Araiya's Bio: Extended

Araiya Carmichael Bio

Araiya Nicole Carmichael

Birthday: 6/21/88
Age: 23
Greek Zodiac sign: Gemini/Cancer
Chinese Zodiac sign: Dragon
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Current home: Plastic Beach
Hair: Dark Brown/ shoulder length
Eyes:
Ethnicity: African-American/Native American
Height: 5'5''
Weight: 175
Figure: Curvy
Relationship status: dating Murdoc Niccals
Languages spoken: English, Spanish, and French
Nicknames: Tiger (Murdoc), Lil' Love or Rei-Shine (2D), Onee-san (pronounced O-NAY and it's Japanese for big sister) and Rei-sama (Noodle),  Rei (by everyone)
Best friend: Taiya Dalton
Musical talent: plays bass, piano, and melodica
Musical instruments: White Epiphone Limited Edition Korina Flying V Bass (4 string), Gibson Precision Bass (5 string), Casio WK-3800, Casio WK-200, Korg M50, and MicroKorg Synth, blue and white melodica, and a Roland AX Synth Keytar Keyboard Black Sparkle Axe
Other Talents: Kick-boxer (since she was in 4th grade)
Tattoos:  Butterfly tattoo on her foot, musical note ring on her left wrist, white tiger head on her right shoulder,

Childhood: State Side

The only child of Aiyana and William Carmichael, Araiya grew up in the Gold Coast Area of Chicago. Despite having more than the average child, she was taught by her parents not to be selfish because you never know when you may lose it all and being selfish will come back to haunt you.

Childhood: Across the Pond
Araiya was 10 years old when she moved to England. Her father's job wanted him to be a permanent executive at the London branch. So by the winter the family packed up and moved into a home in Essex. After settling down her mother registered her at the local grade school where she began attending after the holidays had ended. Araiya continued her kick boxing when her mother enrolled her in the class as an extra curricular activity. William became a workaholic during his daughter's pre-teen years and the relationship became somewhat strained and distant.

Teenage Years: Saving Noodle and meeting Gorillaz

Araiya was in junior high as a bright and tough 13 year old who had won many championships in kick boxing and was popular in school. One autumn afternoon after school Araiya came out of the field house to go home when she saw this small kid being beat up by some girls that she knew that was in her class. She put her book bag down and went over to them and knocked the girl who was beating up this kid off of her. With a few threats of kicking all their asses, they backed off and Araiya could turn her attention to helping the battered and bruised child. She noticed that it was a girl and was Asian. Rei saw that this girl was wearing a purple and white radio helmet, burgundy and white top with matching pants, and a blue wind breaker.  She even noticed the kid's jet black hair. The beat up girl looked up at her savior and hugged  Araiya's legs and began to speak in her native language, Japanese, to thank the person who helped her.

Araiya's POV on the incident: "They were making fun of Noodle because she was having trouble with the English language still and plus she was out numbered two to one and I didn't like the fact that she was getting picked on. So I just pulled the girl that was on top of her off, made a few threats, and they went away. When Noods wrapped herself around my legs and started to thank me in Japanese, I couldn't help but smile."

Noodle's POV: "When Rei-sama saved me then befriended me after what had happened, I felt a connection with her. A sisterly bond that can never be broken. I knew she was one of the popular girls in school at the time and she even helped teach me English."

In broken English, Noodle told Araiya where she lived and she took Noodle home. Araiya knew about Kong and the Gorillaz because she had their first CD which was a hit and Kong had a website up. She was scared of the zombies a little, but as for the other three members, she knew she had nothing to fear. Noodle and Araiya hopped on a bus and took it to Kong where both girls quickly ran up the hill and into the car park to avoid the zombies. Just as they were about to take the stairs into the house, Murdoc Niccals had stepped out of his Winnebago to go  give some lyrics that he ad written down to 2D. He saw Araiya and Noodle and walked over to them. He saw the dirt on her clothes and the bruises on Noodle's face. Noodle started to tell what happened in Japanese to him and since Murdoc couldn't understand a word she was saying she took the little girl upstairs to where Russel was sitting in the living room watching TV. Russel saw the three come in and spotted Noodle right away. Worried, he asked what had happened and she told him everything then translated to Murdoc.

Murdoc's POV: "Rei was a spunky 13 year old tomboy when I met her. She was the only other kid next to Noodle that wasn't afraid of me. I found that to be interesting at first, but then I just didn't care anymore. I'll be honest with you,  when she stood up for Noodle, she did gain a bit of my respect."

The bassist naturally didn't like some one standing up to him or standing their ground especially if it was a kid and a girl to boot, but Murdoc soon came to like the Araiya especially when he found out that she could give him a run for his money on her bass. If he got in her face Araiya would get right back into his.

Araiya's POV: "I don't let anyone use me as a door mat even if it's an alcoholic, womanizing Satanist."

Murdoc's POV: "I got in her face one time and Rei got right back in mine. I think she was 15 at the time. The woman has moxie."

It wasn't until high school that Araiya met her best friend Taiya Dalton. Taiya had come to the UK from Russia when she was 5 years old. The 15 year old was quiet and kept to herself most of the time and just like Araiya, excelled in her studies. Araiya was able to crack the shell and by Sophmore year, Taiya wasn't quiet and was open to anything that her friend suggested.

Ever since then, they've been best friends and like sisters.

The Relationship: Part 1

It wasn't until Araiya was 16 that the feelings for Murdoc surfaced. Naturally she contributed it to hormones, but a year later she realized it was truly love. She saw past the boozing and womanizing and saw a man that wanted to be loved. Little did she know that the Bass Slayer himself felt the same way. Once both of them realized their feelings for each other, Araiya and Murdoc began  to secretly  date, both knowing full well the consequences if they got caught. Murdoc curbed the drinking some and the revolving door of women slowed then completely stopped. The other Gorillaz including Taiya had no clue what was going on. Texting and e-mails became the norm for setting up dates for the two lovers.

Murdoc ended up taking Araiya's virginity when she was 17 and the two couldn't be any happier when that happened.

Murdoc's POV: "I knew she was a virgin. I chose not to say anything because I actually wanted her to tell me herself."

Araiya's POV: "I had the feeling he knew that I was a virgin. There are somethings you just can't hide from a seasoned man like him."

Unfortunately, the others found out through in a not so glorious way. Russel and Taiya were looking for their friends one afternoon. Since neither of them were in their usual spots they looked around in the other rooms around Kong. Taiya finally came to Araiya's room in the house, and heard the loud music coming from the inside. She naturally knocked, but her friend didn't answer. She knocked a couple more times before turning the knob and opening the door. Both of them couldn't believe what they saw: Murdoc on top of Araiya and both were completely naked. Their shock soon turned into anger.  Russel yelled which surprised the two bassists'. Murdoc  tumbled off Ariaya who covered herself up with a sheet.

Murdoc's POV: "Lards was furious. You should've seen the look on his face. I knew he wanted to rip  my balls off."

Araiya's POV: "Taiya was just a angry as Russ was. They both wanted to rip off Murdoc's family jewels and throw them out the window."

Before any physicality could occur, Araiya stepped in between them and explained everything. Russel told 2D and Noodle about the relationship, and they weren't pleased either. After a month or so, the others began to slowly accept Murdoc and Araiya's relationship, but they kept an eye on Murdoc to make sure he didn't screw up.

The Relationship: Part 2

Everything was going fine between Murdoc and Araiya. Naturally they had their little spats just like every couple, but little did they know that a music video would split them apart for four whole years. It was early March and Murdoc had come up with an idea for a music video for El Mañana. He was going to use Noodle and her flying windmill in it. It would show her sitting on it being peaceful then all of a sudden helicopters would attack and in the end Noodle would jump off and float  back down to earth using a parachute. Noodle on the other hand had her own ideas. She came to Murdoc and told him that she wanted to take a break from the band and finsih growing up under the radar. Murdoc agreed and soon moving boxes appeared. Nobody else knew of the plan. Murdoc also wanted to get rid of a person that had been plaguing him. That person was Little Jimmy Manson.  On the day of the shoot, Murdoc had hid Manson at the top of the windmill in the closet. The night before Murdoc  had switched out the real weapons for fake ones. He locked the hippie in the closet saying that he could come out when the helicopters began shooting. Murdoc and the others watched at Noodle floated away on her windmill and she was still in eyesight when the attack began. Araiya watched in horror as her friend was shot at and shot down. A week later, 2D left Kong stating that he couldn't be there anymore. Russel had the same thought so he left too a few days later without a single goodbye. Taiya went back to Russia, and Murdoc and Araiya were the only ones left. Since Kong was deteriorating  and she didn't trust being in there alone anymore, Araiya moved into the Winnebago with Murdoc.

Araiya's POV: "I didn't like being in there anymore. I swear when I was in Kong by myself, I got the feeling that some demons were following me. The zombies had disappeared and the Hellhole seemed to be pretty active. Everyone else was gone and I didn't want to leave Murdoc by himself."

When Rise of the Ogre was released in October, Araiya knew she had to clear her head and leave as well, but before she did, she tried to get Murdoc to leave with her, but he refused. So Before Christmas she left with Murdoc driving her to the train station. After saying their final goodbyes, Murdoc and Araiya's relationship was done.

Four years later: Plastic Beach

Araiya was living in London when she heard about Plastic Beach. She was in a music shop just browsing the latest selections when she came upon the CD. There were two copies of it; an Experience Edition and Standard Edition. The bassist couldn't believe her eyes. She grabbed  the experience edition, and went to pay for it. As soon as she got back to her flat, she opened the package, put the CD in the radio's CD player then pushed play. She selected a random song. When 'On Melancholy Hill' began to play, and 2D's voice came through the speakers,Araiya's jaw dropped.

Araiya's POV: "I couldn't believe it. When 2D's voice came through the speakers I was speechless. I mean Murdoc made another album, so I automatically thought that he found Noodle and Russel was there too."

Araiya immediately got on the computer and looked up Plastic Beach. She soon found out that not everything was as it seemed. After watching the indents, Araiya realized that Murdoc had 2D gassed and kidnapped, was using Russel's drum machine, and had built a cyborg replica of Noodle. Anger and disbelief coursed through her body. She soon finished her classes at the local community college, looked up where the island was located,  packed up, took a plane to Chile, then rented a boat and sailed all the way the Point Nemo. After arriving, she went up to the study to find 2D and Murdoc staring at the lift doors because 2D had spotted her boat at the dock. Araiya hugged 2D seeing that he was fine, but when she looked at Murdoc, Araiya shook her head in disappointment.

Murdoc tried to explain, but Araiya thought it was nothing but excuses and she told him that he's backed himself into a corner that he may not be able to get out of.

Weeks later after tempers calmed down and both of them told each other what  had happened in the last 4 years, Murdoc and Araiya came to an understanding. Araiya saw that Murdoc was scared even though he didn't show  it,  A few months later they began their relationship anew.

Around June of 2010 Russel and Noodle came to the island and there was a very tearful reunion. Later that year, Taiya also came to the island and the 6 of them are currently living in the middle of the South Pacific ocean.