Post by Dorian Santiago Morterio on Aug 20, 2021 22:39:35 GMT -7
Discord Player: Ryouzen, SkelebRyo, Bone Daddy, Lich Lord Ryo (Insert other undead moniker)
Dorian Speaking / Thinking colors: Teal / Forestgreen
Black Speaking / Thinking colors: Gray / Steelblue
Character Name:
Dorian Santiago Morterio
Character reference picture:
Dorian:
Black's mental representation:
Mask reference (Forced upon him by the Cannibal Court):
Physical description:
Dorian is something else being the resident gentle giant. Standing at almost 6ft and being in the 200 lbs. range it becomes pretty easy to call him a giant when the man is packing quite a bit of muscle and larger than most around him. From his arms to his legs, back, chest, you name it there's some musculature on display. The man is more than capable of dealing with pretty much anything that involves lifting, moving, or dealing with obstinate or heavy objects. People and ghouls included. This can also make him quite intimidating if one doesn't know him on a personal level as despite his good natured demeanor he does have a bit of a resting bitch face. At least when he's not paying attention to anyone around him and is actively doing something.
Focusing a bit on Dorian's head however there's a couple of things to note. One immediate is that despite the Hispanic origin, easily seen with his sun kissed skin tone, he's got a ginger hair. Thankfully it's a bit darker than one would expect due to how thick it is and from the fact it's not a bright red-orange but a more muted burnt orange with brown shading mixed in. However he has red highlights due to various amounts of peer pressure he received years back only to realize he genuinely enjoys the look and has stuck with it since.
From there Dorian takes the world by storm by having the ever elusive amber-gold eyes. Seriously looking into them is like looking into a pot of molten gold with sparkles added into the mix because why the hell not? It's one thing Dorian prides himself immensely on is his eye color since it makes him both, in his words "alluring" and "interesting". Most are inclined to agree with this. From there the rest of his face is a pretty impressive show. High cheek bones, strong jaw, and perfectly aligned teeth he's just a looker for where ever he goes. And of course how could we forget his eyebrows? Same shade of color as his hair, albeit without the highlights but just as thick and full. And best part they are pretty expressive so expect to see every emotion that Dorian feels.
Now this'll come as a surprise to many given they wouldn't expect the gentle giant to get into fights. He has a number of scars. Usually on his back, arms, chest, and even his legs. His biggest amount of scaring is over his sternum where it connects to his collarbones. It dents his chest cavity and it is about half a food in all directions. Dorian however chooses to never talk about how it came about but needless to say it's heavily implied he's been impaled before. He's also got a few surgical scars on either side of his hips about 3 inches above the bone and about 3 inches across. The last noteworthy scarring to mention is that his forearms on both sides had electrical burns. They fade as they reach up to his shoulders but they are a good few shades darker than his skin tone and thus are hard to miss. The remainder of his scars are shallow and mostly faded cuts.
Likes
1. Flora/plant life - More so than ever now it reminds him of his personal sanctuary, Nature's Reserves. His little oasis from the world and it's current struggle between Ghouls, Humans, and lord knows whatever else is going on. He's just thankful he's got somewhere to go when shit hits the fan.
2. Daylight - When the suns out there's not much that happens. Life is as it should be. People going to and fro, stores open, cars driving. Normal irritations, joys, just life in general. Ghouls and the like rarely if ever pop up and ruin it. It's also when he doesn't have to do the "taskings".
3. Tea - Born of plants. Grown by people. And utterly delicious. And varied! Milk, sugar, honey, and so many different herbs and spices. When you're truly a lover of tea you can enjoy so many different kinds that it's hard to have the same kind without actively choosing to! His personal favorite is anything with Vanilla in it. It's pleasant to smell AND sweet while drinking.
4. Scrap booking - Say what you will but Dorian likes to remember things that happen to him. Good and bad. And the best way he can do that is to make a memory scrap book! He's got several volumes with his life's highlights on display. These are usually brightly colored books with theme's for each of them. Some more specific such as a scrap book he's got for Nature's Reserves. His darker memory ones are hidden away and are usually far more morose or simple. Normally with objects and text to remind him exactly what happened. He's yet to show any these.
5. Helping people - From making sure people get the right plant for their house, to picking up things that fall on the ground, to even just saying "Hey you're rocking that shirt." Dorian just likes to help. Makes him feel a lil warm and fuzzy inside and makes him feel like he's moving past his selfish side.
6. Feeling Strong - So quick admission, sometimes maybe even more than that, Dorian likes to remind himself he's strong. And enjoys it immensely. It's a small vain desire of his to remain strong throughout his life. If you're not strong you can't always do what you want. It's why he keeps himself in as best form as he can with his diet and working out. It's the one thing he has a pretty solid grasp over, his body. So if nothing else he'll feel strong from that alone until he can get a better grasp of his life.
7. Churro's - If there was ever a moment Dorian's Hispanic side really comes out its here. Churro's and they're soft but slightly crunchy exterior and the cinnamon sugar on them. Ugh. And if you get them fresh and with scoop of cinnamon ice cream. The man is practically screaming from how good it is. The man could arguably be called a simp for churro's and will be HIGHLY tempted to do whatever he needs to get them.
8. Día de los Muertos - Don't ask him why but his "master" acknowledges this holiday. In the past several years he's worked for them they've allowed him to have the day off and celebrate it. Dorian doesn't claim to know why and honestly doesn't even care. It was always a holiday he felt was important anyway since it lets him have a moment with his deceased relatives. Including his father, who passed when he had been initially abducted, something that never settled well on him.
9. Playful Theatrics - Dorian has a mischievous streak in him. One that he closely monitors to ensure he doesn't upset others who don't know him. However when he's got a friend he can tease? Oh he will. And when he gets caught in the act? He'll be overly dramatic for shits and giggles because it's more fun that way. Hopefully for both parties but if nothing else it's fun for him.
10. Jackets - So Dorian is a big man. Arguably a giant, and that means many things. He can lift a lot. He can give awesome hugs. Aaaaaand its hard to find clothes in his size because he's quite the muscular fellow. Which also means finding nice jackets that are in his size is kind of a difficult thing to achieve. And mock him if you must but he enjoys trench coats for the look and feel of them, tan preferably but he's got nothing against black ones.
Dislikes
1. Sunigami's "Master" Ghoul - It's easy to imagine why Dorian has a distaste for this ghoul. They stole them away from his family. Which meant he missed his father's passing. They've forced him to kill others who oppose them. And worst of all they've made "Black". A defensive mechanism turned semi-sentient that cares little for anyone but Dorian and itself. A lot of what's going on overall can be boiled down to shit like this.
2. "Black" - Resident mental defense mechanism spawned from "rehabilitation" via the ghoul leader in charge of Suginami. Dorian doesn't hate or otherwise dislike the personality as a whole but more so dislikes what they do and how uncaring they are about it. It reminds him immensely of the darker side of ghouls. Something he really doesn't want to be apart of. Thankfully though it's just a mental construct so he can fight it off if he really wants to.
3. The taskings - Just as it reads, these are tasks given to him by the ghoul who owns him. They aren't usually easy or without violence. Nine times out of ten Dorian has to switch to Black because he ends up fighting and/or killing ghouls and humans alike. Neither of which he wants to kill, though noticeably so are the humans who have come into contact with the underground group. Dorian has a book he's made dedicated to every person he's had to kill along with their name because of the ghoul.
4. Alcohol - It's just disgusting to drink. The aftertaste alone makes it not worth his time. And even then it's basically poison. Drinkable and supposedly "delicious" poison. If he can, Dorian will always pick something else to drink. Almost anything is better than alcohol.
5. CCG and Aogiri - These two just show off exactly what's wrong with both sides. They ignore the others issues and act like they are in the right themselves. Then proceed to slaughter one another and cause collateral damage in the process. It's wasteful. It's honestly just bad for everyone involved. Worst yet it just brings out the worst in both parties. Ghouls and humans alike turn into monsters the likes of which each alone could never be. If he can he'd like to be away from both of them.
6. Dad jokes - Given Dorian's dad is gone and he didn't get to know him anywhere near as much as he wished he could have these sting a particular heart string. He won't say anything when someone does make a dad joke or a joke about dads or their dad. But he will tense some before losing some of his mirth. If too many are being said he'll simply leave the room as quietly as possible so as to not ruin others fun.
7. False peace - Suginami has peace. At least on the surface. It runs and operates with everyone doing exactly what they are supposed to do. But there's a lot that understand why things operate the way that they do and it's because of whose in charge. If anyone were to suspect that a ghoul is in charge it would get the CCG's and Aogiri's attention. Right now they both stay away because "no one" is in charge and it's alright all things considered. And while this does help many it burns like acid in Dorian's veins because it's not genuine peace. It's a façade that allows another to pull the strings behind closed doors.
8. Statues - Say what you will but they creep out Dorian like dolls creep out most people. Especially the very realistic ones. It always makes Dorian feel like someone is watching him. He's got enough eyes on him as is, he doesn't need to start getting a few more pairs on him. The only exceptions to these are those whose faces have eroded away or mythical beasts. The more humanoid however the creepier they are.
9. Having his scars touched - Contrary to popular belief Dorian is actually super self-conscious about his scars. The ones on his arms and legs that are small and almost non-existent are ok. He's talking about the electrical scarring and the scar tissue over his sternum. Those he's really not super fond of people in general touching. Especially the sternum scar, he'll do almost whatever he can to keep others away from that.
10. Katanas - Yes he lives in Japan. Yes it makes sense that people here like katanas. But does that mean he has to like them? Absolutely not. They are just. . . incredibly over used both in and out of Japan. (Thanks for that Anime.) Surely other weapons are comparable if not better right? Right? Ugh. Probably not in Japan.
Flaws
1. Paranoid - For the past several years Dorian has been "rehabilitated" and shown just what his master will do if they disobey. Needless to say there's a good bit of paranoia that Dorian has about doing anything, especially out in the open. Get too close to someone? They may become a target to manipulate him with. Do something that seems out of line? He might get interrogated until it's proven he's not betrayed them. He can't even speak out his thoughts or opinions because who knows who is listening while he's at work or really anywhere? The worst part is there is SOME truth to this as he's found out by being said individual to have to report findings and information to his master.
2. Switching to "Black" - Dorian try as he might just cannot handle certain things. Death, Ghoul feedings, panic attacks induced by his paranoia, etc. And when he gets like this Black immediately takes over, generally making sure to "remove" whatever it is that's upsetting Dorian. The worst part being Dorian still has to watch it play out before him since when he undergoes situations like these he's unable or occasionally unwilling to switch back until a good bit later. The worst part is that anything that occurred while he was "Black" he feels nothing from. No sorrow, no pain. Just emptiness.
3. Selfish streak - Dorian though he consciously puts the effort forth to be more concerned about others does have an deep rooting of selfishness within. It's not readily apparent but when things count Dorian, with or without Black's help, will generally choose himself over others. Most of the time without even thinking about it.
Overall Personality
Dorian is a man of many things but first and foremost he is a quietly cheerful individual. He smiles when he walks past others, if they respond he may even ask how their day is. It'd be fair to call him a "friend you haven't yet met" given he's pretty open to meeting and greeting new people. This doesn't stop while he's working his job as a store manager for Nature's Reserve. (A flower and botanical shop in his ward that's pretty well received if you ask him.) For example he'll frequently give people flower crowns if they are willing or simply a single flower if not. To further show his "good guy" vibe he gives off he's pretty empathetic. Choosing to put off current taskings and even his free time aside to ensure that someone in distress is taken care of if they need it. Needless to say he can't always invest nearly as much good will and care for others as he may like but he certainly tries his best when he can.
However Dorian has a hidden side due to the influence of his "master", a ghoul of some renown within the Suginami ward. It's a side that's been readily cultivated since he is tasked with dealing with unruly ghouls as well as humans that decide to try and "upset" his master. This side is dubbed "black" and it's because it's almost akin to an alternate personality more so than just a portion of the overall identity that is "Dorian". Black doesn't quite care for or about others. Sure he isn't about to walk down the street and start cutting throats or kicking puppies but if a car runs over someone he's likely to chuckle to himself. He won't extend a helping hand to beggars and when he sees ghouls consuming other humans or ghouls it simply shrugs and continues on. It's a very pragmatic side that attempts to temper off Dorian's highly subjective emotions to as minute an influence as possible.
If "Black" had his way Dorian would simply not have them. However despite all the lack of humanity or concern for others it's not an inherently "evil" personality. Simply put it's just incredibly selfish. Dorian and it's goals are priority #1. Dorian and it's safety are #1. Dorian and it's will matter the most in any given situation. It can be convinced that someone is correct on a matter but ultimately it sees itself as the better of any individual it meets. Rare exceptions are present but few and far between. Despite this jarring switch in personality Dorian and Black are not separate but more like a switch for the dominant mental processes. Dorian is more likely to think on the emotional and subjective perspective whereas "Black" simply considers the here and now and what logic would dictate as a correct answer.
Dorian isn't fond of this mental switch whatsoever but given it was forcibly built into his psyche, is unable to rid himself of it. And to his begrudging admittance it had "aided" him more than several times in his life. It allows him to do the "taskings" of his master. It allows him to maintain his sanity and sense of self when he has to deal with the underbelly of the Suginami ward. And most importantly it's kept him alive considering it's willing to do what it takes to keep the two of them alive. However Dorian ultimately holds the means to swap between the two mindsets but there are certain situations that will flip it regardless of his desires. These are situations that are impacting or upsetting enough that it ends up becoming something of a "defensive" mechanism. For example walking down the road to find a ghoul consuming flesh is going to trigger it. Entering the stronghold of his master will trigger it. Hell even incredibly stressful situations such as having a panic attack would cause it to trigger.
As far as ghouls are concerned Dorian is uncertain of them. While he wants to believe there are ghouls that can be lived with and interacted with in positive ways he can't deny one thing. They consume others. Even their own kind if things get tough. Dorian is many things but a cannibal or an accessory to cannibals is not one of them. And that alone puts a very bad taste in his mouth for them. Add in his protective streak of others and you get a person that's heavily inclined to fight every ghoul in sight. Especially considering his current master/slave relationship, sorry "indentured servant", with his current owner, a ghoul. It just eats at him. And Black makes certain to point out different things about their current situation while he's in that mindset. The issue however is that he's nowhere near capable enough to escape or otherwise try to challenge his master. Not to mention the oddly precarious control they have over the ward. Especially considering it's kept things relatively peaceful.
However this doesn't mean that Dorian is quite aligned with the CCG. While he understands their intentions and where they may be coming from there's still his empathic streak that grounds him. Ghouls aren't just animals, not all of them. Ghouls harm and hurt as much as much as they can help. At least they have the power to do such. And until Dorian is proven wrong he's adamant about believing in the possibility of ghouls who are trying to make things better.
This brings us to Dorian's goals as a whole. Dorian's not the brightest bulb out there but even he has to agree with Black. He's on a time crunch. He won't be useful or required forever. And though the ghoul in charge of the ward is maintaining things right now the scales could easily flip. Dorian's biggest goal and hope is that he can escape said ghoul. Find at a minimum a ward far enough away from either the CCG and Aogiri and figure out where to go from there. But it all starts with figuring out how he can do so safely and without endangering those who know him or are in his immediate circle. Allowing them to take the consequences of his choices is absolutely unacceptable. Dorian alone needs to bare the weight of his decisions not others.
So it's been referenced already but Dorian, whilst not in "Black" mode, aims to do good by others. Make things better for at least those around him. But there's an issue with this. While Black emphasizes his disconnect from things going on around him and turning off, for lack a better word, his humanity it shows one of the biggest flaws Dorian has. Dorian is inherently selfish. He may hide it well, and even put a lot of effort into making sure he's actively helping and doing better by others. But when it's inconvenient or it's with someone he's not fond of (a rare breed of person) he does hesitate if not outright declines being of any help. Normally this is with a lot of "smaller" things such as not giving someone exact change, prioritizing himself when off the clock, things like that. But there have been several occurrences when he's picked himself or his wellbeing over others. One such time landing himself in the situation he's in now with his master. Regardless of how much a show and much effort he puts in, Dorian knows deep down he'll push himself in front of others for his own well being and occasionally comfort at the expense of others.
Alignment: Neutral good / Neutral Evil (Black mindset)
Fighting Style
Dorian's fighting style is something of a site to see. For one thing you'll never see Dorian actually fighting if it isn't a training session given Dorian can't handle the idea of actually killing someone let alone attacking with intent to kill, let alone intent to seriously harm another. Dorian on the other hand has no qualms about killing or maiming an individual. In fact it could be argued that to some degree he enjoys it. Which makes Night Terror quite the fitting weapon given it assaults the mind as much as it assaults the body.
Overall however Black's style is aggressive and to the point. He's aiming at a minimum to maim if not outright debilitate his opponent. Actively searching for openings and ensuring his opponent doesn't have a lot of space to breath is what he wants. Especially when it allows for Black to show off his skill in parrying his opponents. Which is likely to happen when they have to throw out something to try and stop him. Only for them to realize that he was hoping for to do something. As someone once said "A great offense is a great defense." And when you can hit the opponent and get away scot free? That's the kinda shit Black likes.
However things rarely tend to go as anyone wants and at best you get opportunities to play to your strengths. With this in mind Black is not against going slower, more methodical in his assault. So long as Black is gaining ground that's all that matters. There needs to be progress. Every action needs to push him closer to victory. If he's not accomplishing that he needs to figure out how to alter his current situation to accommodate. And that ultimately is Black's strongest point his, albeit begrudging, willingness to shift his strategies. If only to ensure Dorian remains alive at the end.
This brings us to situations where Black cannot win the fight at least not on his own skill. Black will then begin, if he hasn't already, using underhanded tactics. If Night Terror isn't bad enough with its poison that slows down the victim then Black isn't against using the environment or other objects on his person against his enemies. If it takes a can of god knows what to break a person's rhythm so be it. If it takes Black cutting down a chandelier to ensure his opponent takes serious damage, consider it done. If he needs to splash oil on his enemy and then light a match so he can distract and give opportunities, within a heartbeat he'll make it so. There is no morals or honor with Black. He started or joined a fight to win, not to make a point or some other silly reason.
Lastly however comes the unfortunate understanding that with some opponents Black just cannot win against. Maybe it's due to skill. Maybe it's due to their cleverness. Maybe it's something else. Whatever the case may be if Black cannot keep up or does not have a real or reasonable chance he will run. Retreat though not the most glamorous option is still an option. And it's not one to take lightly given the implications and after effects. But as stated prior Black's major concern is keeping Dorian alive. Keeping both of them alive and both safe. If he can't do that by beating, preferably killing his opponent he's going to do everything in his power to escape and fight again another day. He won't feel shame though he'll never admit to liking that it was what he had to do.
Faction:
Unaffiliated (slave to ghoul in control of Suginami)
Age: 23
Birthday: October 13th
Blood Type: O-
Height/Weight: 5ft 11in / 208 lbs.
Personal Rank: C rank
Stats:
Traits
Minor Trait - Penny Pincher (Human benefit)
Life's tough when you have to support yourself. Though Dorian has a "master" any sense of support and helping him survive is non-existent. Dorian has always had to take care of himself, thus he's surprisingly good with his money and where he invests it. Due to this at the end of every thread Dorian is apart of he gains a 10% bonus to money earned. This stacks with social benefits but cannot exceed 100%.
Minor Trait - Botany (B rank Presence benefit)
Due to Dorian's longstanding time spent around plants and studying them Dorian has gained a moderate level of knowledge regarding how to use them. This can include making items from them such as but not limited to: Poisons, Salves, Minor drugs, etc.
Major Trait - Parry Specialist (From starting off at C rank)
Having dealt with fighting up close and personal for several years Dorian has learned the necessity of deflecting and countering opponents attacks. With this in mind Dorian can counter not only more effectively but also suffers only half the damage should he fail to parry an opponent. Mechanically this allows for Dorian's parry clashes to be counted as 1 rank higher and in the event he fails he's only subject to half the total damage while choosing where it is applied. (The weapon or himself)
{Starting Quinque:}
Name: Night Terror
Rank: A
RC-Type: Ukaku
Description:
The weapon is strange, even among quinque, and that is due to it's base form. When released it takes the form of a ridged blade, the cutting edge formed by several claw like protrusions that line both sides of the "blade". This blade extends for a foot and a half and has another foot dedicated to a hilt and hand guard. The hand guard looks akin to a vertebrae with the left and right sides having a 2in wide and 4 in long protrusion that completes the guard portion. Meanwhile the actual handle itself is more akin to a whittle down bone that fits comfortably in the hand.
In addition to the bone like appearance there are thin dark purple veins that line the inner core and over the blades. When active the blade occasionally drips ichor from the veins, produced from a gland within the hilt/shaft of the blade. This ichor is the same color as the veins and glows softly. When the ichor touches anything that isn't the blade or a living creature it begins to rapidly evaporate producing a foul odor akin to spoiled fool. Upon coming in contact with a living being if it's not within their body it feels akin to honey. Thick, sticky, and slow to move.
Cost: 4,000 ryo
Traits:
The weapon is noticeably lighter than the what it would otherwise appear to be. Whether that's due to materials used in it's construction or just how it's formed is anyone's guess. However the benefit cannot be denied. When using this weapon the user can use Strength in place of Speed for how quickly the weapon can be used. (Offensively and defensively) This however does not replace speed when dodging, thought process, etc. (I.E. The remainder of the applicable uses of Speed.)
Cost: 500 ryo
Courtesy of the former ghouls preference for underhanded tactics this weapon is able to generate a poison so long as the weapon is active. This poison coats the blade and even when the blade comes in contact with another immediately reapplies itself to the weapon. The poison induces a lucid dreamlike state where the user slowly begins to perceive the world around them in a more terrifying manner. This includes the user who starts to look more dead to the victim as more poison enters their system. At it's maximum effect the user of this weapon looks akin to a walking corpse. Meanwhile the world around them looks as though it's a warped nightmare version of reality. There are however no direct changes. (I.E. a hallway is a hallway even if it looks like it's the inside of a monsters stomach) While not mechanically impactful this is likely to scare most who see the user.
The mechanical effect of this however is to reduce the speed of a victim by 1 rank upon initial contact. Subsequent instances of contact can further reduce the victims speed but only occurs every two hits after the initial. Should the victims speed be reduced below C the victim is then paralyzed for a post. Afterwards the victim regains the ability to move but remains at C for the remainder of the thread even if they come in contact with the poison again. The user also gains the option to fire a wave of poison by thrusting or slashing. This can be done once a post however and reaches 40 feet. This wave has a cutting power equal the strength of the user. The poison in the meantime functions the same.
Drawback: To counter this poison either an item that can cleanse poison or a higher potency is necessary. With regards to the latter the victim is able to cleanse the poison if their rank is higher than the rank of the user's potency - 1 rank, minimum C rank. For each cleansing the victims potency is considered 1 less than it was in the prior clash. If the victims potency grows weaker than the poison's potency the victim can no longer cleanse it by themselves.
Cost: 1000 ryo
Total cost: 5,500 ryo
Dorian Speaking / Thinking colors: Teal / Forestgreen
Black Speaking / Thinking colors: Gray / Steelblue
Character Name:
Dorian Santiago Morterio
Character reference picture:
Dorian:
Black's mental representation:
Mask reference (Forced upon him by the Cannibal Court):
Physical description:
Dorian is something else being the resident gentle giant. Standing at almost 6ft and being in the 200 lbs. range it becomes pretty easy to call him a giant when the man is packing quite a bit of muscle and larger than most around him. From his arms to his legs, back, chest, you name it there's some musculature on display. The man is more than capable of dealing with pretty much anything that involves lifting, moving, or dealing with obstinate or heavy objects. People and ghouls included. This can also make him quite intimidating if one doesn't know him on a personal level as despite his good natured demeanor he does have a bit of a resting bitch face. At least when he's not paying attention to anyone around him and is actively doing something.
Focusing a bit on Dorian's head however there's a couple of things to note. One immediate is that despite the Hispanic origin, easily seen with his sun kissed skin tone, he's got a ginger hair. Thankfully it's a bit darker than one would expect due to how thick it is and from the fact it's not a bright red-orange but a more muted burnt orange with brown shading mixed in. However he has red highlights due to various amounts of peer pressure he received years back only to realize he genuinely enjoys the look and has stuck with it since.
From there Dorian takes the world by storm by having the ever elusive amber-gold eyes. Seriously looking into them is like looking into a pot of molten gold with sparkles added into the mix because why the hell not? It's one thing Dorian prides himself immensely on is his eye color since it makes him both, in his words "alluring" and "interesting". Most are inclined to agree with this. From there the rest of his face is a pretty impressive show. High cheek bones, strong jaw, and perfectly aligned teeth he's just a looker for where ever he goes. And of course how could we forget his eyebrows? Same shade of color as his hair, albeit without the highlights but just as thick and full. And best part they are pretty expressive so expect to see every emotion that Dorian feels.
Now this'll come as a surprise to many given they wouldn't expect the gentle giant to get into fights. He has a number of scars. Usually on his back, arms, chest, and even his legs. His biggest amount of scaring is over his sternum where it connects to his collarbones. It dents his chest cavity and it is about half a food in all directions. Dorian however chooses to never talk about how it came about but needless to say it's heavily implied he's been impaled before. He's also got a few surgical scars on either side of his hips about 3 inches above the bone and about 3 inches across. The last noteworthy scarring to mention is that his forearms on both sides had electrical burns. They fade as they reach up to his shoulders but they are a good few shades darker than his skin tone and thus are hard to miss. The remainder of his scars are shallow and mostly faded cuts.
Likes
1. Flora/plant life - More so than ever now it reminds him of his personal sanctuary, Nature's Reserves. His little oasis from the world and it's current struggle between Ghouls, Humans, and lord knows whatever else is going on. He's just thankful he's got somewhere to go when shit hits the fan.
2. Daylight - When the suns out there's not much that happens. Life is as it should be. People going to and fro, stores open, cars driving. Normal irritations, joys, just life in general. Ghouls and the like rarely if ever pop up and ruin it. It's also when he doesn't have to do the "taskings".
3. Tea - Born of plants. Grown by people. And utterly delicious. And varied! Milk, sugar, honey, and so many different herbs and spices. When you're truly a lover of tea you can enjoy so many different kinds that it's hard to have the same kind without actively choosing to! His personal favorite is anything with Vanilla in it. It's pleasant to smell AND sweet while drinking.
4. Scrap booking - Say what you will but Dorian likes to remember things that happen to him. Good and bad. And the best way he can do that is to make a memory scrap book! He's got several volumes with his life's highlights on display. These are usually brightly colored books with theme's for each of them. Some more specific such as a scrap book he's got for Nature's Reserves. His darker memory ones are hidden away and are usually far more morose or simple. Normally with objects and text to remind him exactly what happened. He's yet to show any these.
5. Helping people - From making sure people get the right plant for their house, to picking up things that fall on the ground, to even just saying "Hey you're rocking that shirt." Dorian just likes to help. Makes him feel a lil warm and fuzzy inside and makes him feel like he's moving past his selfish side.
6. Feeling Strong - So quick admission, sometimes maybe even more than that, Dorian likes to remind himself he's strong. And enjoys it immensely. It's a small vain desire of his to remain strong throughout his life. If you're not strong you can't always do what you want. It's why he keeps himself in as best form as he can with his diet and working out. It's the one thing he has a pretty solid grasp over, his body. So if nothing else he'll feel strong from that alone until he can get a better grasp of his life.
7. Churro's - If there was ever a moment Dorian's Hispanic side really comes out its here. Churro's and they're soft but slightly crunchy exterior and the cinnamon sugar on them. Ugh. And if you get them fresh and with scoop of cinnamon ice cream. The man is practically screaming from how good it is. The man could arguably be called a simp for churro's and will be HIGHLY tempted to do whatever he needs to get them.
8. Día de los Muertos - Don't ask him why but his "master" acknowledges this holiday. In the past several years he's worked for them they've allowed him to have the day off and celebrate it. Dorian doesn't claim to know why and honestly doesn't even care. It was always a holiday he felt was important anyway since it lets him have a moment with his deceased relatives. Including his father, who passed when he had been initially abducted, something that never settled well on him.
9. Playful Theatrics - Dorian has a mischievous streak in him. One that he closely monitors to ensure he doesn't upset others who don't know him. However when he's got a friend he can tease? Oh he will. And when he gets caught in the act? He'll be overly dramatic for shits and giggles because it's more fun that way. Hopefully for both parties but if nothing else it's fun for him.
10. Jackets - So Dorian is a big man. Arguably a giant, and that means many things. He can lift a lot. He can give awesome hugs. Aaaaaand its hard to find clothes in his size because he's quite the muscular fellow. Which also means finding nice jackets that are in his size is kind of a difficult thing to achieve. And mock him if you must but he enjoys trench coats for the look and feel of them, tan preferably but he's got nothing against black ones.
Dislikes
1. Sunigami's "Master" Ghoul - It's easy to imagine why Dorian has a distaste for this ghoul. They stole them away from his family. Which meant he missed his father's passing. They've forced him to kill others who oppose them. And worst of all they've made "Black". A defensive mechanism turned semi-sentient that cares little for anyone but Dorian and itself. A lot of what's going on overall can be boiled down to shit like this.
2. "Black" - Resident mental defense mechanism spawned from "rehabilitation" via the ghoul leader in charge of Suginami. Dorian doesn't hate or otherwise dislike the personality as a whole but more so dislikes what they do and how uncaring they are about it. It reminds him immensely of the darker side of ghouls. Something he really doesn't want to be apart of. Thankfully though it's just a mental construct so he can fight it off if he really wants to.
3. The taskings - Just as it reads, these are tasks given to him by the ghoul who owns him. They aren't usually easy or without violence. Nine times out of ten Dorian has to switch to Black because he ends up fighting and/or killing ghouls and humans alike. Neither of which he wants to kill, though noticeably so are the humans who have come into contact with the underground group. Dorian has a book he's made dedicated to every person he's had to kill along with their name because of the ghoul.
4. Alcohol - It's just disgusting to drink. The aftertaste alone makes it not worth his time. And even then it's basically poison. Drinkable and supposedly "delicious" poison. If he can, Dorian will always pick something else to drink. Almost anything is better than alcohol.
5. CCG and Aogiri - These two just show off exactly what's wrong with both sides. They ignore the others issues and act like they are in the right themselves. Then proceed to slaughter one another and cause collateral damage in the process. It's wasteful. It's honestly just bad for everyone involved. Worst yet it just brings out the worst in both parties. Ghouls and humans alike turn into monsters the likes of which each alone could never be. If he can he'd like to be away from both of them.
6. Dad jokes - Given Dorian's dad is gone and he didn't get to know him anywhere near as much as he wished he could have these sting a particular heart string. He won't say anything when someone does make a dad joke or a joke about dads or their dad. But he will tense some before losing some of his mirth. If too many are being said he'll simply leave the room as quietly as possible so as to not ruin others fun.
7. False peace - Suginami has peace. At least on the surface. It runs and operates with everyone doing exactly what they are supposed to do. But there's a lot that understand why things operate the way that they do and it's because of whose in charge. If anyone were to suspect that a ghoul is in charge it would get the CCG's and Aogiri's attention. Right now they both stay away because "no one" is in charge and it's alright all things considered. And while this does help many it burns like acid in Dorian's veins because it's not genuine peace. It's a façade that allows another to pull the strings behind closed doors.
8. Statues - Say what you will but they creep out Dorian like dolls creep out most people. Especially the very realistic ones. It always makes Dorian feel like someone is watching him. He's got enough eyes on him as is, he doesn't need to start getting a few more pairs on him. The only exceptions to these are those whose faces have eroded away or mythical beasts. The more humanoid however the creepier they are.
9. Having his scars touched - Contrary to popular belief Dorian is actually super self-conscious about his scars. The ones on his arms and legs that are small and almost non-existent are ok. He's talking about the electrical scarring and the scar tissue over his sternum. Those he's really not super fond of people in general touching. Especially the sternum scar, he'll do almost whatever he can to keep others away from that.
10. Katanas - Yes he lives in Japan. Yes it makes sense that people here like katanas. But does that mean he has to like them? Absolutely not. They are just. . . incredibly over used both in and out of Japan. (Thanks for that Anime.) Surely other weapons are comparable if not better right? Right? Ugh. Probably not in Japan.
Flaws
1. Paranoid - For the past several years Dorian has been "rehabilitated" and shown just what his master will do if they disobey. Needless to say there's a good bit of paranoia that Dorian has about doing anything, especially out in the open. Get too close to someone? They may become a target to manipulate him with. Do something that seems out of line? He might get interrogated until it's proven he's not betrayed them. He can't even speak out his thoughts or opinions because who knows who is listening while he's at work or really anywhere? The worst part is there is SOME truth to this as he's found out by being said individual to have to report findings and information to his master.
2. Switching to "Black" - Dorian try as he might just cannot handle certain things. Death, Ghoul feedings, panic attacks induced by his paranoia, etc. And when he gets like this Black immediately takes over, generally making sure to "remove" whatever it is that's upsetting Dorian. The worst part being Dorian still has to watch it play out before him since when he undergoes situations like these he's unable or occasionally unwilling to switch back until a good bit later. The worst part is that anything that occurred while he was "Black" he feels nothing from. No sorrow, no pain. Just emptiness.
3. Selfish streak - Dorian though he consciously puts the effort forth to be more concerned about others does have an deep rooting of selfishness within. It's not readily apparent but when things count Dorian, with or without Black's help, will generally choose himself over others. Most of the time without even thinking about it.
Overall Personality
Dorian is a man of many things but first and foremost he is a quietly cheerful individual. He smiles when he walks past others, if they respond he may even ask how their day is. It'd be fair to call him a "friend you haven't yet met" given he's pretty open to meeting and greeting new people. This doesn't stop while he's working his job as a store manager for Nature's Reserve. (A flower and botanical shop in his ward that's pretty well received if you ask him.) For example he'll frequently give people flower crowns if they are willing or simply a single flower if not. To further show his "good guy" vibe he gives off he's pretty empathetic. Choosing to put off current taskings and even his free time aside to ensure that someone in distress is taken care of if they need it. Needless to say he can't always invest nearly as much good will and care for others as he may like but he certainly tries his best when he can.
However Dorian has a hidden side due to the influence of his "master", a ghoul of some renown within the Suginami ward. It's a side that's been readily cultivated since he is tasked with dealing with unruly ghouls as well as humans that decide to try and "upset" his master. This side is dubbed "black" and it's because it's almost akin to an alternate personality more so than just a portion of the overall identity that is "Dorian". Black doesn't quite care for or about others. Sure he isn't about to walk down the street and start cutting throats or kicking puppies but if a car runs over someone he's likely to chuckle to himself. He won't extend a helping hand to beggars and when he sees ghouls consuming other humans or ghouls it simply shrugs and continues on. It's a very pragmatic side that attempts to temper off Dorian's highly subjective emotions to as minute an influence as possible.
If "Black" had his way Dorian would simply not have them. However despite all the lack of humanity or concern for others it's not an inherently "evil" personality. Simply put it's just incredibly selfish. Dorian and it's goals are priority #1. Dorian and it's safety are #1. Dorian and it's will matter the most in any given situation. It can be convinced that someone is correct on a matter but ultimately it sees itself as the better of any individual it meets. Rare exceptions are present but few and far between. Despite this jarring switch in personality Dorian and Black are not separate but more like a switch for the dominant mental processes. Dorian is more likely to think on the emotional and subjective perspective whereas "Black" simply considers the here and now and what logic would dictate as a correct answer.
Dorian isn't fond of this mental switch whatsoever but given it was forcibly built into his psyche, is unable to rid himself of it. And to his begrudging admittance it had "aided" him more than several times in his life. It allows him to do the "taskings" of his master. It allows him to maintain his sanity and sense of self when he has to deal with the underbelly of the Suginami ward. And most importantly it's kept him alive considering it's willing to do what it takes to keep the two of them alive. However Dorian ultimately holds the means to swap between the two mindsets but there are certain situations that will flip it regardless of his desires. These are situations that are impacting or upsetting enough that it ends up becoming something of a "defensive" mechanism. For example walking down the road to find a ghoul consuming flesh is going to trigger it. Entering the stronghold of his master will trigger it. Hell even incredibly stressful situations such as having a panic attack would cause it to trigger.
As far as ghouls are concerned Dorian is uncertain of them. While he wants to believe there are ghouls that can be lived with and interacted with in positive ways he can't deny one thing. They consume others. Even their own kind if things get tough. Dorian is many things but a cannibal or an accessory to cannibals is not one of them. And that alone puts a very bad taste in his mouth for them. Add in his protective streak of others and you get a person that's heavily inclined to fight every ghoul in sight. Especially considering his current master/slave relationship, sorry "indentured servant", with his current owner, a ghoul. It just eats at him. And Black makes certain to point out different things about their current situation while he's in that mindset. The issue however is that he's nowhere near capable enough to escape or otherwise try to challenge his master. Not to mention the oddly precarious control they have over the ward. Especially considering it's kept things relatively peaceful.
However this doesn't mean that Dorian is quite aligned with the CCG. While he understands their intentions and where they may be coming from there's still his empathic streak that grounds him. Ghouls aren't just animals, not all of them. Ghouls harm and hurt as much as much as they can help. At least they have the power to do such. And until Dorian is proven wrong he's adamant about believing in the possibility of ghouls who are trying to make things better.
This brings us to Dorian's goals as a whole. Dorian's not the brightest bulb out there but even he has to agree with Black. He's on a time crunch. He won't be useful or required forever. And though the ghoul in charge of the ward is maintaining things right now the scales could easily flip. Dorian's biggest goal and hope is that he can escape said ghoul. Find at a minimum a ward far enough away from either the CCG and Aogiri and figure out where to go from there. But it all starts with figuring out how he can do so safely and without endangering those who know him or are in his immediate circle. Allowing them to take the consequences of his choices is absolutely unacceptable. Dorian alone needs to bare the weight of his decisions not others.
So it's been referenced already but Dorian, whilst not in "Black" mode, aims to do good by others. Make things better for at least those around him. But there's an issue with this. While Black emphasizes his disconnect from things going on around him and turning off, for lack a better word, his humanity it shows one of the biggest flaws Dorian has. Dorian is inherently selfish. He may hide it well, and even put a lot of effort into making sure he's actively helping and doing better by others. But when it's inconvenient or it's with someone he's not fond of (a rare breed of person) he does hesitate if not outright declines being of any help. Normally this is with a lot of "smaller" things such as not giving someone exact change, prioritizing himself when off the clock, things like that. But there have been several occurrences when he's picked himself or his wellbeing over others. One such time landing himself in the situation he's in now with his master. Regardless of how much a show and much effort he puts in, Dorian knows deep down he'll push himself in front of others for his own well being and occasionally comfort at the expense of others.
Alignment: Neutral good / Neutral Evil (Black mindset)
Fighting Style
Dorian's fighting style is something of a site to see. For one thing you'll never see Dorian actually fighting if it isn't a training session given Dorian can't handle the idea of actually killing someone let alone attacking with intent to kill, let alone intent to seriously harm another. Dorian on the other hand has no qualms about killing or maiming an individual. In fact it could be argued that to some degree he enjoys it. Which makes Night Terror quite the fitting weapon given it assaults the mind as much as it assaults the body.
Overall however Black's style is aggressive and to the point. He's aiming at a minimum to maim if not outright debilitate his opponent. Actively searching for openings and ensuring his opponent doesn't have a lot of space to breath is what he wants. Especially when it allows for Black to show off his skill in parrying his opponents. Which is likely to happen when they have to throw out something to try and stop him. Only for them to realize that he was hoping for to do something. As someone once said "A great offense is a great defense." And when you can hit the opponent and get away scot free? That's the kinda shit Black likes.
However things rarely tend to go as anyone wants and at best you get opportunities to play to your strengths. With this in mind Black is not against going slower, more methodical in his assault. So long as Black is gaining ground that's all that matters. There needs to be progress. Every action needs to push him closer to victory. If he's not accomplishing that he needs to figure out how to alter his current situation to accommodate. And that ultimately is Black's strongest point his, albeit begrudging, willingness to shift his strategies. If only to ensure Dorian remains alive at the end.
This brings us to situations where Black cannot win the fight at least not on his own skill. Black will then begin, if he hasn't already, using underhanded tactics. If Night Terror isn't bad enough with its poison that slows down the victim then Black isn't against using the environment or other objects on his person against his enemies. If it takes a can of god knows what to break a person's rhythm so be it. If it takes Black cutting down a chandelier to ensure his opponent takes serious damage, consider it done. If he needs to splash oil on his enemy and then light a match so he can distract and give opportunities, within a heartbeat he'll make it so. There is no morals or honor with Black. He started or joined a fight to win, not to make a point or some other silly reason.
Lastly however comes the unfortunate understanding that with some opponents Black just cannot win against. Maybe it's due to skill. Maybe it's due to their cleverness. Maybe it's something else. Whatever the case may be if Black cannot keep up or does not have a real or reasonable chance he will run. Retreat though not the most glamorous option is still an option. And it's not one to take lightly given the implications and after effects. But as stated prior Black's major concern is keeping Dorian alive. Keeping both of them alive and both safe. If he can't do that by beating, preferably killing his opponent he's going to do everything in his power to escape and fight again another day. He won't feel shame though he'll never admit to liking that it was what he had to do.
Faction:
Unaffiliated (slave to ghoul in control of Suginami)
Age: 23
Birthday: October 13th
Blood Type: O-
Height/Weight: 5ft 11in / 208 lbs.
Personal Rank: C rank
Stats:
- Strength:
- Speed:
- Aim:
- Resilience:
- Presence:
- Potency:
Traits
Minor Trait - Penny Pincher (Human benefit)
Life's tough when you have to support yourself. Though Dorian has a "master" any sense of support and helping him survive is non-existent. Dorian has always had to take care of himself, thus he's surprisingly good with his money and where he invests it. Due to this at the end of every thread Dorian is apart of he gains a 10% bonus to money earned. This stacks with social benefits but cannot exceed 100%.
Minor Trait - Botany (B rank Presence benefit)
Due to Dorian's longstanding time spent around plants and studying them Dorian has gained a moderate level of knowledge regarding how to use them. This can include making items from them such as but not limited to: Poisons, Salves, Minor drugs, etc.
Major Trait - Parry Specialist (From starting off at C rank)
Having dealt with fighting up close and personal for several years Dorian has learned the necessity of deflecting and countering opponents attacks. With this in mind Dorian can counter not only more effectively but also suffers only half the damage should he fail to parry an opponent. Mechanically this allows for Dorian's parry clashes to be counted as 1 rank higher and in the event he fails he's only subject to half the total damage while choosing where it is applied. (The weapon or himself)
{Starting Quinque:}
Name: Night Terror
Rank: A
RC-Type: Ukaku
Description:
The weapon is strange, even among quinque, and that is due to it's base form. When released it takes the form of a ridged blade, the cutting edge formed by several claw like protrusions that line both sides of the "blade". This blade extends for a foot and a half and has another foot dedicated to a hilt and hand guard. The hand guard looks akin to a vertebrae with the left and right sides having a 2in wide and 4 in long protrusion that completes the guard portion. Meanwhile the actual handle itself is more akin to a whittle down bone that fits comfortably in the hand.
In addition to the bone like appearance there are thin dark purple veins that line the inner core and over the blades. When active the blade occasionally drips ichor from the veins, produced from a gland within the hilt/shaft of the blade. This ichor is the same color as the veins and glows softly. When the ichor touches anything that isn't the blade or a living creature it begins to rapidly evaporate producing a foul odor akin to spoiled fool. Upon coming in contact with a living being if it's not within their body it feels akin to honey. Thick, sticky, and slow to move.
Cost: 4,000 ryo
Traits:
- Minor Trait Name: Light-Weapon
The weapon is noticeably lighter than the what it would otherwise appear to be. Whether that's due to materials used in it's construction or just how it's formed is anyone's guess. However the benefit cannot be denied. When using this weapon the user can use Strength in place of Speed for how quickly the weapon can be used. (Offensively and defensively) This however does not replace speed when dodging, thought process, etc. (I.E. The remainder of the applicable uses of Speed.)
Cost: 500 ryo
- Major Trait Name - Lucid Nightmare
Courtesy of the former ghouls preference for underhanded tactics this weapon is able to generate a poison so long as the weapon is active. This poison coats the blade and even when the blade comes in contact with another immediately reapplies itself to the weapon. The poison induces a lucid dreamlike state where the user slowly begins to perceive the world around them in a more terrifying manner. This includes the user who starts to look more dead to the victim as more poison enters their system. At it's maximum effect the user of this weapon looks akin to a walking corpse. Meanwhile the world around them looks as though it's a warped nightmare version of reality. There are however no direct changes. (I.E. a hallway is a hallway even if it looks like it's the inside of a monsters stomach) While not mechanically impactful this is likely to scare most who see the user.
The mechanical effect of this however is to reduce the speed of a victim by 1 rank upon initial contact. Subsequent instances of contact can further reduce the victims speed but only occurs every two hits after the initial. Should the victims speed be reduced below C the victim is then paralyzed for a post. Afterwards the victim regains the ability to move but remains at C for the remainder of the thread even if they come in contact with the poison again. The user also gains the option to fire a wave of poison by thrusting or slashing. This can be done once a post however and reaches 40 feet. This wave has a cutting power equal the strength of the user. The poison in the meantime functions the same.
Drawback: To counter this poison either an item that can cleanse poison or a higher potency is necessary. With regards to the latter the victim is able to cleanse the poison if their rank is higher than the rank of the user's potency - 1 rank, minimum C rank. For each cleansing the victims potency is considered 1 less than it was in the prior clash. If the victims potency grows weaker than the poison's potency the victim can no longer cleanse it by themselves.
Cost: 1000 ryo
Total cost: 5,500 ryo