&& the basics
name: katerina alejandra lopez
gender & pronouns: cisfemale, she/her
age: thirty-nine
birthday: april 9th, 1987
place of birth: kismet harbor, OR
occupation: archaeologist / treasure hunter
neighborhood: hawthorne hideaway
time since arriving in kismet harbor: since birth
&& the breakdown
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Kat was born into a life that never allowed her the luxury of being a kid. Her father was gone before she could remember him and her mother lived a life riddled with alcohol, drugs, and men. From as young as she could remember, Kat had stepped up and been the adult in the household. That sense of responsibility only grew as the family grew. Her two younger half-sisters came into her life and from that point on, they were her main priority.
Stepping into the role of caretaker for her siblings was a simple one and more often than not it felt like a team effort. They leaned on one another when their mother failed to step up. Her world revolved around providing for her siblings, keeping them clothed, getting them to school on time. There wasn't much space for Kat to be anything else, but her sisters were and always would be her everything in life.
Work came early for Kat, who babysat and found jobs doing yardwork anywhere she could until her teenage years came along and she found herself with a steadier job on the docks. The man that hired her knew enough about her family situation to take her under his wing and give her something consistent with hours that she could swing with school and family responsibilities taking precedence. It was hard work, but it paid well and it kept food on the table, and Kat was willing to do what she had to do.
The job at the dock became her saving grace, a place to escape the pressures of her home life and throw herself into something that gave her no room to think about anything else. And then things changed. Catching up on unloading a shipment, Kat was stuck late at work and a bout of bad timing found her right in the middle of something she wasn't supposed to be. A late night smuggling run found Kat held at gunpoint, saved only by the fact that it was the man who had hired her that found her. It led to a choice. Leave and never speak a word of what she saw, losing her job and never coming back, or join them.
It wasn't even a question for Kat. More money for groceries outweighed the possible legal or moral ramifications of what she was doing. Without a second thought, Kat found herself fully entrenched in her newfound position. She moved crates, catalogued shipments, and over time became not just another cog in the machine, but a vital part of the operation. She was smart, capable, and even more, she was fascinated by the things she saw coming through the docks late at night.
Little pieces of history, artifacts each with a story all it own, a history that she could unravel and discover. Her work ceased to be just a means to an end and became a passion for Katerina. As her siblings grew older and went on to lives of their own, Kat found herself back in school herself. It was a late change in life, but a welcome one, where she finally felt she was pursuing something just for herself. It was a slow process, but eventually Kat graduated school, working her way through her undergraduate degree to a Master's and eventually a PhD in Archaeology.
Still working in some capacity with the same people, Kat has expanded her career. She is known in select circles as a dealer and finder of rare treasures, owning a private showroom accessible only to high-end clients that know what to ask for. To the world, she's a reputable archaeologist who runs an archaeological research company. They work with universities, contract with dig sites, do restoration projects and anything else in between. She dips her toes as a broker of arts and artifacts from around the world. But, to those in the know, she's the woman you call when you want something rare, priceless, or impossible to acquire by legal means.
Kat organizes expeditions and is constantly in the weeds of historical research tracking down missing artifacts from around the world to sell to the highest bidder. Beneath the sophistication she puts on with the titles and degrees she has is the thrill-seeker she's always been, navigating in the shadows as she hunts down treasures and scours the globe, willing to find anything for the right price. Her company gives her the space to build the networks and legitimacy she needs to hide the real career she's built for herself.
Through all of it, her family remains the anchor she never lets go of. She constantly checks in on them and supports them through anything, protecting them with the same devotion she had as a child. Life for her now is a balance between the loyal, respected family woman she portrays and the darker edges of her treasure hunting and black market dealings.