Personality: Exceedingly cold and sarcastic could be two traits used to describe her at first glance as chances are if she finds you aren't worth her time or she is bored. Around colleagues, she is bit less frosty and towards her younger staff members she can be almost maternal. Although this edges on possessive as her staff having to take a day of leave means more headaches for her to deal with. It's almost better for her to give someone a pointed look and smile in a silence directive to leave, so her temper isn't taken out on them. Unfortunately by her worst trait is her exceedingly short temper with a taste for destruction if something pushes her over the edge. In her 'younger' years this destruction has led to more than a few brawls with both parties looking worse for wear..and even bloodshed if the matter was personal. Now that she has 'matured', the only victims of her occasional outburst are the nearest fragile items that can be thrown around the place until she finally cools off.
Around those she would feel at least sharing a drink with or see on social occasions, she can be warmer and teasing instead of pointedly sarcastic. Physically affectionate with anyone from hugs and such.. it can be a surprise to those in her inner circle at first. While her teasing seems to a favorite game to see how many times she can make a friend blush in the conversation or lightly scolding her. Around her lover at events she seems attached at the hip or needing to be physically touching him in some manner as if marking her territory..thanks to her power..it could be the side effect of it. That isn't to say she is the jealous type, but finds it amusing in cutting people down in size with her sharp tongue if she feels intimidated. In small physical confrontations she can hold her own for a short period of time, but much prefers for others to do her dirty work in direct combat..other types of warfare or having an opponent restrained though..she is more than happy to get her hands dirty.
Lately though it seems her two masks have begun to blend together as her attempt of going 'straight' haven't been the easiest. Nothing says give me the price I want by threatening to have hired thugs dangle a frustrating vendor over the edge of building until he gives in. No, that has to be done through tiresome bartering and favors now. At least now the cops are off back..at least most of them aside from the occasional attempt of blackmail to link various crimes to her. None of which have evidence connecting her due to a few well-placed bribes or straight intimidation towards witnesses all with a charming smile. While her opening burlesque club acts as legal business, she isn't above selling private information that is passed on from her 'part-time' girls by the end of an evening. Playing stocks has been profitable..and on paper..legal. Stress has led to waves in her relationship as much as she wants to deny it going through bursts of passion before and after arguments. Still, she is determined to have her cake and eat it too...piece by piece.
Power: Has the singular power to shift into your average black house cat. The power can be focused on various parts of her body to acquire feline-like traits without the complete shift taking over.
Drawback: Her eyesight is exceptionally sensitive in all manners resulting in her having to wear glasses at all times as to be not overloaded. Without them she can experience excruciating headaches and vertigo that can last until she rests her eyes a bit or puts them on. The risk is higher during the daytime as she opts for sunglasses to shield her eyes, while at night her eyes feel less strained when accidental 'cat-eye' takes over. Extreme emotional distress can cause her anatomy to shift involuntarily which can cause cramping in various muscles trying to deal with the sudden change.
Personal History: Her childhood was surprisingly normal as her parents were upper-middle class and a seemingly loving marriage. Irene, herself was an only child content with her independence. Normal was eating dinner with her parents and talking about their days at least until her father rocked that solid foundation to it's core by revealing his affair with an escort to her mother, and unknowingly to a hidden Irene. This was the start of her frosty and distrusting stage in life at thirteen as her answers at home and school became curt, but polite. Her mother put on the facade that everything was perfectly fine between the trio, only to have it be shattered after Irene was finally pushed too far as her father attempted to comfort her after a rougher day at school. An outburst that involved thrown glass and yelling on Irene's part, followed by her mother's tears and her father's shock. Bluntly putting in words that she knew about her father's dirty secret and refusal to listen to either pair. Her father, out of pure stubbornness and her mother for her weakness and sickening facade.
The stand-off would end up with her sent to a boarding school as well as speaking a therapist on a regular basis. Her antisocial tendencies seem to ramp up just a bit more as she retreated into her world of books and sarcasm, with few people knowing her on a personal level. Instructors were fine with her quiet nature as it allowed them to teach without interruption compared to her peers. While her relationship with her parents remained frosty communicating mainly through letters instead of over the phone as that would only lead to short answers and sarcasm. Beneath the cold exterior was a young woman seeking affection, but terrified of the potential of getting hurt herself or betrayal. Only the occasional liquid courage seemed to steady her nerves as she became a regular at a few select bars, keeping to herself aside from the occasional one night stand. Eventually she became friends with the occasional entertainer loitering around finding herself opening up to the women of the night as a companions..despite how ill-suited the profession was to associate with.
Perhaps it was her power that had led to this affection as her occasional night time wandering in her feline forms had led her to literal cathouses much the amusement of the workers. This had a less fortunate side-effect as she would witness the various abuses and violence towards workers much to her disgust and eventual obsession of getting after those that harmed her friends. 'Clients' would become the target of information gathering, blackmail and eventual extortion as Irene would threaten to literally ruin their lives by letting incriminating photos to the police if not paid financial compensation. If the funds weren't enough by her taste, a little visit would occur as Salem would give the client a little warning in the form of a scar on the side of their face after savaging them in her cat form. Who would expect a stray cat. If the punishment was more severe or Irene could them up to their habits again, she would take the role of a working girl..and give them one final show..bodies would soon be found later. Her alias seemed to have stuck with her given the apparent cat 'familiar' that would appear before her actual visit and her flair for dramatics...as well as a certain word sounding familiar to witch.
Her motives weren't exactly pure as she was still profiteering off the injuries of another human being as well as committing acts of violence towards complete..well not 'complete' strangers. The murders themselves piled up to ten as Irene seethed at unruly clients, while rumors flew about a watchful black cat and its' link to the murderer. Eventually procuring the funds for the necessary estate, Irene went into the sex business herself with the women and men she befriended over the years with a mere smile, but non-answer on her knowledge of Salem. Her reputation as Madam spread throughout the seedy underbelly of the city as whores clung to her protection and cops eyed her brothels, but accepted bribes anyway. That 'friendly' relationship with the police was shattered after a squad broke down her office door and arrested her for a recent murder..the trail never happened as the sole testifying witness admitted to not being at the scene at the time.
It was shortly after this time that she met her lover and a whirlwind relationship began as Irene was reluctant to open up to the man. Still, her workers noticed a softer change in the woman when he was around the office occasionally despite knowing a tongue lashing would happen if they were caught. Soft giggles would come from the girls after catching their boss and her lover fast asleep in the plush office chair with her clinging to his neck like a child. At the beginning her physical affection came from her cat-form as she allowed herself to be pampered and returned it through soft purring..she was much more skittish and apprehensive in her human form. A game of cat and mouse..which she ironically was the mouse in.
Aside from her personal life, things were heating up between the various factions of the underworld as expected. Most players of the dangerous game start fast and burn out quickly through violence with other factions, arrest as well as simply loosing control over assets. By far the most vexing were the cops breathing down her neck as one boneheaded investigator slowly began putting pieces together of the various cold case murders and began piling evidence to put her away for good. Lucky for her,she still had one friend in the form of a judge and few rookie cops who owed her money through loans..the minimal evidence was destroyed and she got off scott-free..again.
Now time would tell if her attempt at legitimizing her income would come to fruition.
Focus: Successfully run her newly acquired and grand opening burlesque club 'Cat's Cradle' as well as keep her relationship with her lover alive.
Relationships (Erase your own character slot. Fill over time as you wish. If you don't know a character you will over time.)
@ineffable Looks great! Feel free to post in the character section!
@TwelveOf8 Your sheet looks great so far, but think you can expand on his personality in terms of why he became a hero and or his views on it all. As well as adding a touch more to his hero history as to how and why he got started?
@ineffable Think you can flesh out the character a bit more in terms of personality? Such as is she any different when in disguise etc. Same thing with the history, I understand who she is on a basic level but what about her alter ego and the effects it has had on her life. Why did she start being a hero etc.
If you want to keep key points as spoiler territory make a note, but don't hide too much.
@FunnyGuy Accepted, looks great!! The 'Space' drawback makes me think of the The Timetraveler's Wife, if I am understanding the risk that he can literally get stuck there. Does time move any slower or?
@ineffable If you wish to view it as that way. The..descriptions I used were just possible scenarios that could happen..after all what couple doesn't have the occasional problem. I meant it as..even heroes can have problems..not that you have to to make it what the problem is. Does that make sense?
