Post by Mally on Feb 5, 2016 11:41:08 GMT -5
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NICKNAME Nathaniel Morosec
AGE 18 (Forever 17)
BIRTHDAY October 25th, 1997
GENDER Male
SPECIES Vampire
SEXUALITY Bisexual
DORM Lyra
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POWER Nathaniel's power is the curse of vampirism. The three prominent subsets that define his vampirism are the traits of self-regeneration and enhanced senses, with the active ability to shapeshift.
His regeneration is based out of the curse's function to return his body to the state it was in when he died - Eternally. However, due to his unfortunate acceptance into a weak bloodline, he will not typically heal overnight or through a single feeding the way a more powerful vampire could. Still, this self-regeneration trait is the baseline that keeps any vampire alive indefinitely although he can still be killed if core proponents of his body are ever separated or damaged beyond the point that they could effectively recover themselves(such as being reduced to ash). Even if he were to suffocate, become poisoned or die in some other way that doesn't involve mutilation, were he to be fed enough blood for long enough in this state, his physiology would revive him from apparent death just as it did when he was first turned. Nathaniel is otherwise unaging and will live forever so long as he feeds regularly.
His enhanced senses offer him a significantly refined perception - he may be able to detect a scent from further away, or if in close proximity, determine the identity of someone based off of remembering a prior scent. His hearing is more sensitive - He may be able to focus on subtle sounds to identify them more readily such as someone walking quietly behind him(given that their footsteps aren't actually silent). He can't see clearly in low light situations, but he can pick out and make sense of subtle shapes in the dark far more accurately so his eyesight is more acute. These enhanced senses are ultimately a passive byproduct of his shifting bloodline - An involuntary shift that have become his natural state.
Whereas his self-regeneration and enhanced senses are passive traits to his affliction, his true ability, shapeshifting, is incredibly dangerous to himself and he dares not attempt it on a large scale. Rather than having specific forms he can switch between, it is more accurate to say that his version of shapeshifting allows him to modify his existing form. If done aggressively or improperly, it poses an extremely high chance of outright killing him. All it takes is a single displaced organ or a clot in a vein to incapacitate or kill a shifter before they have the chance to correct their mistake. The severity of this was imparted by his sire, but he was never properly taught how to shapeshift, so the most he's ever been able to accomplish is the outstretching and sharpening of his fingernails into a durable claw-like form as the technique is easy to visualize and relatively safe to practice. Even minor external shifts like this, however, will take some toll on his endurance and he generally prefers not to employ the ability at all.
Should he ever gain proficiency with shifting, the practical benefits would be features you might typically ascribe to vampires in the first place - Increased strength, speed, toughness, etc. Essentially self-buffing his humanoid form, but he won't ever be able to turn into an animal or anything of that nature(although there are plenty of shifters from other bloodlines who could). Even if he masters his shifting potential, however, he won't be able to lift a car or otherwise exceed peak human capabilities.
Some additional notes to clear up confusion about his bloodline and vampires in general: There are so many differing, incompatible myths about vampires that it will be impossible to address every one of them, so it will be quicker to focus on the rules that he will be playing by. If another vampire should ever enter Foresta with conflicting rules, it can be explained by the particular bloodline they hail from. First and foremost, he requires only blood to survive, but because his vampiric regeneration isn't typically fast enough to rejuvenate his strength before his body would get hungry, he would benefit strength and comfort-wise from snacking on normal food too. It isn't that he CAN'T heal in the span of a day, it's the fact that his body is far less efficient with the blood that it consumes than other vampires. Healing him that quickly would require enough blood to kill a person - In contrast, a typical daily ration is proportioned at one pint. How frequently one needs to feed would vary heavily by bloodline, but due to the weakness and inefficiency of his bloodline, he'll be hungry after a day or two without blood, and stabby within a week.
There are minimal inherent differences between animal and human blood aside from taste(due to their diets), although Gifted blood may or may not prove more powerful. If he runs low on blood his natural instincts will take over, and he will be compelled to do whatever it takes to survive. The stages are as follows: First he will progressively become colder, both from his perspective and to the touch, which is the simplest indication that it's time for him to restore his blood supply. If this is not accomplished, by his own volition he will begin to pursue blood the way a starving animal would hunt its prey. Some calculated patience and/or deception may be employed during the hunt, but his primary and only objective will be to feed. If he is unable to feed for an extended amount of time, his actions will become very bold and he will be taken over by a curse-born blood frenzy, willing to assault the closest living creature he can reach to claim his meal - Still very much conscious and aware but without any semblance of self-control. He will be deathly cold at this point, and if he is further unable to replenish his supply, he will become inanimate. If left in this state for too long, he will sift away into true death.
The only major thing from vampire mythology that WILL affect him is direct exposure to sunlight(he won't burn up instantly, but he wouldn't make it very far). On the other hand, being touched by a blessed piece of metal or "holy water" will just make him think you're an idiot. He can enter a home uninvited, he'll be visible in a mirror, he can cross bodies of water, etc. He has no super strength, super speed or any other form of superhuman abilities unless he is actively benefiting from a shifted form. A wooden stake won't kill him any differently than any other weapon would.
APPEARANCE The vampire may be considered tall at the height of 6' but otherwise he is by no means physically imposing, weighing in at a rather pathetic 145 pounds. While what thickness he does have on him is defined muscle as opposed to fat(vampires tend to only bring in the attractive ones), it is clear from a distance that his lean, toned figure is not designed for any real feats of strength. He has layered black hair that drapes down messily to his shoulders to perfectly frame and contrast his pale vampiric skin tone - A great foundation for a pair of sharp hazel eyes to pierce out from. In the instance of a smile, or if he's trying to appear threatening, he carries the ever identifiable pair of pronounced fangs that come with the vampire package.
He wears makeup daily to keep his appearance smooth and attractive, but should he ever be caught without it, one would notice a more pronounced gauntness to his cheeks below the dark circles of a pair of sunken, tired eyes. He would also appear a shade paler and generally come off as less than healthy - his otherwise attractive features would look like he had just died of blood loss, to put it bluntly. On the right side of his neck are a pair of scars where he was bit, but he also employs concealer over this, and usually wears a scarf over that too. Still, although he wouldn't want anyone to know it, he's proficiently skilled with makeup to apply it without the layman noticing its presence and it is extremely unlikely that he would ever let anyone see him without it. A curse of his bloodline, he has to put some extra work into maintaining his appearance to avoid looking like he's physiologically dead in some respects. Effectively, he leaves no external evidence that he is a vampire other than his fangs.
His normal attire ranges from business-casual to casual, but he will always come off as well-groomed and very presentable. If his hair is ever messy, it is intentionally so. He will often be seen wearing a long-sleeved button-up shirt from a selection of dark, deep colors that match his winter complexion and without fail some sort of black pants - Occasionally black jeans if the job calls for it, but he doesn't really like how the denim feels on his legs. For a second layer he may be seen wearing a hoodie, but only in a casual environment. In the cold he will layer up with a stylish black trench coat and a black wool cap - Vampire fashion, go figure. On any day not too hot to justify it, he will have on his sire's red scarf that's lightly discolored by blood, yet was always washed promptly enough to remain soft.
PERSONALITY To say that Nathaniel is manipulative would be an understatement. He is selfish, lacks empathy, and only plays by the rules of society so long as they benefit him. Any time he is able to manipulate someone into doing something for him, or at least get a laugh at their expense, he will attempt to accomplish this. If he takes a liking to someone he may treat them very well and even come to their aid at risk to himself, but his feelings are based out of his own pleasure of them rather than any genuine concern for the person in question. This alludes to how immature he is in general, which is a self-defeating cycle when you factor in how visibly happy he is with himself.
A major point of interest is that he's rather... Xenophobic, at least towards humans. He tolerates their existence by necessity, but he's been persuaded by his condition to see them as food and/or playthings. Food that should be respected and treated fairly, so the teachings that he never really paid attention to in modern vampire culture go, but humans are unquestionably lower on the food chain than a vampire. That said, he's still an edge case that does not always regard individual humans as near-equals the way most vampires would.
All of the pleasures he derives out of life are based out of hedonism. Any short-lived mental or physical stimulus will attract him, and he lives day to day from one source of entertainment to the next - Creating his own at the expense of others when need be. In combination with his lack of empathy this can create very sadistic scenarios if he is ever in a position of control, but he doesn't necessarily favor the aggressive sins over the tame - they're all equally amusing. Sometimes he just likes to watch a person squirm before he lets them go.
His actions are generally defined by impulses - While he is capable of patience in the instance of a long con, most of the time he'd rather go for the quick thrill without much regard for consequence. It's a very common occurrence that he will say or do something before thinking about it, which will regularly get him into trouble. Still, he seems to have a way of manipulating his way back onto people's good sides so that he can repeat the process indefinitely. These impulses create some important randomness in his immediate response to any given situation, however. Depending on how he feels, sometimes an insult will set him off emotionally, and he will throw a long-winded tantrum in return to get even with his attacker. Or, if he's in a calmer state of mind, he may see through the attempt to get under his skin and play a longer game of revenge in order to attain a more satisfying victory. While either way his ultimate goal would still be to damage his target's self-esteem, reputation and/or livelihood, the way he chooses to go about it can be rather unpredictable and entirely dependent on his state of mind at the time.
His humor is harsh, and often times dark. And he does love humor. When meeting someone new, unless he has a preconceived notion about what they can do for him, he will most likely attempt to ridicule or otherwise make them uneasy in the opening moments of conversation. He takes pleasure out of pushing people to their limits, and he makes an art out of finding their wit's end. While these situations can just as easily backfire on him, his most dangerous weapon is his tongue and he knows it, so he carries himself with confidence in every walk of life.
WEAKNESSES In large part, his vampiric bloodline is considered to be one of the weakest. To the point that it is ridiculed and often shunned in the higher class vampire communities for being so tainted, weak and difficult to maintain. Basic levels of shapeshifting that would increase his speed or strength are achievable but a challenge for his kind. If he should ever learn advanced shapeshifting, it will be effectively impossible for him to make efficient use of it unless he is in a combat situation where he can use the enhanced form to draw blood from his enemy. If he can not get a return on his investment so to speak, he will not ever be able to maintain an advanced form without starving himself out.
Natural sunlight is a leading cause of death among vampires. It will cause him incredible burning pain, will outright blind him if it catches his eye, and if left exposed will sear his skin in short order. If he must move during the day he will need to be fully covered from head to toe, and will require some sort of guide(light will still pass through a clear visor). During any daytime classes the room will need to be made sun-proof.
While all of his enhanced senses have obvious practical benefits, the drawback to that is that having enhanced senses isn't inherently a positive trait - The same things that make it useful can also be very critical weaknesses. A strong, uncomfortable scent such as ink held in close proximity could cause him to pass out or from a distance feel nauseous. The sense of touch, while nice feelings may grant him more pleasure, any pain he feels is equally amplified by his focused senses leaving him with a lower pain tolerance. A light turning on may leave him temporarily blinded. Similarly, a sufficiently loud noise at the right level to be uncomfortable to normal people could outright stun him, and if persistent it would require the use of both of his hands over his ears to defend himself. If this weakness is ever exposed it will present a variety of non-lethal ways for anyone to neutralize him by virtue of its persistence - It would require active shifting to mitigate the negative effects, but earplugs and sunglasses are probably more practical.
Due to the calculated nature of shapeshifting, even if he were to learn more advanced shifting he would rarely be able to use it under duress without serious, potentially life-threatening side effects. His shapeshifting must always be done in a situation where he feels focused, even if it's a shift he has performed many times in the past. No matter how well you know something or how many times you've done it there's always a chance it could go wrong, and with shapeshifting, there's no margin for error.
A regular weakness of his is his sharp tongue, which he uses without regard or respect to the person he's speaking to until he's been given reason to first-hand. This will very quickly put him into disadvantageous situations if he overestimates his strength, which he physically lacks to begin with unless benefiting from a shift, and the person he is talking to presents a stronger threat than he can challenge.
He never completed school during his younger years, and even when he attended he was distracted by his inconsistent familial life so he often performed poorly despite his potential. A mixture of his own immaturity and external influences mean that he is not nearly as learned as an 18 year old is expected to be, and he will regularly be unable to answer any academic material from high school and beyond.
STRENGTHS While Nathaniel isn't academically intelligent, he is actually very intuitive, which is a strong combination with the perceptive nature his senses facilitate. He can usually deduce whether someone is talking to him because they like him or if they just want something out of him - A player knows how to not get played, and it's not uncommon that he'll get a step ahead of them if they try to beat him at his own game. In part to do with his impulsive nature, he is very experienced at adapting to challenging situations on the fly. When some people may need to stop and think, he can confidently play a situation by feel and often come out on top for it. In fact, half the time he's better off improvising than if he tried to come up with a plan beforehand.
Depending on what a character's type is, he is also physically alluring. This is one aspect of himself that he knows how to exploit when available, and if applicable, may use to repair a relationship that he's pushed too far. Vampires pick the ones with good genes, and he's got them. Seduction is a natural aspect of a vampire's lifestyle and it is just another tool he will use to manipulate with.
Nathaniel is also exceptionally stealthy, which is par for the course as a vampire. They are natural hunters, and are effortlessly adept at sneaking up on those without any powers relating to perception or awareness. Vampires have built an entire culture around remaining undetected and he benefits from this lineage.
BACKGROUND Nathaniel was born Alexey Novichkov, but he was given up for adoption a month after the day of his birth, October 25th, 1997, and he's been through New York's foster system so many times it made his head spin. Through it all he's had six different names that he can remember, each adoptive parent changing his first and last name to suit their preconceived desires of him. Brady Keir, Seth Cullen, Thomas Page, Darryl Lake, and Nathaniel Morosec. None of them ever suited him and he never grew attached to any one name, but he has thus far kept the most recent one out of spite for the biological parents who abandoned him onto this life path. His real parents are still out there somewhere, but he's never searched for them, and he's pretty sure that they wouldn't want to meet him anyway. No adoptive family would hold on to him for long and to be fair that was partially his fault - He had a tendency to become a burden for them. In fact most of his favorite childhood memories were of terrorizing his foster siblings or getting into trouble at school.
He had been transferred from city to city all over the United States by the time he was a teenager, and he never did enjoy the travel. After a falling out with one of his many adoptive parents, this last one a police officer who thought he could turn the boy around, he had had enough. Once he turned 14 he decided the foster system was such a pointless drag on his life that he would be better off living on the streets of his home town New York City, taking what little work and easy money fell his way by whatever petty criminal means necessary. And he made the best of it, too. It turned out to be his calling, really, and he managed to establish a consistent ring of contacts and friends back when he was considered to be alive, but they no longer matter.
None of his life mattered anymore once he was accepted, against his will, into the dark underworld where the vampires dwell.
What could he say, her Russian accent melted his heart and if he's being honest with himself, he's into the crazies anyway so it was mutual lust at first sight. He thought it was love of course, and so did she, but kids are kids. Nathaniel had just turned 17 and Mika was only a little older than him and the world seemed so full and vibrant whenever they were together. After nearly a week of sneaking into bars and clubs under-aged, and it honestly surprised him that it them took as long as it did, they finally made love and in the process he learned her unfortunate secret.
She hadn't been nearly as careful about it as she needed to be. He caught sight of her fangs hovering lustfully about his neck, but there were rules. By vampiric law she must not expose her identity, but in the heat of the moment she thought she loved him, so killing him wasn't an option. So instead Mika made the worst mistake of both of their lives - She fed from him, and then offered him her own blood. He would become hers.
The act of turning wasn't nearly as dramatic or painful as he expected it would be, but to be fair, he had been unconscious for most of it. When he finally woke up the next night Mika and her best friend, another vampire named Evelyn Vaughn, were there to soothe him. He had already begun adjusting to the idea that being a vampire was something he could get used to, and technically that was true, but he hadn't known about all of the little subtleties. He didn't realize the variety of strengths passed down by each bloodline, and he definitely didn't realize that hers was one that was gradually being eradicated, both socially and by natural selection. They were always at risk of being hunted by a rather prosperous vampire hunting scene, and her line was generally among those weak enough to actually get caught. Yet, still, there was pride to be had. Aside from the social high class, most vampires were very tolerant of their type and it is accepted as fact in vampiric culture that any vampire is higher on the food chain than a human. There was an entire new world for Nathaniel to explore, the night life to enjoy, and a future that seemed exciting and unending.
And Nathaniel and Mika's love, lust, or whatever they wanted to call it had not dwindled. They experimented and ravaged through the night in many respects of the terms; They would hunt together, kill together, and harass the humans in whatever way they pleased. Their squabbles were minor and usually ended in bed, and from an outsider's perspective they were perfect for each other, and maybe that was true too. But they lived dangerously, and this lifestyle would quickly come to haunt them.
Vampires don't take kindly to such overt actions, especially the reckless sort that served no purpose other than to entertain the duo. Although Gifted may be known of worldwide, vampire culture and customs necessitate keeping their existence a mystery so Nathaniel and Mika's actions were seen as a threat to the very livelihood of vampiric society everywhere, and with each passing day rumors and suspicions grew of them. Despite multiple admonishments and threats to gain trying evidence from their local council, Nathaniel and Mika persisted with their behavior until a vigilante group of vampiric citizens felt forced to take matters into their own hands. Most criminals would have faced a heavy sentence, certainly some kind of physical punishment, and without a doubt a long probation for the unnecessary acts of tyranny they had committed against the human populace. But the duo's persecutors were biased against their tainted bloodline, and they being terrible representatives of it at that, one thing led to another and Mika was executed. And in typical vampire fashion, it was not quick, she absolutely suffered, they tore her apart and they enjoyed it.
Nathaniel hadn't witnessed the mutilation of his lover and sire, but he was tipped off in time by their now mutual friend, Evelyn Vaughn. But what could he do now? He had no time to grieve, he suddenly knew no one, and he could trust no one. Maybe they would go easier on him for being a younger vampire? After all he never really did have proper guidance about any important aspects of vampire culture, but he was both too scared and too much of an emotional wreck to think things through so he fell on the same path he always took when the heat became too much for him to handle - He ran. During their final parting, Evelyn handed over Mika's red scarf and suggested he seek refuge at Foresta Academy. All vampires by virtue of being Gifted know of Foresta... But vampires have their own established communities in every major city. They are masters of stealth and subtlety with their own infrastructure so there is rarely a need or desire for them to venture to the place, but what other choice did he have for now? He needed to run, not only from vampires but from the humans who would hunt him. So he hid by the docks, laid low and asked the right people the right questions until he finally found a ship that could take him away to Foresta.
ROLE PLAY SAMPLE
"It's lovely, love."
"Do you really think so?"
"It might be your best yet," Nathaniel observed genuinely of his lover and sire.
Mika, his girlfriend of then six months, had carefully arranged her artwork in the short time she had to actually paint. It had taken them all night to prepare but she agreed, it was one of her best so far. Her unkempt brown hair that was ever threatening to dread as well as her white blouse had both been recklessly stained by the red colors, and the latter would need to be replaced. She had on a cute red scarf as well but that she wasn't so concerned about, it would mostly wash out. Mika leaned sideways into him and uttered in her softly tuned Russian accent, "With a muse like you, Alexey, I could paint forever."
Alexey. She used Nathaniel's birth-name, Alexey. He had denounced his abandonment at birth and chose to put that rocky upbringing behind him long ago, long before he was turned even, and that was something that took much confessing for him to admit to her. But she was happy to learn it because she liked Alexey more than his current name. It was Russian, and it reminded her of home. He guessed he liked it too because it sounded so sweet and natural with her enunciation, but Nathaniel wondered how long ago "home" might have been to Mika. Either way, she was the first one he had allowed to call him that since he left foster care so many years ago.
Nathaniel too had gotten their art supplies on him from assisting her efforts, so he had chosen to become shirtless. There was a narrow splash of paint up his neck and face whose origins would have made more sense with the dirtied shirt on to complete the puzzle, but the liquid color persisted down his fingers, same as Mika. Some still dripping, but mostly dried by now. Nathaniel put an arm around her messy shoulder as he chided her, "But you had all the fun this time. Next time you'll let me practice too, won't you?"
"Da, little one," she said in reference to his age rather than his height because he stood nearly half a foot taller than her, "but I will still have to teach you how. You know what it is of?" she gestured toward her completed portrait.
The duo stood and observed near the center of a heavily displaced living room, facing the long wall that served as her easel tonight which wasn't at all unusual for them. Things tended to get out of hand and they invariably made a mess when they decided to make art, and once they got started, well. There was a trail of red mixture that led straight up the wall to where she worked, not to mention it got splashed all over the years dirty carpet which was long overdue to be replaced anyway. In front of them, on the backdrop of an uneven white wall, was a remarkable piece of modern art.
To describe it would be an injustice - It wasn't so much the talent behind it, but the passion. Mika had clearly been inspired when she applied the thick, flowing splotches of red over the white wall. They were batched in three clusters, one long one below that was made by waved hand motions that created a bichrome wash of a foreground and two separate but nearby figures just above that. It reminded him of the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges over the East River... That is, if the water and the bridges were all colored red anyway. But the shapes reminded him of it, or a sailboat, but definitely there was water involved.
Mika wished, in retrospect, that she had brought a brush today but that would have to be a learning experience for her next project. She hadn't expected to go so far as to create a masterpiece tonight, but when the muse strikes, you follow your heart. "It is us, Alexey. Drowning together." She waved her hand at the lower swatch that represented the water.
"Ah, the water is red to symbolize our love, yes?" Nathaniel nodded as though he understood. "We're drowning in our love."
"Eh," she cocked her head, resting it on his shoulder as she took another look at it. "I did not take you to be so romantic when we met! But yes, let us say that. We will drown in our love water."
Nathaniel put a red paint covered finger to her lips, which she happily took in her mouth to taste.
Below the painting was the trail of red mixture they spilled in creating their art, which continued beneath their feet. Behind the pair was an overturned coffee table and assorted papers scattered about the floor, leading up to a couch that was tilted by a recently broken leg. Sit upon the couch was a young man and a woman, not terribly older than Nathaniel and Mika's apparent age, who were propped upright with their hands clasped together between their laps - An audience who seemed to appreciate the effort they went through.
They certainly didn't take the gaping wounds through their torsos for granted. Nathaniel had gone the extra mile to turn the dead girl's expression from horrified and confused to blissful, or as close as he could get it anyway. There were little bloody marks where his fingertips touched the side of the lady's mouth to work the muscles into a smile, but when he noticed the colored imperfection inspiration struck all the same and he followed his heart by adding a soft coat of blood as a prominent, yet not at all convincing blush to her cheeks. Still, he definitely got the point across, and Mika was equally proud of the scene they set up.
Maybe his style of art was the three dimensional kind, after all? Either way, he was certain he enjoyed it all. From the tension of the stakeout, the thrill of the chase, the chaos of the attack, and the euphoria of the aftermath... They were artists, and they loved it.
Nathaniel licked some of the drying blood off of his fingers. "It's getting late, love. It's time we leave it to our guests to appreciate in peace."
Mika took him by the hand and agreed with a kiss on his cheek. "You and I, Alex? We are a perfect pair."
[attr="class","dupertitle"]NATHANIEL MOROSEC
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FULL NAME Alexey NovichkovNICKNAME Nathaniel Morosec
AGE 18 (Forever 17)
BIRTHDAY October 25th, 1997
GENDER Male
SPECIES Vampire
SEXUALITY Bisexual
DORM Lyra
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POWER Nathaniel's power is the curse of vampirism. The three prominent subsets that define his vampirism are the traits of self-regeneration and enhanced senses, with the active ability to shapeshift.
His regeneration is based out of the curse's function to return his body to the state it was in when he died - Eternally. However, due to his unfortunate acceptance into a weak bloodline, he will not typically heal overnight or through a single feeding the way a more powerful vampire could. Still, this self-regeneration trait is the baseline that keeps any vampire alive indefinitely although he can still be killed if core proponents of his body are ever separated or damaged beyond the point that they could effectively recover themselves(such as being reduced to ash). Even if he were to suffocate, become poisoned or die in some other way that doesn't involve mutilation, were he to be fed enough blood for long enough in this state, his physiology would revive him from apparent death just as it did when he was first turned. Nathaniel is otherwise unaging and will live forever so long as he feeds regularly.
His enhanced senses offer him a significantly refined perception - he may be able to detect a scent from further away, or if in close proximity, determine the identity of someone based off of remembering a prior scent. His hearing is more sensitive - He may be able to focus on subtle sounds to identify them more readily such as someone walking quietly behind him(given that their footsteps aren't actually silent). He can't see clearly in low light situations, but he can pick out and make sense of subtle shapes in the dark far more accurately so his eyesight is more acute. These enhanced senses are ultimately a passive byproduct of his shifting bloodline - An involuntary shift that have become his natural state.
Whereas his self-regeneration and enhanced senses are passive traits to his affliction, his true ability, shapeshifting, is incredibly dangerous to himself and he dares not attempt it on a large scale. Rather than having specific forms he can switch between, it is more accurate to say that his version of shapeshifting allows him to modify his existing form. If done aggressively or improperly, it poses an extremely high chance of outright killing him. All it takes is a single displaced organ or a clot in a vein to incapacitate or kill a shifter before they have the chance to correct their mistake. The severity of this was imparted by his sire, but he was never properly taught how to shapeshift, so the most he's ever been able to accomplish is the outstretching and sharpening of his fingernails into a durable claw-like form as the technique is easy to visualize and relatively safe to practice. Even minor external shifts like this, however, will take some toll on his endurance and he generally prefers not to employ the ability at all.
Should he ever gain proficiency with shifting, the practical benefits would be features you might typically ascribe to vampires in the first place - Increased strength, speed, toughness, etc. Essentially self-buffing his humanoid form, but he won't ever be able to turn into an animal or anything of that nature(although there are plenty of shifters from other bloodlines who could). Even if he masters his shifting potential, however, he won't be able to lift a car or otherwise exceed peak human capabilities.
Some additional notes to clear up confusion about his bloodline and vampires in general: There are so many differing, incompatible myths about vampires that it will be impossible to address every one of them, so it will be quicker to focus on the rules that he will be playing by. If another vampire should ever enter Foresta with conflicting rules, it can be explained by the particular bloodline they hail from. First and foremost, he requires only blood to survive, but because his vampiric regeneration isn't typically fast enough to rejuvenate his strength before his body would get hungry, he would benefit strength and comfort-wise from snacking on normal food too. It isn't that he CAN'T heal in the span of a day, it's the fact that his body is far less efficient with the blood that it consumes than other vampires. Healing him that quickly would require enough blood to kill a person - In contrast, a typical daily ration is proportioned at one pint. How frequently one needs to feed would vary heavily by bloodline, but due to the weakness and inefficiency of his bloodline, he'll be hungry after a day or two without blood, and stabby within a week.
There are minimal inherent differences between animal and human blood aside from taste(due to their diets), although Gifted blood may or may not prove more powerful. If he runs low on blood his natural instincts will take over, and he will be compelled to do whatever it takes to survive. The stages are as follows: First he will progressively become colder, both from his perspective and to the touch, which is the simplest indication that it's time for him to restore his blood supply. If this is not accomplished, by his own volition he will begin to pursue blood the way a starving animal would hunt its prey. Some calculated patience and/or deception may be employed during the hunt, but his primary and only objective will be to feed. If he is unable to feed for an extended amount of time, his actions will become very bold and he will be taken over by a curse-born blood frenzy, willing to assault the closest living creature he can reach to claim his meal - Still very much conscious and aware but without any semblance of self-control. He will be deathly cold at this point, and if he is further unable to replenish his supply, he will become inanimate. If left in this state for too long, he will sift away into true death.
The only major thing from vampire mythology that WILL affect him is direct exposure to sunlight(he won't burn up instantly, but he wouldn't make it very far). On the other hand, being touched by a blessed piece of metal or "holy water" will just make him think you're an idiot. He can enter a home uninvited, he'll be visible in a mirror, he can cross bodies of water, etc. He has no super strength, super speed or any other form of superhuman abilities unless he is actively benefiting from a shifted form. A wooden stake won't kill him any differently than any other weapon would.
APPEARANCE The vampire may be considered tall at the height of 6' but otherwise he is by no means physically imposing, weighing in at a rather pathetic 145 pounds. While what thickness he does have on him is defined muscle as opposed to fat(vampires tend to only bring in the attractive ones), it is clear from a distance that his lean, toned figure is not designed for any real feats of strength. He has layered black hair that drapes down messily to his shoulders to perfectly frame and contrast his pale vampiric skin tone - A great foundation for a pair of sharp hazel eyes to pierce out from. In the instance of a smile, or if he's trying to appear threatening, he carries the ever identifiable pair of pronounced fangs that come with the vampire package.
He wears makeup daily to keep his appearance smooth and attractive, but should he ever be caught without it, one would notice a more pronounced gauntness to his cheeks below the dark circles of a pair of sunken, tired eyes. He would also appear a shade paler and generally come off as less than healthy - his otherwise attractive features would look like he had just died of blood loss, to put it bluntly. On the right side of his neck are a pair of scars where he was bit, but he also employs concealer over this, and usually wears a scarf over that too. Still, although he wouldn't want anyone to know it, he's proficiently skilled with makeup to apply it without the layman noticing its presence and it is extremely unlikely that he would ever let anyone see him without it. A curse of his bloodline, he has to put some extra work into maintaining his appearance to avoid looking like he's physiologically dead in some respects. Effectively, he leaves no external evidence that he is a vampire other than his fangs.
His normal attire ranges from business-casual to casual, but he will always come off as well-groomed and very presentable. If his hair is ever messy, it is intentionally so. He will often be seen wearing a long-sleeved button-up shirt from a selection of dark, deep colors that match his winter complexion and without fail some sort of black pants - Occasionally black jeans if the job calls for it, but he doesn't really like how the denim feels on his legs. For a second layer he may be seen wearing a hoodie, but only in a casual environment. In the cold he will layer up with a stylish black trench coat and a black wool cap - Vampire fashion, go figure. On any day not too hot to justify it, he will have on his sire's red scarf that's lightly discolored by blood, yet was always washed promptly enough to remain soft.
PERSONALITY To say that Nathaniel is manipulative would be an understatement. He is selfish, lacks empathy, and only plays by the rules of society so long as they benefit him. Any time he is able to manipulate someone into doing something for him, or at least get a laugh at their expense, he will attempt to accomplish this. If he takes a liking to someone he may treat them very well and even come to their aid at risk to himself, but his feelings are based out of his own pleasure of them rather than any genuine concern for the person in question. This alludes to how immature he is in general, which is a self-defeating cycle when you factor in how visibly happy he is with himself.
A major point of interest is that he's rather... Xenophobic, at least towards humans. He tolerates their existence by necessity, but he's been persuaded by his condition to see them as food and/or playthings. Food that should be respected and treated fairly, so the teachings that he never really paid attention to in modern vampire culture go, but humans are unquestionably lower on the food chain than a vampire. That said, he's still an edge case that does not always regard individual humans as near-equals the way most vampires would.
All of the pleasures he derives out of life are based out of hedonism. Any short-lived mental or physical stimulus will attract him, and he lives day to day from one source of entertainment to the next - Creating his own at the expense of others when need be. In combination with his lack of empathy this can create very sadistic scenarios if he is ever in a position of control, but he doesn't necessarily favor the aggressive sins over the tame - they're all equally amusing. Sometimes he just likes to watch a person squirm before he lets them go.
His actions are generally defined by impulses - While he is capable of patience in the instance of a long con, most of the time he'd rather go for the quick thrill without much regard for consequence. It's a very common occurrence that he will say or do something before thinking about it, which will regularly get him into trouble. Still, he seems to have a way of manipulating his way back onto people's good sides so that he can repeat the process indefinitely. These impulses create some important randomness in his immediate response to any given situation, however. Depending on how he feels, sometimes an insult will set him off emotionally, and he will throw a long-winded tantrum in return to get even with his attacker. Or, if he's in a calmer state of mind, he may see through the attempt to get under his skin and play a longer game of revenge in order to attain a more satisfying victory. While either way his ultimate goal would still be to damage his target's self-esteem, reputation and/or livelihood, the way he chooses to go about it can be rather unpredictable and entirely dependent on his state of mind at the time.
His humor is harsh, and often times dark. And he does love humor. When meeting someone new, unless he has a preconceived notion about what they can do for him, he will most likely attempt to ridicule or otherwise make them uneasy in the opening moments of conversation. He takes pleasure out of pushing people to their limits, and he makes an art out of finding their wit's end. While these situations can just as easily backfire on him, his most dangerous weapon is his tongue and he knows it, so he carries himself with confidence in every walk of life.
WEAKNESSES In large part, his vampiric bloodline is considered to be one of the weakest. To the point that it is ridiculed and often shunned in the higher class vampire communities for being so tainted, weak and difficult to maintain. Basic levels of shapeshifting that would increase his speed or strength are achievable but a challenge for his kind. If he should ever learn advanced shapeshifting, it will be effectively impossible for him to make efficient use of it unless he is in a combat situation where he can use the enhanced form to draw blood from his enemy. If he can not get a return on his investment so to speak, he will not ever be able to maintain an advanced form without starving himself out.
Natural sunlight is a leading cause of death among vampires. It will cause him incredible burning pain, will outright blind him if it catches his eye, and if left exposed will sear his skin in short order. If he must move during the day he will need to be fully covered from head to toe, and will require some sort of guide(light will still pass through a clear visor). During any daytime classes the room will need to be made sun-proof.
While all of his enhanced senses have obvious practical benefits, the drawback to that is that having enhanced senses isn't inherently a positive trait - The same things that make it useful can also be very critical weaknesses. A strong, uncomfortable scent such as ink held in close proximity could cause him to pass out or from a distance feel nauseous. The sense of touch, while nice feelings may grant him more pleasure, any pain he feels is equally amplified by his focused senses leaving him with a lower pain tolerance. A light turning on may leave him temporarily blinded. Similarly, a sufficiently loud noise at the right level to be uncomfortable to normal people could outright stun him, and if persistent it would require the use of both of his hands over his ears to defend himself. If this weakness is ever exposed it will present a variety of non-lethal ways for anyone to neutralize him by virtue of its persistence - It would require active shifting to mitigate the negative effects, but earplugs and sunglasses are probably more practical.
Due to the calculated nature of shapeshifting, even if he were to learn more advanced shifting he would rarely be able to use it under duress without serious, potentially life-threatening side effects. His shapeshifting must always be done in a situation where he feels focused, even if it's a shift he has performed many times in the past. No matter how well you know something or how many times you've done it there's always a chance it could go wrong, and with shapeshifting, there's no margin for error.
A regular weakness of his is his sharp tongue, which he uses without regard or respect to the person he's speaking to until he's been given reason to first-hand. This will very quickly put him into disadvantageous situations if he overestimates his strength, which he physically lacks to begin with unless benefiting from a shift, and the person he is talking to presents a stronger threat than he can challenge.
He never completed school during his younger years, and even when he attended he was distracted by his inconsistent familial life so he often performed poorly despite his potential. A mixture of his own immaturity and external influences mean that he is not nearly as learned as an 18 year old is expected to be, and he will regularly be unable to answer any academic material from high school and beyond.
STRENGTHS While Nathaniel isn't academically intelligent, he is actually very intuitive, which is a strong combination with the perceptive nature his senses facilitate. He can usually deduce whether someone is talking to him because they like him or if they just want something out of him - A player knows how to not get played, and it's not uncommon that he'll get a step ahead of them if they try to beat him at his own game. In part to do with his impulsive nature, he is very experienced at adapting to challenging situations on the fly. When some people may need to stop and think, he can confidently play a situation by feel and often come out on top for it. In fact, half the time he's better off improvising than if he tried to come up with a plan beforehand.
Depending on what a character's type is, he is also physically alluring. This is one aspect of himself that he knows how to exploit when available, and if applicable, may use to repair a relationship that he's pushed too far. Vampires pick the ones with good genes, and he's got them. Seduction is a natural aspect of a vampire's lifestyle and it is just another tool he will use to manipulate with.
Nathaniel is also exceptionally stealthy, which is par for the course as a vampire. They are natural hunters, and are effortlessly adept at sneaking up on those without any powers relating to perception or awareness. Vampires have built an entire culture around remaining undetected and he benefits from this lineage.
BACKGROUND Nathaniel was born Alexey Novichkov, but he was given up for adoption a month after the day of his birth, October 25th, 1997, and he's been through New York's foster system so many times it made his head spin. Through it all he's had six different names that he can remember, each adoptive parent changing his first and last name to suit their preconceived desires of him. Brady Keir, Seth Cullen, Thomas Page, Darryl Lake, and Nathaniel Morosec. None of them ever suited him and he never grew attached to any one name, but he has thus far kept the most recent one out of spite for the biological parents who abandoned him onto this life path. His real parents are still out there somewhere, but he's never searched for them, and he's pretty sure that they wouldn't want to meet him anyway. No adoptive family would hold on to him for long and to be fair that was partially his fault - He had a tendency to become a burden for them. In fact most of his favorite childhood memories were of terrorizing his foster siblings or getting into trouble at school.
He had been transferred from city to city all over the United States by the time he was a teenager, and he never did enjoy the travel. After a falling out with one of his many adoptive parents, this last one a police officer who thought he could turn the boy around, he had had enough. Once he turned 14 he decided the foster system was such a pointless drag on his life that he would be better off living on the streets of his home town New York City, taking what little work and easy money fell his way by whatever petty criminal means necessary. And he made the best of it, too. It turned out to be his calling, really, and he managed to establish a consistent ring of contacts and friends back when he was considered to be alive, but they no longer matter.
None of his life mattered anymore once he was accepted, against his will, into the dark underworld where the vampires dwell.
What could he say, her Russian accent melted his heart and if he's being honest with himself, he's into the crazies anyway so it was mutual lust at first sight. He thought it was love of course, and so did she, but kids are kids. Nathaniel had just turned 17 and Mika was only a little older than him and the world seemed so full and vibrant whenever they were together. After nearly a week of sneaking into bars and clubs under-aged, and it honestly surprised him that it them took as long as it did, they finally made love and in the process he learned her unfortunate secret.
She hadn't been nearly as careful about it as she needed to be. He caught sight of her fangs hovering lustfully about his neck, but there were rules. By vampiric law she must not expose her identity, but in the heat of the moment she thought she loved him, so killing him wasn't an option. So instead Mika made the worst mistake of both of their lives - She fed from him, and then offered him her own blood. He would become hers.
The act of turning wasn't nearly as dramatic or painful as he expected it would be, but to be fair, he had been unconscious for most of it. When he finally woke up the next night Mika and her best friend, another vampire named Evelyn Vaughn, were there to soothe him. He had already begun adjusting to the idea that being a vampire was something he could get used to, and technically that was true, but he hadn't known about all of the little subtleties. He didn't realize the variety of strengths passed down by each bloodline, and he definitely didn't realize that hers was one that was gradually being eradicated, both socially and by natural selection. They were always at risk of being hunted by a rather prosperous vampire hunting scene, and her line was generally among those weak enough to actually get caught. Yet, still, there was pride to be had. Aside from the social high class, most vampires were very tolerant of their type and it is accepted as fact in vampiric culture that any vampire is higher on the food chain than a human. There was an entire new world for Nathaniel to explore, the night life to enjoy, and a future that seemed exciting and unending.
And Nathaniel and Mika's love, lust, or whatever they wanted to call it had not dwindled. They experimented and ravaged through the night in many respects of the terms; They would hunt together, kill together, and harass the humans in whatever way they pleased. Their squabbles were minor and usually ended in bed, and from an outsider's perspective they were perfect for each other, and maybe that was true too. But they lived dangerously, and this lifestyle would quickly come to haunt them.
Vampires don't take kindly to such overt actions, especially the reckless sort that served no purpose other than to entertain the duo. Although Gifted may be known of worldwide, vampire culture and customs necessitate keeping their existence a mystery so Nathaniel and Mika's actions were seen as a threat to the very livelihood of vampiric society everywhere, and with each passing day rumors and suspicions grew of them. Despite multiple admonishments and threats to gain trying evidence from their local council, Nathaniel and Mika persisted with their behavior until a vigilante group of vampiric citizens felt forced to take matters into their own hands. Most criminals would have faced a heavy sentence, certainly some kind of physical punishment, and without a doubt a long probation for the unnecessary acts of tyranny they had committed against the human populace. But the duo's persecutors were biased against their tainted bloodline, and they being terrible representatives of it at that, one thing led to another and Mika was executed. And in typical vampire fashion, it was not quick, she absolutely suffered, they tore her apart and they enjoyed it.
Nathaniel hadn't witnessed the mutilation of his lover and sire, but he was tipped off in time by their now mutual friend, Evelyn Vaughn. But what could he do now? He had no time to grieve, he suddenly knew no one, and he could trust no one. Maybe they would go easier on him for being a younger vampire? After all he never really did have proper guidance about any important aspects of vampire culture, but he was both too scared and too much of an emotional wreck to think things through so he fell on the same path he always took when the heat became too much for him to handle - He ran. During their final parting, Evelyn handed over Mika's red scarf and suggested he seek refuge at Foresta Academy. All vampires by virtue of being Gifted know of Foresta... But vampires have their own established communities in every major city. They are masters of stealth and subtlety with their own infrastructure so there is rarely a need or desire for them to venture to the place, but what other choice did he have for now? He needed to run, not only from vampires but from the humans who would hunt him. So he hid by the docks, laid low and asked the right people the right questions until he finally found a ship that could take him away to Foresta.
ROLE PLAY SAMPLE
"It's lovely, love."
"Do you really think so?"
"It might be your best yet," Nathaniel observed genuinely of his lover and sire.
Mika, his girlfriend of then six months, had carefully arranged her artwork in the short time she had to actually paint. It had taken them all night to prepare but she agreed, it was one of her best so far. Her unkempt brown hair that was ever threatening to dread as well as her white blouse had both been recklessly stained by the red colors, and the latter would need to be replaced. She had on a cute red scarf as well but that she wasn't so concerned about, it would mostly wash out. Mika leaned sideways into him and uttered in her softly tuned Russian accent, "With a muse like you, Alexey, I could paint forever."
Alexey. She used Nathaniel's birth-name, Alexey. He had denounced his abandonment at birth and chose to put that rocky upbringing behind him long ago, long before he was turned even, and that was something that took much confessing for him to admit to her. But she was happy to learn it because she liked Alexey more than his current name. It was Russian, and it reminded her of home. He guessed he liked it too because it sounded so sweet and natural with her enunciation, but Nathaniel wondered how long ago "home" might have been to Mika. Either way, she was the first one he had allowed to call him that since he left foster care so many years ago.
Nathaniel too had gotten their art supplies on him from assisting her efforts, so he had chosen to become shirtless. There was a narrow splash of paint up his neck and face whose origins would have made more sense with the dirtied shirt on to complete the puzzle, but the liquid color persisted down his fingers, same as Mika. Some still dripping, but mostly dried by now. Nathaniel put an arm around her messy shoulder as he chided her, "But you had all the fun this time. Next time you'll let me practice too, won't you?"
"Da, little one," she said in reference to his age rather than his height because he stood nearly half a foot taller than her, "but I will still have to teach you how. You know what it is of?" she gestured toward her completed portrait.
The duo stood and observed near the center of a heavily displaced living room, facing the long wall that served as her easel tonight which wasn't at all unusual for them. Things tended to get out of hand and they invariably made a mess when they decided to make art, and once they got started, well. There was a trail of red mixture that led straight up the wall to where she worked, not to mention it got splashed all over the years dirty carpet which was long overdue to be replaced anyway. In front of them, on the backdrop of an uneven white wall, was a remarkable piece of modern art.
To describe it would be an injustice - It wasn't so much the talent behind it, but the passion. Mika had clearly been inspired when she applied the thick, flowing splotches of red over the white wall. They were batched in three clusters, one long one below that was made by waved hand motions that created a bichrome wash of a foreground and two separate but nearby figures just above that. It reminded him of the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges over the East River... That is, if the water and the bridges were all colored red anyway. But the shapes reminded him of it, or a sailboat, but definitely there was water involved.
Mika wished, in retrospect, that she had brought a brush today but that would have to be a learning experience for her next project. She hadn't expected to go so far as to create a masterpiece tonight, but when the muse strikes, you follow your heart. "It is us, Alexey. Drowning together." She waved her hand at the lower swatch that represented the water.
"Ah, the water is red to symbolize our love, yes?" Nathaniel nodded as though he understood. "We're drowning in our love."
"Eh," she cocked her head, resting it on his shoulder as she took another look at it. "I did not take you to be so romantic when we met! But yes, let us say that. We will drown in our love water."
Nathaniel put a red paint covered finger to her lips, which she happily took in her mouth to taste.
Below the painting was the trail of red mixture they spilled in creating their art, which continued beneath their feet. Behind the pair was an overturned coffee table and assorted papers scattered about the floor, leading up to a couch that was tilted by a recently broken leg. Sit upon the couch was a young man and a woman, not terribly older than Nathaniel and Mika's apparent age, who were propped upright with their hands clasped together between their laps - An audience who seemed to appreciate the effort they went through.
They certainly didn't take the gaping wounds through their torsos for granted. Nathaniel had gone the extra mile to turn the dead girl's expression from horrified and confused to blissful, or as close as he could get it anyway. There were little bloody marks where his fingertips touched the side of the lady's mouth to work the muscles into a smile, but when he noticed the colored imperfection inspiration struck all the same and he followed his heart by adding a soft coat of blood as a prominent, yet not at all convincing blush to her cheeks. Still, he definitely got the point across, and Mika was equally proud of the scene they set up.
Maybe his style of art was the three dimensional kind, after all? Either way, he was certain he enjoyed it all. From the tension of the stakeout, the thrill of the chase, the chaos of the attack, and the euphoria of the aftermath... They were artists, and they loved it.
Nathaniel licked some of the drying blood off of his fingers. "It's getting late, love. It's time we leave it to our guests to appreciate in peace."
Mika took him by the hand and agreed with a kiss on his cheek. "You and I, Alex? We are a perfect pair."
LAIKA OF GS!
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