@Lord Wraith I was hoping for some commentary on what you liked and what you didn't like as much, but an acceptance is an acceptance and I'll take it. Before I move it into the character bin (that's what you want, yes?) I would like to add that the name is Jiao-long, to avoid any long term naming issues before we even start.
◼ W E E K 0 0 1:The world of Crestwood shows Hyperhuamns as being possibly one of the most oppressed races in history, they're unable to hold positions of authority nor able to use their gifts without fear of punishment. How does this affect your character and their relationship with society both as a whole and within the confines of a highschool social heirarchy? How has discovering that they are a Hyperhuman changed their worldview?
In psychology and criminology there is a widespread theory called the theory of the self-fulfilling prophecy of which the application is quite widespread and, honestly, applies to most things if not all. It is one of the major social influences that we put infants, children, teens and even adults through without realization -- this in itself is not neccessarily a bad thing as this 'power' can be harnessed for good, such as forcing someone to become a better person through imprinting it on them through 'prophecy.'
It can also be bad -- tell a child that they are good for nothing, useless, or criminal often enough and they will in turn start believing it and, eventually, begin acting like it too. Through this methodology you can essentially condition someone to become a criminal, an emotionless husk of a person or a robot.
To think that this was, and is, not the case for hyperhumans would be missing the point.
Jiao-long has gone through extensive imprinting during his childhood, like most other children, whether he realizes it or not. The decision to study finances was not his and, before he realized his power, the decision to 'take over the family business' like he was expected to was also not his. They were imprinted on him like a prophecy and eventually he began believing that this was what he was meant to do.
After the discovery of his dormant powers as a hyperhuman, Jiao-long was regarded differently. Not neccessarily a threat, as his powers were relatively 'low' on the actual danger scale given how many people occupied the area, and the effect of this on the electromagnetic fields in the area. Rather, he was regarded as a curiosity, a 'thing' much less a 'human,' much less a teenage child trying to find himself.
His power meant that he could not reasonably take a seat on the board in the family company any longer (something that he resented at first, since his 'destiny' or 'prophecy' was taken from him -- something he later began to enjoy as he realized he never truly wanted to spend time there anyway, a direct effect of the self-fulfilling prophecy he had been subjected to). His power also meant that he was 'special,' and while this meant a wild variety of things, it also meant he was not like the others, and in a society driven by prestige and wealth, he now possessed both of these.
Yes, being regarded with fear and a mistrusting eye everywhere you go was not always positive. But fear is a form of power too. And being able to grasp that power was, in turn, empowering.
He grew out of this mindset eventually, particularly after he realized that people seemed to generally mistrust him more and more, especially his own family who had originally taken great care to meticulously groom him and had now cast him aside -- a failed project -- and replaced him with another cousin of his, or something to that degree. Fear was empowering in a way but it also shuns people.
Well, if they said he was dangerous, he might as well become it right?
//Piercings/Tattoos/Scars: • Industrial snake | An industrial-style piercing stylized after a serpent.
Abilities, Skills and Resources ___________________________________
//Abilities: • Hyperhuman Ability | Osteokinesis Osteokinesis is, as the name implies, the manipulation of bone material within the body of the host. Applications vary ranging from the violent (the use of bones for weaponry) to the helpful (utilizing knowledge of bones in hospitals). This works through the unique control the host has over the growth of bonecells and thus allows them to control to a very fine level the growth of bones in general within their own body.
Osteokinesis has an easy and a difficult side. The creation of bonecells and, thus, bones is considered easy, as the process occurs naturally in those who have not yet realized their power and can result in growths occurring even if the host is not actively utilizing their power consciously (i.e. a child could grow bones without realizing it). This is relatively unproblematic until the bone pierces the skin.
It is much harder to decelerate, or even completely stop the growth of bones, which requires more practice and awareness of the process that is osteokinesis. Once this process is mastered, however, a user can control the growth of their bones and completely pause it, stop it, or create more bones at will.
Secondarily, a user has a control over the density of their bones through the amount of bonecells used within the bone as well as the structure. This allows them to create weak, strong, light, or heavy bones. Of course, this is relative to the actual bone being created -- bones as strong as reinforced steel will most likely not be an occurence.
• Limitation(s) | The creation of bones, while not directly exhausting, is draining in the long term. The constant creation of bonecells puts a strain on the body as the bonecells have to be created from something -- they cannot be materialized from literal nothing, and as such, require a resource. Luckily this resource is available within the body and those who live a decently healthy lifestyle are likely to experience no real problems with this unless they really strain themselves.
That said, a user that is engaged in, say, a prolonged fight or training session will likely feel themselves drained of energy and will need to rest to regain their strength in the same way one would need to rest to regain their energy after a marathon -- only osteokinesis is much more tiring in a shorter term.
• Weakness(es) | In the end bone is just bone and while bone is naturally quite strong (it has to be) there are limitations to this strength. Resistance to cutting/piercing motions are quite good -- bone is sturdy and hard and not easy to cut or pierce with, say, a knife. Blunt forces are much better equipped to deal with bones and could, with enough force, shatter it. While normal sources of vibration are likely not enough to do any damages to the bones, particularly high-powered sources (such as that of a hyperpower, for example) might be able to crack or even completely shatter the bone too. //Skills: • Economics | While Jiao is not really that amazing at it, his family background in the steel-production in Hong-Kong and the ownership of a variety of factories related to that business required him (if familial pressures can be seen as 'requirements') to take classes in economics. Frankly, he hated it, and doesn't really understand it on a grander scale (such as macro-economics), but if one were to say name a random theory or formula, it might be very well possible he'd understand it. His lack of actual mastery of this skill begins to explain his transfer to a hyper-human oriented program.
• Shotokan Karate | Stereotypes aside Jiao was actually quite proficient at Shotokan karate, but it was most likely not his talent that brought him to his 2nd Dan before leaving -- it was probably his family name and wealth. Like with most things, he quickly got bored and decided to leave after his 2nd dan, and pursue another martial art -- one that he followed a similar process in, before leaving again. His actual skill in the martial art has most likely rusted since then.
• Dissimulation | Essentially, the ability to lie and conceal his true thoughts, emotions, or character. Coming from a family like Jiao-long requires you to be able to either be a perfect son, or a perfect liar. Lacking the personality or desire to be a perfect son, Jiao instead opted to become a good liar. Hiding his true thoughts, emotions, and his miscreant character has since become second nature to him. Mind you, this does not mean he lies a lot, or at all -- his presence in a new country with people he honestly cares very little for has emboldened him to be himself if anything. //Paraphenalia: • iPhone X | His papa is rich and he's not afraid to flaunt it. • Clothing | Expensive designer streetwear, probably.
Appearance Details ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Jiao-long is a quite recognizable person -- most likely because he always looks indifferent or angry, and wears flashy brands and color combinations that normally belong on some kind of streetwear fashion event where hypebeasts gather to see the latest version of the Supreme redbox logo shirt. He is not typically handsome, he is not tall (well, not for an American) and doesn't look body-builder buff. Quite the opposite, really. This is a complete juxtaposition to the way he carries himself, as he walks around like he owns the place. Overly confident, in a nonchalant 'I don't care' type of way, like he knows he's better than you and doesn't care whether you realize it or not. Of course, whether he truly feels this way or is just putting up a façade is up in the air -- however, given his background, it is not unlikely he truly believes it.
Character Synopsis ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Jia-long Wenrong was born to two upstanding members of Hong Kong society. His father worked for his uncle in the steel business, on which their family had a firm steel grip which came quite close to the definition of a monopoly. His mother was from another upstanding family that dealt in soy sauce -- a business that did not seem particularly glamorous, but had raked in millions. Neither of his parents were close to the family fortune, having been second or even third in line to take over as family head. Perhaps it was for the best, as they were removed from the limelight to some degree.
Jiao thus grew up in a rich family where he was expected to follow in his fathers footsteps and become part of the business, doing whatever his father did (which was, frankly, a whole lot of nothing and a few meetings to break up the monotony of doing nothing). That included a foreign education, since saying you were from Harvard was a bit more prestigious than saying you were from a local university, and facing the truth, these families cared more about prestige than the actual knowledge you obtained here.
He was sent to an international school at a young age and enrolled in an international highschool, but complications involving his hyper-human ability made this process more difficult than it had to be. He was 'a late bloomer' when it came to his power, courtesy of the insane overpopulation in Hong Kong and the Asian region in general, however, the complications threw mud in the face of his enrolment in the international highschool. It was instead decided that he'd be shipped off to America to enrol in a highschool in the middle of nowhere which just so happened to be one of the first to have an actual hyperhuman program of sorts.
The details didn't stick out to him so much, but escaping his family and Hong Kong was a welcome change. So, he shipped out.
Personality ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Jiao is quite confident to the point to where it might be (mis)construed as arrogance. Whether it truly is arrogance is up to the beholder -- Jiao certainly seems to think he's the shit. This also means he thinks he doesn't have to put up with anyone, or anything. What this means in practice is that he cliques up with those 'like him,' namely the rich and, well, the Chinese, especially those from mainland China rather than American-born Chinese people. They have to have money after all. Anyone else is a peasant to him.
He's also not particularly good at keeping up with housework and the like, doing it when he feels like it, much less when he has to. Even the courtesy of copying someone elses homework is something he considers below him, and he expects the teachers to just put up with him not doing it. ("Do you know who my dad is? I don't need to do homework!")
//Piercings/Tattoos/Scars: • Industrial snake | An industrial-style piercing stylized after a serpent.
Abilities, Skills and Resources ___________________________________
//Abilities: • Hyperhuman Ability | Osteokinesis Osteokinesis is, as the name implies, the manipulation of bone material within the body of the host. Applications vary ranging from the violent (the use of bones for weaponry) to the helpful (utilizing knowledge of bones in hospitals). This works through the unique control the host has over the growth of bonecells and thus allows them to control to a very fine level the growth of bones in general within their own body.
Osteokinesis has an easy and a difficult side. The creation of bonecells and, thus, bones is considered easy, as the process occurs naturally in those who have not yet realized their power and can result in growths occurring even if the host is not actively utilizing their power consciously (i.e. a child could grow bones without realizing it). This is relatively unproblematic until the bone pierces the skin.
It is much harder to decelerate, or even completely stop the growth of bones, which requires more practice and awareness of the process that is osteokinesis. Once this process is mastered, however, a user can control the growth of their bones and completely pause it, stop it, or create more bones at will.
Secondarily, a user has a control over the density of their bones through the amount of bonecells used within the bone as well as the structure. This allows them to create weak, strong, light, or heavy bones. Of course, this is relative to the actual bone being created -- bones as strong as reinforced steel will most likely not be an occurence.
• Limitation(s) | The creation of bones, while not directly exhausting, is draining in the long term. The constant creation of bonecells puts a strain on the body as the bonecells have to be created from something -- they cannot be materialized from literal nothing, and as such, require a resource. Luckily this resource is available within the body and those who live a decently healthy lifestyle are likely to experience no real problems with this unless they really strain themselves.
That said, a user that is engaged in, say, a prolonged fight or training session will likely feel themselves drained of energy and will need to rest to regain their strength in the same way one would need to rest to regain their energy after a marathon -- only osteokinesis is much more tiring in a shorter term.
• Weakness(es) | In the end bone is just bone and while bone is naturally quite strong (it has to be) there are limitations to this strength. Resistance to cutting/piercing motions are quite good -- bone is sturdy and hard and not easy to cut or pierce with, say, a knife. Blunt forces are much better equipped to deal with bones and could, with enough force, shatter it. While normal sources of vibration are likely not enough to do any damages to the bones, particularly high-powered sources (such as that of a hyperpower, for example) might be able to crack or even completely shatter the bone too. //Skills: • Economics | While Jiao is not really that amazing at it, his family background in the steel-production in Hong-Kong and the ownership of a variety of factories related to that business required him (if familial pressures can be seen as 'requirements') to take classes in economics. Frankly, he hated it, and doesn't really understand it on a grander scale (such as macro-economics), but if one were to say name a random theory or formula, it might be very well possible he'd understand it. His lack of actual mastery of this skill begins to explain his transfer to a hyper-human oriented program.
• Shotokan Karate | Stereotypes aside Jiao was actually quite proficient at Shotokan karate, but it was most likely not his talent that brought him to his 2nd Dan before leaving -- it was probably his family name and wealth. Like with most things, he quickly got bored and decided to leave after his 2nd dan, and pursue another martial art -- one that he followed a similar process in, before leaving again. His actual skill in the martial art has most likely rusted since then.
• Dissimulation | Essentially, the ability to lie and conceal his true thoughts, emotions, or character. Coming from a family like Jiao-long requires you to be able to either be a perfect son, or a perfect liar. Lacking the personality or desire to be a perfect son, Jiao instead opted to become a good liar. Hiding his true thoughts, emotions, and his miscreant character has since become second nature to him. Mind you, this does not mean he lies a lot, or at all -- his presence in a new country with people he honestly cares very little for has emboldened him to be himself if anything. //Paraphenalia: • iPhone X | His papa is rich and he's not afraid to flaunt it. • Clothing | Expensive designer streetwear, probably.
Appearance Details ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Jiao-long is a quite recognizable person -- most likely because he always looks indifferent or angry, and wears flashy brands and color combinations that normally belong on some kind of streetwear fashion event where hypebeasts gather to see the latest version of the Supreme redbox logo shirt. He is not typically handsome, he is not tall (well, not for an American) and doesn't look body-builder buff. Quite the opposite, really. This is a complete juxtaposition to the way he carries himself, as he walks around like he owns the place. Overly confident, in a nonchalant 'I don't care' type of way, like he knows he's better than you and doesn't care whether you realize it or not. Of course, whether he truly feels this way or is just putting up a façade is up in the air -- however, given his background, it is not unlikely he truly believes it.
Character Synopsis ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Jia-long Wenrong was born to two upstanding members of Hong Kong society. His father worked for his uncle in the steel business, on which their family had a firm steel grip which came quite close to the definition of a monopoly. His mother was from another upstanding family that dealt in soy sauce -- a business that did not seem particularly glamorous, but had raked in millions. Neither of his parents were close to the family fortune, having been second or even third in line to take over as family head. Perhaps it was for the best, as they were removed from the limelight to some degree.
Jiao thus grew up in a rich family where he was expected to follow in his fathers footsteps and become part of the business, doing whatever his father did (which was, frankly, a whole lot of nothing and a few meetings to break up the monotony of doing nothing). That included a foreign education, since saying you were from Harvard was a bit more prestigious than saying you were from a local university, and facing the truth, these families cared more about prestige than the actual knowledge you obtained here.
He was sent to an international school at a young age and enrolled in an international highschool, but complications involving his hyper-human ability made this process more difficult than it had to be. He was 'a late bloomer' when it came to his power, courtesy of the insane overpopulation in Hong Kong and the Asian region in general, however, the complications threw mud in the face of his enrolment in the international highschool. It was instead decided that he'd be shipped off to America to enrol in a highschool in the middle of nowhere which just so happened to be one of the first to have an actual hyperhuman program of sorts.
The details didn't stick out to him so much, but escaping his family and Hong Kong was a welcome change. So, he shipped out.
Personality ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Jiao is quite confident to the point to where it might be (mis)construed as arrogance. Whether it truly is arrogance is up to the beholder -- Jiao certainly seems to think he's the shit. This also means he thinks he doesn't have to put up with anyone, or anything. What this means in practice is that he cliques up with those 'like him,' namely the rich and, well, the Chinese, especially those from mainland China rather than American-born Chinese people. They have to have money after all. Anyone else is a peasant to him.
He's also not particularly good at keeping up with housework and the like, doing it when he feels like it, much less when he has to. Even the courtesy of copying someone elses homework is something he considers below him, and he expects the teachers to just put up with him not doing it. ("Do you know who my dad is? I don't need to do homework!")
Subject to change (?) when I port it over to the OOC, but I'm content (not happy -- content) with how it looks so far.
@Lord Wraith if I actually figured out what power I wanted I'd need about an hour, but if I'm gonna continue being a little bitch about the power I want my character to have it could be anywhere from an hour to infinity. You said the OOC would go up this weekend so I'll just use that as a sort of measurement for how much time I have?
@Lord Wraith how long would you say we have left? I'm not particularly struggling on the character concept itself as much as the actual power, which I'm notoriously bad at coming up with.
@Lord Wraith your list of rules says that you're not looking for antagonists and while I agree on that, I was wondering how you felt about adding some less savoury characters attitude-wise into the mix, someone that is undoubtedly an asshole/delinquent. I'm not looking to transform him/her into a bad guy more so than just someone who isn't very friendly. Would that also be a problem? (I'm presuming not, but I figured it'd be better to ask.)
I think a better bet would be an animated movie, since they're shorter and if she doesn't like it, she'd still have watched it completely (which avoids the whole ''no this anime only gets good after 200 episodes'' debacle).
Kotonoha no Niwa (get past the weird, by Western standards, storyline and focus on the art and storytelling and you'll be fine) is a good one. "Your Name" is OK and throws a kinda weird plot twist at you which could be considered 'dramatic' question mark?
[center][color=gray][b]Just an Aragorn looking for his Arwen[/b][/color][/center]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/FrPe6BA.jpeg[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/ugdwUng.jpeg[/img][/center]
<div style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><div class="bb-center"><font color="gray"><span class="bb-b">Just an Aragorn looking for his Arwen</span></font></div><br><br><div class="bb-center"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/FrPe6BA.jpeg" /> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/ugdwUng.jpeg" /></div></div>