Member
Rafael Montero Silva
| Full Name |
Rafael Montero Silva
| Nickname |
Rafa, Rafi, other variations. Mostly just Rafa though
| Alias |
N/A
| Age |
17
| Species |
Human
| Gender |
Male
| Sexuality |
Heterosexual
| Alignment |
Lawful Good
| In-Depth Appearance |
Standing at 5'11", Rafa maintains an athletic muscular figure in sharp contrast to the chubby frame of his childhood. Years of playing on his school's soccer team and recreational surfing have kept him fit, ready to take his part in the Powerbound Alliance. He is fair-skinned despite all the time he spends in the sun, a result of his religious application of sunscreen to his easily burned skin. He keeps his hair neat, preferring to keep it controlled.
Rafa is used to a warm climate, so his wardrobe while in Oregon consists of comfortable long-sleeve button ups and jeans. Lounging around indoors, however he's more relaxed. Shorts and tank top or no shirt at all will do just fine. He wears the occasional cap or snapback, though due to his tendency to lose them, he goes through quite the rotation. A few cuts, scrapes and injuries from surfing have contributed to a collection of small scars on his legs and a single one across his left arm.
| Abilities |
Perception Direction
Rafa has the ability to manipulate the minds of others to pay attention or to ignore whatever he wants. At it's most basic, he can passively stand out of or blend into a group of roughly 30 people at will. Anything more complicated takes active concentration.
When applying his ability on one person he can become completely imperceptible. They cannot see him, hear him, smell him, perceive his touch, taste him or otherwise register his presence or interaction with the world. With further strain he can make them unable to recall any memories concerning him.
On the other hand, he can make a person hyper aware of his presence. They can be looking away, but know he's there, in the same way people generally "sense" other people around. He draws their attention and eyes, and a person's senses are more responsive to anything he does. For instance, when speaking at the same time and volume as one person, he could amplify his own words in a third party's mind. They will not necessarily be perceived as louder, but they will be more important.
Those are the two extremes of his power, though he can work in between them. He can use that same ability to direct people's attention to or away from other people and physical objects, though he can't get a stronger effect as when he does it for himself.
| Limitations |
Rafa has no way of reading minds, and so has no way of knowing that his ability is taking effect except by reading other people's behavior. In addition, his straightforward personality and general nature limits how well he can read those people as well as his judgment on how best to use it on them.
The ability doesn't affect technology, so even if he could become imperceptible to the world, cameras and microphones and such would still record him.
At the moment Rafa's ability is restricted to pushing and pulling attention to physical objects and people he can perceive with his own senses.
It is easier to become more noticeable than less noticeable and practically impossible to turn someone's attention from him when they were already focusing on him.
He can't simultaneously affect more than one person in different ways.
Psychics may be resistant, immune, or aware of the ability's use depending on their specific ability and proficiency with that ability.
Non-psychics who know he has the ability might suspect him of using it at any given time, whether he's using it or not. While their suspicion won't dampen the ability, actions they take from that suspicion could make it more difficult.
| Equipment |
He carries a small old pocket knife. Useful as a tool, but not very threatening as a weapon.
| Personality |
Rafa, despite what what the more cynical might tell you, is exactly what he seems. Raised in Costa Rica under heavy influence of the Powerbound Alliance, he's led a pretty sheltered life. Rafa is a bit of an idealist, some might even call him naive. To him, people are generally good, rules are there for a reason, and any goal is possible if you're kind, respectful, and hard-working. Rafa is naturally social, enjoying the company of others. He's a straight shooter in conversation, not really clever or the type to say anything other than what he means. (yet...). He's a nice guy, but don't assume he can be walked all over. Rafa has a strong sense for what he believes is right, and will stand up for it. It's a sense of duty sort of thing. This applies to his own behavior as well. On the occasions he's acted against his own standards, the guilt has forced him to tell someone about it but also make it up somehow.
| Place Of Origin |
Liberia, Costa Rica
| Family |
- Marco Antonio Montero Jimenez - Father - Administrative official with PBA - No powers
- Maria Fernanda Silva Araya - Mother - Administrative official with PBA - No powers unless you count the light detecting ability of all mothers
- Miguel Montero Silva - Middle brother - 16 - Into boxing - No powers
- Gabriel Montero Silva - Youngest brother - 12 -Has 50 million hobbies - He has some sort of power, no aspects of it are clear except that he requires almost no sleep
| History |
Growing up in Costa Rica, Rafa felt the effects of the Powerbound Alliance firsthand. While his parents were both born in Costa Rica, their heritage was from different parts of Central and South America. Their grandparents and parents had been drawn to the country by the alliance's good work. Marco Antonio and Maria Fernanda themselves met while working for the alliance.
Naturally, Rafael holds the PBA in high-esteem, and has wanted to work for them since he was old enough to hear the stories of how they changed Costa Rica and the continued to do good for people like his youngest brother, and for people all over the world. He grew up trying to live like the good man he saw his father as. Upstanding, honest respectful and hard-working. Being the chubby kid afraid of getting in trouble never won him many friends. Still, he eventually learned to play soccer and surf. It was through these activities that he managed to make friends who learned to accept and even appreciate the person he was and wanted to be.
Though not the smartest guy, Rafa did well in school. He was a solid B-student who impressed his teachers and coaches with his drive. He did his best to stay out of trouble, though his friends managed to drag him out on shenanigans from time to time. Shenanigans he confessed to his father immediately upon getting home. His father's response was usually to encourage him to lighten up. Though Rafa's strict adherence to the rules and his own duty made him an oddity in a relatively laid back community, he was an oddity that was appreciated.
He of course always expected to join the PBA whether in the HWC or STC, but he didn't expect to become one of the metahumans. Roughly a year ago, he came home from the park to find that no one seemed to notice him. HIs father, mother, and brothers all seemed to look right through him. It was as if he was invisible. In the middle of trying to get their attention, his family jumped, startled to see him apparently just appear. After discovering his ability, he and his brothers experimented with it a bit, though Miguel and Gabriel were much better at finding creative and mischievous uses for it. Working with Gabriel on his sleight of hand tricks became Rafa's preferred method of working on his ability though. He was uncomfortable with the dishonesty his ability requires by its very nature, and found that at least in magic tricks people are wanting to be fooled.
With the Powerbound Academy taking on a new class, Rafa is excited to be joining the others like him. Despite his parents' uncertainty at what lies ahead for him once done at the academy, they're grateful that such a resource is available to him, and proud that this hasn't changed his mind about wanting to help the world. Marco Antonio, however, has one additional worry. What happens when this idealistic young man sees the world outside his little bubble of Liberia, Costa Rica?
| Extra |
Is there anything else you wanna put down? Make sure you have read the rules! Those who haven't won't be accepted!
Face Claim: Arthur Aguiar