Editing Taylor Hebert (section)

===Story Start===
She has shown some insecurity in her femininity, describing her long, dark curly hair as her "only feminine feature".<ref name="1.1"/> Used to regularly spent time in front of a mirror, fixating on the flaws and things she didn't like about herself to the point where she would see a stranger in her reflection.<ref>To say I barely recognized myself was.. how could I put it?  It was ''true'', but I could also remember myself months ago, when I’d look at my reflection and I would be so focused on the flaws and the things I didn’t like about myself that I never felt familiar with the person I was seeing in the mirror.  It was as though it was always a stranger I was looking at, and I would be left vaguely surprised at the combination of features across from me. - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2012/05/19/infestation-11-1/ Excerpt] from [[Infestation 11.1]]</ref> She would always stress over choosing her clothes.<ref name="6.2">“Don’t you?”  She asked.  She turned her attention to my selection of clothes piled on the bed.  “You’re paying a lot of attention to what you’re going to be wearing.”<br><br>“I always do, even when I’m just going to be hanging out with you and Bitch.  I second guess and stress over the clothes I’m wearing if I’m walking to the corner store by my house to buy milk and bread.” - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2011/12/17/tangle-6-2/ Excerpt] from [[Tangle 6.2]]</ref>

She had a tendency to throw herself into danger without considering the consequences to herself, that could easily have resulted in her death had it persisted.<ref name="R S">'''Taylor isn't suicidal but would have dropped out of school.'''<br>Depends on your definition of suicidal. I've fairly sure I've dropped WoG (That's noted in the archives) that states Taylor would not live in a lot of AUs because she was liable to tailspin into self destruction (the thought 'I want to die' not crossing her mind even as she put herself into dangerous situations) in a lot of scenarios where she didn't have the same outside influence. - [https://redd.it/6kcne7 Partial comment by Wildbow on Reddit]</ref>

Taylor considered joining the Wards, but felt that "the notion of escaping the stresses of high school by flinging myself into a mess of teenage drama, adult oversight and schedules seemed self-defeating".<ref name="1.6">[[Gestation 1.6]]</ref> She had no trust in organized institutions, and felt happier having some independence and control.<ref name="1.6c1">As Taylor states, “I had considered applying to join, but the notion of escaping the stresses of high school by flinging myself into a mess of teenage drama, adult oversight and schedules seemed self-defeating.”<br><br>In brief: The Wards could easily be everything she’s trying to get away from.<br><br>Beyond that, she has no trust in organized institutions (school has failed her badly – see the next chapter for more on the subject), and she’s happier having some independence and control (personal power, freedom, escapism) in circumstances where she otherwise has none, than she would be as another rank and file member of the Wards. Or, perhaps to phrase it better, she’s more afraid of being unhappy in the Wards than she is of being unhappy on her own.<br><br>So why not just fly solo for a while, right? - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2011/06/28/gestation-1-6/#comment-4661 Comment by] Wildbow on [[Gestation 1.6]]</ref>

She had increasing difficulty attending school.<ref>Kicking myself even as I did it, I turned away and walked back down the hall towards the front doors of the school.  I knew it would be that much harder to go back tomorrow.  For one and three-quarter school years, I had been putting up with this shit.  I'd been going against the current for a long time, and even though I was aware of the consequences I'd face if I kept missing school like this, it was so much easier to stop pushing so hard against the current and just step in the other direction. - [[Agitation 3.1]]</ref> Sometimes she would make deals with herself to attend for part of the day, then convince herself to attend for more.<ref>I stared out the window of the bus, watching the people and the cars.  On days like this, after being publicly humiliated, getting myself to the point where I was willing to walk through the door was about making deals with myself and trying to look past the school day.  I told myself that I would go to Mrs. Knott's computer class.  None of the Trio would be there, it was usually pretty easygoing, and I could take the time to browse the web.  From there, it was just a matter of convincing myself to walk down the hall to Mr. Gladly's class.<br><br>If I just made myself do that, I promised myself, I would give myself a treat. - [[Agitation 3.1]]</ref>

Taylor became very self-conscious when she was physically close to people, worrying if they could smell bad breath or body odor to the point of stopping to breath just in case she had bad breath.<ref>“Relax.  You’re allowed to breathe.”<br><br>I laughed lightly at the realization I was holding my breath, which resulted in a nervous, chuckling exhalation that only added to the awkwardness I was feeling.<br><br>He was smiling, “You okay?”<br><br>What was I supposed to say?  Admit I didn’t know how to deal with being around a good looking guy?<br><br>I stared down at the ground, at the table leg I was holding.  “I get nervous when I’m close to people.  I think, you know, maybe I have bad breath, or maybe I have B.O., and I wouldn’t be able to tell, because it’s mine, so I hold my breath like that to be safe.  I dunno.” - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2011/12/20/tangle-6-3/ Excerpt] from [[Tangle 6.3]]</ref>

[[Lisa Wilbourn|Tattletale]] mentioned that Taylor was "observant, detail oriented and focused", and that she watches, observes and then acts with careful, surgical precision.<ref>“You and Brian are similar, but I wouldn’t say he’s cautious.  He’s… pragmatic.  You both are.  The difference between you two is that he’s been doing what he does for three years, now.  Two years of experience, before he joined the group.  So a lot of what he does is automatic.  He doesn’t give a second thought to the little things he’s done dozens of times already.  He takes a lot for granted.”<br><br>“And I don’t?”<br><br>“You’re observant, detail oriented and focused.  More than any of the others.  You watch, you interpret, and then you act with this careful, surgical precision. That’s a strength and a flaw.” - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2011/09/27/shell-4-2/ Excerpt] from [[Shell 4.2]]</ref> [[Brian Laborn|Brian]] describes her as "analytical", going through points step-by-step like checking things off a list.<ref>He didn’t speak, giving me a chance to continue, “I think you’re good looking, I like you as a person.  I ''respect'' you, more than any of the others, because you’re smart about what you do, career-wise.  You know.  And because you’re so comfortable in your own skin, so confident.  I admire that.”<br><br>“You sound so analytical,” Brian offered me a slight smile, but he looked a little pained, “Going through the points, step by step, like you’re checking things off a list.”<br><br>“That’s not- I’m not trying to.”<br><br>“I’m not criticizing you.  I’m saying it seems very ''you''.” - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2012/02/04/buzz-7-6/ Excerpt] from [[Buzz 7.6]]</ref> Taylor doubts these observations.<ref>“It makes the most sense.  You have the best grip on who’s in play and how to use our abilities.  You think tactically,” she murmured.<br><br>[...]<br><br>“Just because we’re putting you in charge doesn’t mean I can’t still handle that stuff.  If you want to delegate to me at any point, that’s fine.  It’s just a question of who we turn to when we need a spur of the moment decision.”<br><br>“I’m not good at those.  I’m only good when I can plan, consider everything that’s at play.”<br><br>“I don’t think you give yourself credit.  I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, you’re good at improvising.”- [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2012/10/30/colony-15-5/ Excerpt] from [[Colony 15.5]]</ref><ref>"Come on, you know me pretty well.  All the others describe me as careful and cautious, though I’m not entirely sure why.  Do you really think I’d pick something as important as a dog, a new addition to my family, without researching, first?” - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/buzz-7-3/ Excerpt] from [[Buzz 7.3]]</ref>

Tattletale also noted, later on, that she seemed to "gravitate toward solitude", and that she seemed oblivious to people staring at her as Skitter, perhaps because she had spent so long assuming everyone was staring at her as a result of her poor self-confidence. Tattletale believed that Taylor would be better at using Tattletale's power than she was.<ref name="I8">[[Interlude 8.y]]</ref><!-- arc three showcases taylor compartmentalizing be sure to write that up  -->