accused Zandra of tampering with the substance. Zandra lashed out, and the resulting fight combined with the discovery of drugs in her possession had devastating consequences. She was removed from the mother-and-baby unit and separated from Robbie.

The separation devastated Zandra. Robin showed little sympathy, instead using what had happened as further evidence that she was an unfit mother. Zandra desperately tried to make those around her understand that she hadn't taken the drugs, but felt that nobody was listening. Unable to accept losing Robbie and overwhelmed by the belief that she had nothing left without him, Zandra's mental state deteriorated rapidly. She eventually made her way onto the prison roof, where she contemplated taking her own life.
Dominic McAllister ultimately reached Zandra on the roof and prevented her from taking her own life. At one of the lowest points she had ever reached, her Personal Officer was once again there when she desperately needed someone to see beyond her behaviour and recognise the pain underneath it.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS:

EX-BOYFRIEND:

ROBIN DUNSTAN

Robin is Zandra's former boyfriend and the father of her son, Robbie. For much of their relationship, Zandra was completely devoted to him—so much so that when Robin was caught with stolen credit cards, she took the blame and went to prison in his place. Zandra believed that sacrifice was something you made for somebody you loved. Unfortunately, Robin never seemed to value it quite as highly as she did.

PERSONAL OFFICER:

DOMINIC MCALLISTER

As Zandra's Personal Officer, Dominic McAllister becomes one of the most important people in her life at Larkhall. Their relationship doesn't begin particularly seriously; like many of the women on G-Wing, Zandra is quick to test the new officer's boundaries, teasing him, being deliberately cheeky and seeing exactly how much she can get away with.

It doesn't take long, however, for Zandra's attitude towards Dominic to change. His patience, compassion and willingness to treat her like a person rather than simply another difficult inmate quickly set him apart from many of the other officers on G-Wing. At a time when Zandra is accustomed to feeling judged, dismissed or abandoned, Dominic consistently shows her that he genuinely cares about what happens to her. She grows fiercely protective of him as a result and is quick to defend him whenever anybody questions his character or intentions.

Over time, Zandra's attachment to Dominic develops into something more than gratitude or friendship. She falls for him, although the boundaries of their officer-inmate relationship mean that those feelings cannot simply be acted upon. Zandra nevertheless allows herself to dream of a future beyond Larkhall in which those barriers no longer exist—one where Dominic might return her feelings and the two of them could finally have the chance to discover whether what exists between them could become something real.

BEST FRIEND:

CRYSTAL GORDON

Sharing a cell with Crystal, Zandra considers her one of her closest friends. Their friendship had a rocky beginning, largely due to Crystal's strong religious beliefs and her disapproval of Zandra's drug use. Despite their differences—and the occasional clash between them—the two developed a deep and meaningful bond.
Crystal becomes one of Zandra's most dependable sources of support inside Larkhall. She isn't afraid to challenge Zandra when she believes she's making the wrong choices, but her concern is genuine and her loyalty unwavering. In Crystal, Zandra finds someone she can confide in, laugh with and trust during some of the most difficult periods of her imprisonment.
Their friendship becomes particularly important as Zandra begins thinking about life beyond Larkhall. Having spent much of her life surrounded by instability and people who have disappointed her, Zandra worries that there will be nobody waiting for her on the outside who genuinely cares about her.
Crystal represents something different: a friendship built inside Larkhall that Zandra hopes doesn't have to end there.

GENRES:

Drama • Romance • Crime • Character-Driven • Angst • Recovery

RULES:

21+ Adds ONLY:

This profile explores mature themes and I only write with people aged 21 or over. If I discover that you are under 21, I will remove you.

NO GODMODDING:

Please don't control Zandra's actions, thoughts or reactions. You write your character and I'll write mine. I'm happy for us to share responsibility for secondary characters where appropriate.

STARTERS:

If you approach me about starting a roleplay, please don't automatically assume that I'll write the opening post. I'm happy to discuss who is best placed to start based on the plot.

IC ≠ OOC:

Conflict between our characters does not mean there is conflict between us as writers. Zandra can be confrontational, emotional and difficult. Please don't interpret her behaviour or opinions as my own.

ACTIVITY:

Roleplay is a hobby, not an obligation. There may be times when replies take longer, and I'll always extend the same patience to the people I write with.
I'm also currently writing a four-part series centred on Zandra. It's a massive undertaking and naturally takes up a significant amount of my writing time. I want to be able to work on my own stories without feeling pressured or guilty for not replying to threads immediately, while still enjoying collaborating and writing with others.

Patience goes both ways, and that's all I ask.

WRITING STYLE:

I'm primarily a multi-para to novella writer. I enjoy detailed, character-driven writing and put considerable effort into longer threads. I don't expect every reply to match mine word-for-word, but I do value effort and substance from both writers.

MESSAGES:

My inbox is primarily for out-of-character conversation, plotting and discussing threads.

SHIPPING:

Dominic McAllister is my preferred romantic pairing for Zandra. However, I'm open to testing other ships where there is genuine chemistry between the characters. I won't force a pairing simply for the sake of having one.

CHILDREN & FAMILY:

Robbie is Zandra's only child, and I intend to keep it that way. I'm happy to write with somebody portraying Robbie where it fits the story, but I'm not interested in adding additional children to Zandra's family, whether through existing history or future storylines. Please don't approach me asking to create another child for her.

Writing

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