NAME: Meliza Rinaldo
BIRTHDATE: June 24, 1978
HEIGHT: 5'7"
WEIGHT: 120 lbs.
NATIONALITY: American (of Filipino blood)
 

-APPEARANCE-

Meliza has a pale gold complexion. She has straight black hair that is parted on the left side. Her hair falls just a couple inches below her shoulders. She always uses a light application of cosmetics to enhance her features, especially her brown eyes.
 

-CLOTHING-

Outfit 1: Long sleeved gray, button down blouse, short black skirt, a fitted charcoal vest, and comfortable black shoes with straps. (Leather jacket sometimes worn over the outfit).

Outfit 2: Sleeveless red shirt and matching sweater, black Capri pants, black shoes with straps. (Leather jacket sometimes worn with this as well)

Formal Attire: Dark blue ankle-length dress and pumps. The dress is long-sleeved with a square neckline and two slits up the straight skirt - one on each side.
 

-BACKGROUND-

She was born in Las Vegas. Gambling is in her blood. Meliza is heiress to the Rinaldo Casino Resort, located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and The Rinaldo in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Her parents' wealth and fortune is not something she likes to advertise. Neither is her last name… someone could eventually put two and two together…Both of her parents are skilled at gambling. Once she turned eighteen, she began going to casinos on Indian reservations. Her parents taught her all she needed to know, so she decided to try their teachings out. It wasn't long before her parents noticed that Meliza quickly caught on to gambling and became a very skilled card player. When she turned twenty-one, she tried her hand at the casinos in Las Vegas, discovering that the area was more for tourists. Once she saved up enough money from her winnings, she decided to travel the world. Her parents were disappointed, for they had hoped that Meliza would be interested in becoming a manager at one of their casinos. But she has other ideas for herself. Meliza has always been different than most people. Aside from her skills as a gambler, she has an unusual power that enables her to deliver kinetic energy into any object she holds, causing it to explode. She is able to control this power and use it to her advantage. (Think Gambit from the X-Men!) Meliza had an instructor who taught her several different martial art forms, so she can hold her own pretty well. She's very flexible and agile. She basically uses her martial arts, her kinetic power (when necessary), and her quick feet to get out of sticky situations. (And there have been quite a few…)
 

-PERSONALITY-

As a professional gambler, Meliza is very good at reading people. She possesses sharp wit and a wry sense of humor. (However, in a game of cards, she shows little emotion, sometimes disinterest.) She's a very outgoing person. Meliza can get along with many different types of people and she enjoys meeting new people. She's a bit on the flirtatious side, in spite of her being single, she is unavailable (see other info). She is spirited as well as assertive. When she wants something, she is determined to have it. Meliza prides herself in being strong and independent, so she does not like to show weaknesses. Meliza enjoys traveling around the world, for with each location, she learns different things, thus making her very resourceful. She is basically enjoying her life, visiting the different casinos around the world. And she's always seeking a worthy adversary.
 

-OTHER INFO-

Meliza guards her heart and emotions very carefully. She has had a series of failed relationships, but none affected her as much as the one that occurred months before coming to Fighter's Isle. Meliza fell in love with a gambler/fighter named Andrew Rivera. They had been in a serious relationship for several months before Meliza packed up her belongings and left. (Reason: I can't say or I'll spoil AAO!) Andrew never came after her. She had secretly longed for a male companion to share her thoughts and interests with, but ever since then, Meliza's views on commitment and relationships had changed drastically. They aren't worth all the trouble and drama. In reality, and only her former lover knows this, she is secretly insecure about herself when it comes to having a relationship. It's the one thing she's not willing to gamble on, because she doesn't believe she's good at it.