Here, I was looking around at the first OOC post and wondering where it said to post here first and I couldn't find it. Turns out it was on the Character thread -_-; [center] [img]http://animemvc.com/Content/animes/hajime_no_ippo_new_challenger/mamoru_takamura_hajime_no_ippo_new_challenger.jpg[/img] [b]Name:[/b] [color=a0410d]Ray Joe Ali Johnson[/color] [b]Age:[/b] 19 [b]Gender:[/b] Male [b]Personality:[/b] Tough, hardworking and determined are the traits he is most identified with. He hates being treated as weak and moreover hates other people being weak. Joe honestly believes that a person that doesn't stand up for themselves is pathetic and is just making excuses. Joe when outside of work or studies likes to have fun and goof off. Despite all appearances however, he is actually intelligent and knowledgeable about various topics, as well as talented and skilled in numerous daily tasks such as cooking; those close to him dubbed him as a true 'Renaissance Man' - a master of multiple things. This is not quite true though: Everything he does is done out of a desperate need to avoid going back to his former lifestyle. It has made him reckless, cynical, and prone to self-destructive actions. Finally, the thing that can be considered a true weakness is his inability to trust a woman under any circumstance - no matter the consequence. [b]Background:[/b] He was born as the son of an aspiring boxer and his High school sweetheart. Named after the greatest boxers the world as ever seen, his father hoped to raise him and create a great boxer out of him. He only got to do half of that. His father died just before he could sign a deal for his first Title Fight due to a car crash. At the time, Joe was 8 years old. His mother, 24 at the time, who had taken care of him up until that point went into depression, before leaving him with his neighbors and disappearing. He resented her ever since. Two years passed, and his life was living hell. His neighbors wife hated him greatly and saw him only as an extra burden. She repeatedly beat him and constantly drove him out of the house. The only reason she didn't kick him out completely was because her husband owed a debt of gratitude to his father, and actually liked him. Still, there was a limit to how much a person could endure. One day, he snapped and just . . . knocked her out. All it took was one hit and a ten year old boy knocked out a fully grown adult. Joe had definitely inherited his fathers genes. Still, out of fear or retribution, he ran out of the house and hid in a nearby park. The park, incidentally, was the training ground of a particular gym owner, who specialized in boxing. Like a moment of true destiny, the man found Joe and in an awkward attempt to snap him out of his depression, began an impromptu boxing session. Joe loved every minute of it. The man, Terry Finkles, was so impressed with him that he invited him to practice at his gym for free. He accepted. As soon as he got back home, he told his aunt and uncle about his meeting with Terry, and announced his intent to become the worlds best boxer. His neighbor was glad to see his father in him, and his wife was glad just to have him out more. Joe took odd jobs once he was fifteen to earn money for himself, and practiced constantly in the gym. Another event occurred, however, and all the money he had earned was stolen by a girl that pretended to be in love with him, and indirectly ruined his reputation in the gym. His distrust towards women solidified even more. The only person that he had left to trust was himself and Terry, he decided. Currently, he is practicing for his debut on the international boxing stage. [b]Chosen Pill Color:[/b] [color=a0410d]Brown[/color] [b]Other:[/b] Really, [i]really[/i] good at boxing, cooking and cleaning. [/center]