[hider=Gregory Watanabe] [center][img]http://txt-dynamic.cdn.1001fonts.net/txt/b3RmLjcyLmM5YjlkYS5SM0psWjI5eWVTQlhZWFJoYm1GaVpRLCwuMAAA/crabmeal.regular.png[/img] [img]https://orig00.deviantart.net/1c79/f/2012/235/3/6/lonely_boy_by_aerisgainsley-d5bu5uq.jpg[/img] [color=plum][h1]╚══════════════╝[/h1][/color] [i]"I used to be a man of pain. Now, I'm a man of passion!"[/i] [color=plum][h3][ [b]20[/b] | [b]5'9[/b] | [b]Japanese-American[/b] [b]He/Him[/b] | [b]139lbs[/b] ][/h3] [h1][i]Regret[/i][/h1][/color] [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySjXFjLTagQ[/youtube][/center] [color=plum][h3][u][b] APPEARANCE [/b][/u][/h3][/color] [i]"I... don't look after myself much."[/i] [indent][indent]Gregory never dresses in a way that makes him eye-catching or unique, despite having some rather handsome (albeit boyish) features. He always seems to sport some variant of the country bumpkin look, which tends to put people off due to his city-born Australian-British accent. His eyes are usually cast downwards and out of sight, away from the public eye or other people in general, if he can help it. When in a crowd or around people he doesn't know he grows exceptionally more extroverted, leading many people to believe it's an act and that he's hiding something. The biggest piece of evidence lay in his crystal blue eyes: They always look so distant, so sad, like he's about to cry constantly. Even when he acts out and adopts an extroverted nature, he still has this glaring sadness within him which has sparked a little too much curiosity among his peers. Greg isn't quite masculine. In fact he tends to get jealous looks from some girls, considering his weight never changes despite how much he eats and how little he exercises. He has some clear definition in his arms and legs, but his gut... Well, lets just say Greg hasn't practiced martial arts in awhile. If it weren't for his dressing up as a guy, he could quite convincingly pass as a girl, something which disturbs even him. He's never grown a single piece of facial hair, much to the scrutiny of his peers, and lacks a whole lot of body hair in general. He hasn't even had to trim down there yet! OK, too much detail. By all accounts, Greg looks just like his mother: Medium brown hair, gorgeous blue eyes, smooth silky skin and a total lack of any kind of marks on his body. The only real thing that he has in common with his father is his eye shape, which clearly outline his Japanese heritage. His style of hair is unkempt, left wild and free and quite easily swept around by the wind. He has no real bodily alterations - no scars nor tattoos nor piercings - and usually dresses casually. Never seen without a plaid shirt, he usually sports some kind of plain, long-sleeved shirt underneath, mixing checkered red and black with a simple grey, black, or occasional "random" [s]lazy[/s] choice. This is often complimented by simple pants of any design - jeans, "tracky-dacks", cargo pants - which has lead to some... [i]odd[/i] combinations in the past. Ever the smart-arse, Greg will sometimes dress in ways which make him incredibly noticeable when going out. In a banana costume, for example. He always sports a toothy grin on occasions such as these which feel genuine to most, however it's hard to tell if he himself is being authentic. His quick-witted nature is complimented by his Australian upbringing, clearly embedded in his accent: A cheery, yet quiet voice which borders both Australian and British, but isn't here nor there. He's a bit of a block-head, both literally and figuratively, and carries a mostly lanky bodily frame, save for his gut. His skin is slightly tanned due to all his time in Australia, going out into the sun and getting burned for it, though this compliments his otherwise pale body rather than detracts from it. [/indent][/indent] [color=plum][h3][u][b] PSYCHOLOGY [/b][/u][/h3][/color] [i]"Those eyes... Whose are they?"[/i] [indent][indent][indent] [color=plum][b]MAIN GOAL ⫻[/b][/color] Gregory wants one thing, and one thing only: Atonement. He wants to be set free from the burden of his past and be able to say one day, with confidence, that he's made up for everything he did. He's going to keep living so he can find the woman of the past which he broke, tortured for years and years, and almost left for dead. And once he finds her, years from now, he's going to ask her forgiveness; he'll ask her what she thinks of him now that he's changed. But that goal is a long, long way away... [color=plum][b]PHILOSOPHY ⫻[/b][/color] Gregory believes in hard work more than anything. In order to achieve one's dreams, you need to put everything you have into it. It's the only part of himself he's really kept since moving to Farmer Hills, and the part of him which keeps him going forward further. He also has a lack of belief in himself, and is a little pessimistic, as though he's carrying the world on his shoulders. [color=plum][b]SECRETS ⫻[/b][/color] He bullied a particular girl back in Australia for years, without relenting. This lead to her close call with suicide, which Gregory, ironically enough, saved her from. He also doesn't like talking about his dead mother, who he will lie through his teeth about. [color=plum][b]DESIRES ⫻[/b][/color] He wants to be accepted, and to better himself as a human being. He feels Farmer Hills will provide him with a fresh start, which he can use to set things straight for himself. He also desires a world where all those he cares about don't have to suffer conflict, even if he himself must endure it for them. [color=plum][b]SEXUALITY ⫻[/b][/color] He's largely heterosexual, though has always shrugged off gay affairs. He's never tried it himself, nor watched porn of it, but feels if it were the right person, it could be possible. [color=plum][b]FEARS ⫻[/b][/color] The past, the present, and the future. Gregory is always anxious about his interactions with others, to the point where he will go out of his way to undo any wrongdoings he has done. He tells jokes like it's nobody's business, however if somebody is offended by his humor or it makes them upset, he will claim responsibility and try to help them in whatever way possible, as he fears making people feel bad. His biggest fear, however, is reliving the events of last year. His second biggest fear is blank, dead stares. [color=plum][b]REPUTATION ⫻[/b][/color] Gregory is the subject of racist comments here and there, which tends to bring about feelings of guilt, as though he's done something wrong by being who he is. Sometimes it brings back bad memories. For the most part though, Gregory is actually remembered quite fondly, mostly by the townspeople as a charismatic and outspoken individual who mans the Sucre Cafe on weekends. This is pretty consistent with those in the academy, however some people have noticed his quiet, reserved nature when there are less people around. [color=plum][b]PET PEEVES ⫻[/b][/color] Not a whole lot annoys Gregory about other people, though he certainly has a lot of self-hate. He hates whenever he's too lazy or too apathetic, unable to help someone who might need him as well as any other thing he can think of. Basically he hates himself, though oddly not in a way which makes him depressed, but rather acts as a source of self improvement, even if it is a little extreme. [color=plum][b]QUIRKS ⫻[/b][/color] Gregory has an odd tendency to get in weird poses when he's in his extroverted state, usually extending an arm out towards someone and clicking his fingers. Yes, it's weird, but he likes to think he's charming. [/indent][/indent][/indent] [color=plum][h3][u][b] BACKSTORY [/b][/u][/h3][/color] [i]"My history isn't that interesting; I basically grew up a normal child."[/i] [indent][indent]Despite what Greg might say about his past, it was anything but normal. He grew up in Sydney, his father having moved from Japan and his mother from Farmer Hills. He lost his mother when he was quite young and just starting school - a tragic mugging gone wrong which left Gregory unable to cope too well. His father wasn't a great fatherly figure, but the two got along well, and the young boy was taught many things which would help him in life. The most important of which was that hard work can make anyone's dreams come true, followed by how to make other people laugh. Gregory was a natural at making others perk up and laugh. Ever the class clown, his quick wits and above-average intelligence in his early years often got him recognition as a cool kid. He always seemed to get away with it too, able to lie through his teeth and not get told off whenever he made a joke about someone. He only ever got better with practice, seeing as his younger mind felt that lying was something most people could (and would) fall for, if you can hold a straight face. His early school years didn't involve a whole lot of drama. He just did what he did, making other people laugh and somehow get passing grades. But his high school years were something else all together... A new girl by the name of Skye Fairburn was a welcome addition to Gregory's potential targets. What was most appealing about her was that she [i]always[/i] gave the best reactions, from screaming to yelping to anything in between. It was mostly pretty harmless to begin with, actually. Gregory would pull pranks on her or mess with her stuff for a giggle or laugh. The responses she came up with were hysterical, the two going back and forth like a pair of monkeys, though only one of them was truly enjoying the situation. Greg would later wish those early years was where it stopped. But, as they do, things get worse. Skye was something of an academic genius, acing everything in the grade with diligence and excellence. Teachers thought she was a miracle from God. Greg, having been the best in class for about two years now, really didn't like being upstaged. So, he decided to knock her down a peg or two. It began as little bits of belittling and banter, however it ended up being something much darker. He began to bully her, sabotage her grades even at the sacrifice of his own, and even got physical once or twice, though thankfully these were minor occurrences. Yet the damage being done was mental rather than physical. The offset for such harassment was the sudden shift in lifestyle for Greg. His father had just lost his job, and the two were living off whatever they could just to scrape by. Little did Gregory know, Skye's mother was also laid-off for the same job at the same time, which sent Skye herself into a deep depression. Things came to a climax one day as Gregory was walking his dog by The Gap at Watson's Bay. The massive cliff-side was only ever barricaded by a waist-high mesh and metal fence, with strong waves and blunt rocks below. As Gregory came around the lighthouse, he noticed a figure he hadn't seen there before. A girl. Skye. Standing over the railing. Looking down. With a blank look on her face. About to step forward. Gregory dashed forward faster than he ever had in his life! He vaulted the small fence and grabbed whatever he could. He was lucky enough to - just barely - grab Skye by the arm, however he could barely hold on himself. One arm holding on for dear life and practically dislocated, and the other holding Skye's arm. She was shocked, barely able to process what was happening, yet her eyes... they looked so blank. So dull. He'd never seen that look before from Skye, not even when he was at his worst. Blank stares continue to haunt him to this day. Needless to say he and Skye both made it out alive, though things became complicated quickly. The two of them were sent straight to the hospital, where the truth was finally leaked about Gregory's bullying. He got his five minutes of fame, but instead of it being for something credible, it was instead for almost killing a girl. And it made Gregory feel really sick. He regretted everything he'd done up until that point, and continues to chastise himself about all he's done. He was known all across the country, and he couldn't get away. He was being harassed from it almost daily once he was discharged; people were vandalizing their property, throwing insults, and just turning the tables right around on his ass. And he knew he deserved it. He was a terrible piece of shit and he deserved it. He deserved every bit of it. But he also knew he couldn't handle it. He didn't speak to Skye after that for obvious reasons, however he did leave her a letter, saying he would be going away and that he would be "searching for the strength to apologise in America". Yes, he was running away, but he promised her he would be back a changed man, and also prayed that they would meet one day alive and well. His father had always wanted Gregory to see his mother's hometown of Farmer Hill, and Gregory needed to get away before he was culled in Australia. So he was sent off as soon as he could, which has resulted in him just recently arriving in Farmer Hill, acting as an exchange student at Grand Ridge Academy. Since he had to serve some time in prison due to his actions, Gregory is a bit older than most starting out at the Academy, though he doesn't look the part.[/indent][/indent] [color=plum][h3][u][b] SKILLS & TALENTS [/b][/u][/h3][/color] [i]"I have a certifiable lack of skills."[/i] [indent][indent][indent] [color=plum][b][Charisma] ⫻[/b][/color] Of all things Gregory could be good at, he's quite good at talking to others, making jokes, making good impressions. He's a funny guy when he wants to be, and tends to catch the eyes of the ladies. You know, like all emo-looking, funny, smart, handsome men with mysterious pasts do. [s]Gary Stu much?[/s] [color=plum][b][Quick-thinking] ⫻[/b][/color] Gregory is incredibly great at thinking on his feet, which works in any number of circumstances. Due to him being pretty intelligent, he can usually think of some way to respond to any situation, given the right amount of time. He has his moods though. [/indent][/indent][/indent] [color=plum][h3][u][b] ABSTRACTION [/b][/u][/h3][/color] [i]"Fire and ice. Sounds like me."[/i] [indent][indent] [color=plum][b]SIGIL & LOCATION ⫻[/b][/color] [url=https://i.pinimg.com/originals/21/b3/dd/21b3dd2785c96a9a8977ada5297e6366.jpg]The Japanese kanji for fire on his right shoulder[/url], [url=https://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=26154302]and the Japanese kanji for ice on his left shin[/url]. [color=plum][b]ABSTRACTION ⫻[/b][/color] Fire and Ice; simply, Gregory can create ice and fire, from his left foot and right hand respectively. [color=plum][b]ABSTRACTION DESCRIPTION ⫻[/b][/color] Gregory's ability is pretty cut-and-dry: He can summon flames with his right hand and ice with his left foot. However, the mechanism behind how he does this is a bit more complicated. To start with, Greg needs to be in the correct mindset to use either one [i]or[/i] the other power, and cannot use both at once. His ability works a bit like a magic bar in a video game, except it comes in three stages: Left, Middle, and Right. Greg's normal state is in the middle; whenever he uses his ice-based powers, the bar moves to the left, making Greg's body much, much colder. If it reaches the far left, he'll reach a freezing point, where he'll be unable to remain conscious, black out, and likely die if no source of heat is administered. The further left he goes, the more his body will become sluggish from frost and he'll exhaust himself. On the opposite side of the spectrum, if Greg uses his fire power (hehe), the bar will move to the right. Reaching the far right has the same consequences as the left, however he will need to cool down rather than heat up. Again, the further right he goes, the more dehydrated his body becomes, and the more exhausted he will be. His Abstraction can be used to go back and forth either side, and the closer he is to the center, the better. His body can naturally cool down and heat up of course, however if it lacks the resources to do so, this could be problematic. In fact the Abstraction tends to put such stress on his body that he won't be able to continue using it for any extended period of time, assuming it's at a large enough intensity. The intensity and strength of his emotions tend to tie in with his powers as well. For example, if Gregory is being cheerful, happy, joyous, and passionate, his fire ability will become stronger. If he is quiet, sad, upset or depressed, his ice ability will become stronger. Since he has no control over his emotions, he can't quite weaken the effect of his fire and ice, so whatever happens will happen. His Abstraction may be a weak dull flame; a flamethrower of fire; an ice cube from the fridge; or an iceberg from the oceans. Though he cannot control the strength of such powers, he can give them a general direction, though the ice and fire created must always originate from their respective locations. The Abstraction can shoot flames or create ice at a maximum distance of five meters, and a minimum distance of nothing at all. If Gregory isn't feeling passionate nor depressed, his Abstraction can fail to manifest, as it relies on his bipolar nature. It also has the strange ability to draw in the emotions from those within the near vicinity of the Abstraction being used, with fire drawing in explosive emotions (happiness, anger, passion) and ice drawing in colder emotions (sadness, melancholy, depression). This has no affect of Gregory, however, and instead acts to bring others back to a state of normalcy - wherever their 'Middle' is. There are a few emotions which have weird effects on his power, though. Feelings of love or intimacy tend to make his fire become uncontrollable, the same as anger would. However, subtle emotions like envy or jealousy tend to bring an icy chill to the air which Greg himself doesn't always realise is there. He still has a lot to learn about his own Abstraction, as well as what his limits actually are. The Awakened tend to take priority in the world over what he creates, and thus when there is someone he's trying to burn or freeze that is an Awakened, the flames or ice will go around them. Additionally, if they move into the fire or ice it will part for them, however the closer they are to Gregory the less likely this will happen. Unless they [i]want[/i] to be in it, though why would you want that? [color=plum][b]IN THE PRESENCE OF THE MOUNTAIN ⫻[/b][/color] Greg can easily manipulate his Abstraction, able to switch between fire and ice so to not put his body under too much pressure, though again he cannot use both at once. His range is extended to ten meters and he can create both fire and ice without needing to be in either state of mind. It also pushes his limits further out, and makes Gregory himself feel far more in control. [color=plum][b]AURA SENSING ⫻[/b][/color] When someone regrets anything they've done, Gregory will know, however his ability is, as always, a jumbled mess. He only really senses auras when it involves regret at important moments in one's life, such as regretting not taking a promotion or regretting to get a gift for a certain someone. Regardless of what it is, Gregory needs to be close enough to be able to intervene in order to sense the aura, and the auras of those he knows best tend to be the strongest. Since regrets can last a lifetime, he can sense the aura of someone for upwards of an hour, at a range of about one-hundred meters, though sometimes it will last longer or extend further if the circumstances dictate it. For example, Gregory can sense people with regret a long time if it takes a long time for him to make them no longer regret whatever they'd done in the past. However, that also means he may only sense regret for a couple of seconds before any kind of damage is done, meaning he has to be quick at identifying the person, the problem, and the solution. He has no way of knowing how long a regret will last, though, however he does know the aura of those become their most intense when there's something he can do about it. If he fails to address the regret when an aura is at its most intense, the aura fades and then nothing can be done. An aura may even flair up multiple times over an extended period, requiring him to respond in a way which will settle the regret back down, or extinguish it completely. In short, whenever he senses a lot of regret, he can sense the regretful person/s. [color=plum][b]LIMITS ⫻[/b][/color] Gregory's ability mainly allows him to create fire and ice, not exactly control it. While he can manipulate it to a small extent (more like direction it goes), after that point, he is unable to manipulate any fire or ice past that point. In addition, he is unable to manipulate any outside fire or ice. While he has a max range of five meters, after three meters, his element will begin to weaken. [color=plum][b]WEAKNESSES ⫻[/b][/color] Using either ability dehydrates Greg, as using ice draws upon his body's waters, and the heat warms his body up. Both of which can be very bad for Greg. He also isn't completely immune to his own power, and can possibly injure himself if he goes too far. Too far being giving himself frostbite or severe burns if he doesn't hold back. Gregory can also lose control if he doesn't control his emotions. He can also still be countered by the opposite element he is using. Naturally heat counters ice, and water counters fire. If exposed to one or the other, he could get cut off from his powers. He can only use his powers from his right hand and left foot, and not anywhere else, which means his flank can easily be exploited. [/indent][/indent] [color=plum][h3][u][b] OTHER [/b][/u][/h3][/color] [i]"One day I'll go back there. One day I'll apologise upfront and say how wrong I was. One day I'll be able to call myself a half-decent person. Just not today."[/i] [indent][indent]Does he seem like a Gary Stu? I saw a lack of powers that could be used during confrontations, so I tried going for something symbolic as well as useful. His aura sensing is also really powerful, though at the same time it could be specialised to single people and carry a very random element to it. If you've got any problems with it let me know! ;)[/indent][/indent] [/hider]