ONE UNIVERSE IDEAS

Below is not happening, but, one day...
[hider= The Batmen]
[CENTER][COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B]C H A R A C T E R   C O N C E P T   P R O P O S A L[/B][/COLOR][h1][b]A   D E A T H 
  I N   T H E   F A M I L Y[/b][/h1][hr]
[CENTER][img]https://i.redd.it/eos2hjl70tu31.png[/img][/CENTER]
[h3][sup][sub]D A M I A N   W A Y N E  ♦   T I M   D R A K E  ♦  J A S O N   T O D D  ♦   D I C K   G R A Y S O N  ♦   B A R B A R A   G O R D O N[/sub][/sup][/h3][img][/img]
[/CENTER][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]C H A R A C T E R   C O N C E P T:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr]
[CENTER][sup]"Witty Quote"[/sup][/CENTER]
[INDENT][INDENT][i]Bruce Wayne is dead.[/i][/indent][/indent]
[INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]C H A R A C T E R   M O T I V A T I O N S   &   G O A L S:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][INDENT][INDENT][i]Why do you want to play this character, what is the driving motivation behind both this desire and the character themselves. What do you hope to accomplish and where do you want the character's story/stories to go?[/i][/indent][/indent]
[INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]C H A R A C T E R   N O T E S:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][INDENT][INDENT][i]Any additional notes you want to put either for yourself, the GM's or other players to help clarify your vision or continuity.[/i][/indent][/indent]
[INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]S A M P L E   P O S T:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][INDENT][INDENT][i]A sample post that can be used in the IC if you so desire upon acceptance. This post should provide an example of your vision for the desired character. This sample post should meet all standards outline in the rules and additionally include dialogue, mannerisms and other actions representative of your intended portrayal.[/i][/indent][/indent]
[INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]P O S T   C A T A L O G:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][INDENT][INDENT][i]A list linking to your IC posts as they're created. This can be used for a reference guide to your character or to summarize completed arcs and stories.[/i][/indent][/indent]
[/hider]



[hider= Spidey]
[CENTER][COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B]C H A R A C T E R   C O N C E P T   P R O P O S A L[/B][/COLOR][h1][color=ROYALBLUE][b]S P I D E R - M A N [/b][/color][/h1][hr]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/NiNae8T.jpg[/img][h3][sup][sub][color=LightBlue]P E T E R   B E N J A M I N   P A R K E R   [color=ROYALBLUE]♦[/color]   S T U D E N T   [color=ROYALBLUE]♦[/color]   N E W   Y O R K   C I T Y   [color=ROYALBLUE]♦[/color]   M I D T O W N   H I G H[/color][/sub][/sup][/h3][img]IMAGE/BANNER[/img]
[/CENTER][COLOR=ROYALBLUE][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]C H A R A C T E R   C O N C E P T:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][/COLOR]
[CENTER][sup][color=ADD8E6]"... Define 'witty'?"[/color][/sup][/CENTER]
[INDENT][INDENT][i]
[hider= Original Concept]Peter Benjamin Parker was born to Richard and Mary Parker, out of an unassuming home in Queens. What would be a fairly ordinary childhood was cut short when his parents were killed in a random car accident. The other driver was never caught, but such as it is with New York City. The young Peter, only six at the time, quickly found himself in the care of his aunt and uncle, May and Ben Parker.

Peter has found himself in their care for the better part of ten years, now. Though the Parker family was never wealthy, they found their happiness in other ways -- Peter was always fascinated with little tinker toys Ben brought for him, content to fidget and experiment his days away, while Ben and May would dance in the living room to old records. It was never perfect, but Peter always found it a certain kind of idyllic. His parents' deaths were long behind him, and he took comfort in his life with Ben and May. Along the way, he made a fledgling group of friends in and around Queens: Gwen Stacy, child of a cop and a personal confidant, Harry Osborn, son a veritable super genius and still the only man alive to beat Peter at Mario Kart, and Mary Jane Watson, a girl with a fire in her heart like nothing else. Even Flash Thompson palled around with them in Elementary School, but he'd grown to be something of a bully in recent years. Peter always knew that High School changed people, but he never really found out how much until the day of the Oscorp field trip.

Thanks to some wheedling from the Osborn heir apparent, a school field trip brought Peter's entire sophomore class for a day at Oscorp Industries. They were touring the genetics lab, but anyone who was anyone knew what Oscorp was really interested in; an extra-planetary substance that seemed somehow capable of enhancing whatever it was applied to. It was largely inert, but the substance did seem to move on its own troublingly often. Such behavior was chalked up to residual static discharge by Oscorp Weapons Mechanics, an error in judgment they would come to regret. On the day of the field trip, the substance gathered enough energy to breach containment and escape into the wider world, riding whatever host it deemed appropriate. As the visitors from Midtown High were being evacuated amid the breach, Peter spotted an unusually large, black arachnid, not of any species known to him. Concluding the spider must be playing host to the escaped creature, Peter attempted to capture and return it. He reached for it, and --

Peter awoke the next day in his bedroom, Aunt May and Uncle Ben at either side. He'd suddenly collapsed at Oscorp, evidently from stress, and was brought straight back home. The following weeks were full of revelations for Peter -- he found he had enhanced strength, speed, and even the ability to shoot webbing from his wrists or crawl on walls. On top of it all, he'd gained the ability to seemingly transform the clothes on his body to any shape he desired. Somehow, he'd gained the abilities of a spider and more, and he wasn't about to let them go to waste. It was about time the Parkers had another source of income. A three-match wrestling career as "The Black Spider" was cut short when Peter allowed an armed robber to flee the arena. The man had an armful of cash stolen from the Tournament Organizer who refused Peter what he was owed, suspecting he had stacked the deck by being a "metahuman". Once allowed him to get away, the man shot his Uncle Ben in a carjacking; nearly fatally, too. Ben suffered permanent spinal damage. Doctors suspected he'd never walk again, and none of them could tell Peter anything useful that he could do. So he decided to make his own way, and hunt down the man who shot his Uncle, as... THE INDOMITABLE SPIDER-MAN![/hider]

In a continuation of a previous game, The Indomitable Spider-Man is on the hunt. Bit by bit, Peter's world is settling into a boil. Obligations with Gwen and Doctor Connors' Lab are piling up, Michael Morbius is only getting sicker from his encounter with Peter's suit, Uncle Ben is pressuring him even more at home as The Daily Bugle publishes more and more hit pieces, and the Enforcers have arrived on the scene, hellbent on stopping Peter from putting an end to Tombstone -- not to mention the decidedly confusing signals he's been getting from Liz Allan... Every day his costume weighs on his mind, as Peter waits for the chance to be enveloped in its darkness and become Spider-Man once more. Peter is ready to assault the Thompson Memorial Hospital and come out on the other side with Uncle Ben's shooter in hand. But sinister forces lie in wait for our young hero...

[/i][/indent][/indent]
[COLOR=ROYALBLUE][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]C H A R A C T E R   M O T I V A T I O N S   &   G O A L S:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][/COLOR][INDENT][INDENT][i][hider=Absolute Comics Season 1]My Peter is very different from the vanilla version. He's got the symbiote suit to start, and his Uncle Ben isn't dead, at least not yet. This is a Peter who hasn't quite gotten "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility" through his head yet, and is hell-bent on bringing the man that shot his Uncle to justice, by any means necessary. On top of it all, he's very, very green to his job and has no idea what he's doing.

To be clear, these changes aren't made to have an angstier or edgier Peter, though there will be a sprig of that as is the nature of the symbiote. I want to tell a story about a struggling Peter, his family is sinking in debt under Hospital bills, he's unraveling the case of his Uncle's shooting while contesting a Police Department that refuses to work with him, all while dealing with the trials and tribulations of High School. This will be a story about Peter being pushed to his limitations and confronting them, a story about family and expectations, and above all else, a story about what Great Responsibility really means. He's going to make a lot of bad choices, and be thoroughly punished for them, to force him to truly become The Indomitable Spider-Man.

In terms of my grander aspirations, I'm certainly starting Peter in the black suit for a reason. In time, the symbiote will come to tinge everything Peter touches. His life, his work, his villains, and especially those closest to him. This version of Spider-Man will eventually take heavy horror cues, showing a Spider-Man on the run from an encroaching array of symbiote-enhanced villains coming for his head, and secretly infecting those closest to him. Peter won't know who he can trust, and he needs to stay on his toes at every moment. He's just a kid that's been thrust into this terrifying body-horror situation with an alien being that has literally fused to his body, and this run will explore the consequences of that.[/hider]
[hider= Season 2]
The Indomitable Spider-Man will not be defeated! The explosive events of Season One were fairly quiet for Spider-Man, but things are starting to heat up in the face of new foes. Tracking Uncle Ben's shooter has forced Peter to come face to face with a deadly squad of Enforcers, high-rent superpowered mercenaries, who have their sights set on Peter's head. Their boss, the mysterious Tombstone, lurks in the shadows.

Peter got beaten down pretty hard last season, and he's got an anger building in his belly that makes him more than ready to fight back. Last game my productivity fell off due to assorted school responsibilities, but my schedule now is looking clearer than ever -- which means its time for Spider-Man to return to form. I've got a lot planned for our favorite arachnid, but it'll be a slow burn. Now, with the Enforcers on the scene, things are set to start heating up for Peter -- supervillains are becoming a serious threat for our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, and Uncle Ben's shooter seems to be slipping away faster by the moment. Will Peter and the suit be able to keep his head? Will he survive the onslaught of the Enforcers? Only time will tell.[/hider]

I realize it's kind of a big ask to be asking to continue an arc/character from a previous game, especially one as hotly contested as Spider-Man, but I care enough about this story that I thought I might as well try. I've had this black suit story cooking in my head for a few years at this point, and I'd like to see it through to completion if at all possible. I think my Spider-Man has a good core to him -- Spidey is usually a character who, for all his troubles, is ultimately set on his mission, ans guided by his central mantra. But my Peter still hasn't figured all of that out yet. He's confused and lost and angry, and beset by villains and troubles on all sides as an alien living in his skin begins to corrupt his mind. Unfortunately, I ended last time at the point where my story really started to hit the gas. But that means in this game I can lunch right into bombastic supervillain fights, showdowns with enigmatic crime bosses, and heart-to-hearts with Pete's dear old Uncle Ben. Thank you for your consideration.
[/i][/indent][/indent]
[COLOR=ROYALBLUE][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]C H A R A C T E R   N O T E S:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][/COLOR][INDENT][INDENT][i][hider= Supporting Cast]
[b]Ben Parker:[/b] Peter's Uncle. Ben's always been a father figure to Peter, trying to instill him with his values, but still letting the kid be a kid. He's been one of the biggest enablers for Peter's love of science. He's currently paralyzed from the waist down, and needs a hell of a lot of rest.

[b]May Parker:[/b] Peter's Aunt. The old lady's always been a little coddling for Peter's taste, but her heart's in the right place. She's been a greater partner to Ben and a great mother figure for Peter over the years, but she does occasionally have a tendency to clutch her pearls.

[b]Gwen Stacy:[/b] One of Peter's closest friends in the world, and one of the most vocal supporters of Spider-Man, despite her Police Captain father's protests. Gwen's always been a science geek like him, but she ended up getting more into the arts and activism than he ever did. She's the drummer in MJ's band, The Mary Janes.

[b]Mary Jane Watson:[/b] One of Peter's closest friends. She comes from a bad home, and she's got an anti-establishment streak a mile wide. Harry's girlfriend. Singer, Frontwoman, and Lead Guitarist of The Mary Janes.

[b]Harry Osborn:[/b] Son of Norman Osborn and aspiring coder. He doesn't have the head for it, but he wants to make his Dad proud, and maybe use it to make games on the side or something. Also, one of Peter's closest friends, although he can be brash at times, he's always right there when you need him.

[b]Glory Grant:[/b] Guitarist of The Mary Janes. Peter isn't very close to her, but she's a friend to MJ and Gwen. She's got the skinny on Flash Thompson's whole deal, and Peter finds it entertaining to listen to every now and again.

[b]Betty Brant:[/b] Bassist of The Mary Janes. Peter was never very close to her, but she's a friend to MJ and Gwen. She's very close with Glory. She doesn't seem it on the surface, but she's got a thing for Death Metal.

[b]Flash Thompson:[/b] Six feet of raw muscle and not an ounce of sense to fill that head of his. He's the QB of the Midtown High Football team, which he thinks gives him the right to lord over everyone at the school. He tends to pick on Peter more than other kids, Peter thinks its because he still remembers the story of the time Flash pissed himself in the 6th grade.

[b]Liz Allan:[/b] Flash Thompson's girlfriend and aspiring journalist -- Liz's trajectory is slowly aligning with Peter's, in ways neither teenager realize.

[b]Doctor Curt Connors:[/b] One of Peter's idols, a brilliant geneticist, chemical engineer, and biologist working out of his labs at Empire State University. Peter and Gwen were lucky enough to score an internship with him. He's abandoned most of his lizard-research in exchange for a stem cell-based design co-authored by Michael Morbius.

[b]Doctor Martha Connors:[/b] Lab assistant and wife to Curt Connors, but a brilliant geneticist in her own right.

[b]Michael Morbius:[/b] One of the Connors' closest lab assistants. Peter had a run-in with him in costume, when Morbius was unexpectedly sneaking around the good Doctor's lab. Peter's suit reacted to him and hit him with something Peter couldn't rightly identify, and things only seem to be getting worse for the Markovian scientist.

[b]J. Jonah Jameson:[/b] Local News editor at the Daily Bugle working his way to Editor-In-Chief. JJ hasn't caught wind of the Spider-Man yet, but Peter's more than seen some of his work in the papers; he seems at least a little competent.[/hider]

[hider= Enemies]
[b]Tombstone:[/b] An enigmatic mob boss known only in whispers to Peter's ears. What little Peter can piece together is that he's the head honcho in New York, and that he's hired a gang of Enforcers to get in Spider-Man's way...

[b]The Enforcers:[/b] A three-man squad of metahuman goons rented out from Enforcers Inc., a 'security' company dedicated to providing mercenaries to crime lords. In Peter's case, he's run afoul of Megawatt, Speed Demon, and Kangaroo, who are all dead set on turning him into a Spider-themed stain on the ground.
[/hider]

[hider= Changes from Absolute Canon]
Though the old posts will remain unedited, the following are the lists of changes made to comply with the new vision of the universe.
[/hider][/i][/indent][/indent]
[COLOR=ROYALBLUE][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]S E A S O N   O N E   S Y N O P S I S:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][/COLOR][INDENT][INDENT]
[/indent][indent]
[i]SPIDER-MAN: THE DISTANCE
The Story So Far...

A lab accident at a New York-based Oscorp Facility has imbued Peter Parker with powers beyond his wildest dreams, and a black costume that bends to his will. After an attempt to use his newfound abilities to make money goes awry, Peter's Uncle Ben is shot, leaving the gunman on the lose and his Uncle in critical condition.

Desprate for answers, Peter uses his newfound abilities to become the one, the only, Indomitable Spider-Man, and launches on a tear through the city. His exploits lead him into encounters with news editor J. Jonah Jameson, elements of the NYPD, a full SWAT deployment, and even members of the X-Men. But with a new lead in hand, Spider-Man made his way to the Thompsom Memorial Hospital, where he encountered The Enforcers, a deadly squad of mercenaries intent on protecting their boss's interests.

After licking his wounds, Peter is more than ready to launch an assault on the Hospital, and show The Enforcers just what he's made of...[/i]
[/indent][/indent]
[COLOR=1E90FF][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]P O S T   C A T A L O G:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][/COLOR][INDENT][INDENT][i]
[hider= Issues]
[b][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cno20onK9dY]SPIDER-MAN: THE DISTANCE[/url][/b]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4862827]Issue 0[/url]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4867189]Issue 1[/url]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4868090]Issue 2[/url]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4869389]Issue 3[/url]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4871866]Issue 4[/url]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4874757]Issue 5[/url]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4875769]Issue 6[/url]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4878186]Issue 7[/url]
[hider=X-Men Crossover]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4878296]Issue #1[/url]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4890306]Issue #2[/url]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4890972]Issue #3[/url]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4895107]Issue #4[/url]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4895124]Issue #5[/url]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4895399]Issue #6[/url]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4895978]Issue #7[/url]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4897132]Issue #8[/url]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4897394]Issue #9[/url]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4901486]Issue #10[/url]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4904025]Issue #11[/url]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4904786]Issue #12[/url]
[/hider]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4909023]Issue #8[/url]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4912668]Issue #9[/url]
[hider=Crisis 1]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4915703]Issue #1[/url]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4925177]Issue #2[/url]
[/hider]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4963905]Issue #10[/url]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5003817]Issue #11[/url]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5040992]Issue #12[/url]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5091060]Issue #13[/url]
[/hider][/i][/indent][/indent]
[/hider]



[hider= A Vigilante for a brave new world]
[CENTER][COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B]C H A R A C T E R   C O N C E P T   P R O P O S A L[/B][/COLOR][h1][b]V I G I L A N T E[/b][/h1][hr]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/6wrS8MI.jpg[/img][h3][sup][sub]A D R I A N   C H A S E  ♦   S T U D E N T  ♦  T R A V E L[/sub][/sup][/h3][img][/img]
[/CENTER][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]C H A R A C T E R   C O N C E P T:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr]
[CENTER][sup]"Witty Quote"[/sup][/CENTER]
[INDENT][INDENT][i]This is where you outline your vision for the character including any notable changes or differences from the regularly accepted canon. This should be a short summary that provides insight into where the character is in terms of their overall progress and development.[/i][/indent][/indent]
[INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]C H A R A C T E R   M O T I V A T I O N S   &   G O A L S:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][INDENT][INDENT][i]Why do you want to play this character, what is the driving motivation behind both this desire and the character themselves. What do you hope to accomplish and where do you want the character's story/stories to go?[/i][/indent][/indent]
[INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]C H A R A C T E R   N O T E S:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][INDENT][INDENT][i]Any additional notes you want to put either for yourself, the GM's or other players to help clarify your vision or continuity.[/i][/indent][/indent]
[INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]S A M P L E   P O S T:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][INDENT][INDENT][i]A sample post that can be used in the IC if you so desire upon acceptance. This post should provide an example of your vision for the desired character. This sample post should meet all standards outline in the rules and additionally include dialogue, mannerisms and other actions representative of your intended portrayal.[/i][/indent][/indent]
[INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]P O S T   C A T A L O G:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][INDENT][INDENT][i]A list linking to your IC posts as they're created. This can be used for a reference guide to your character or to summarize completed arcs and stories.[/i][/indent][/indent]
[/hider]



[hider= the super secret idea that won't work]
[CENTER][COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B]C H A R A C T E R   C O N C E P T   P R O P O S A L[/B][/COLOR][h1][b]J O J O[/b][/h1][hr]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/mlnevXv.png[/img][h3][sup][sub]J O S U K E   H I G A SH I K A T A  ♦   W A N D E R E R  ♦  M O R I O H , M . A .[/sub][/sup][/h3][img][/img]
[/CENTER][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]C H A R A C T E R   C O N C E P T:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr]
[CENTER][sup]"Witty Quote"[/sup][/CENTER]
[INDENT][INDENT][i]This is where you outline your vision for the character including any notable changes or differences from the regularly accepted canon. This should be a short summary that provides insight into where the character is in terms of their overall progress and development.[/i][/indent][/indent]
[INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]C H A R A C T E R   M O T I V A T I O N S   &   G O A L S:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][INDENT][INDENT][i]Why do you want to play this character, what is the driving motivation behind both this desire and the character themselves. What do you hope to accomplish and where do you want the character's story/stories to go?[/i][/indent][/indent]
[INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]C H A R A C T E R   N O T E S:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][INDENT][INDENT][i]Any additional notes you want to put either for yourself, the GM's or other players to help clarify your vision or continuity.[/i][/indent][/indent]
[INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]S A M P L E   P O S T:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][INDENT][INDENT][i]A sample post that can be used in the IC if you so desire upon acceptance. This post should provide an example of your vision for the desired character. This sample post should meet all standards outline in the rules and additionally include dialogue, mannerisms and other actions representative of your intended portrayal.[/i][/indent][/indent]
[INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]P O S T   C A T A L O G:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][INDENT][INDENT][i]A list linking to your IC posts as they're created. This can be used for a reference guide to your character or to summarize completed arcs and stories.[/i][/indent][/indent]
[/hider]



[hider= Batman heavy WIP]
[CENTER][COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B]C H A R A C T E R   C O N C E P T   P R O P O S A L[/B][/COLOR][h1][b]B A T M A N 
  I N C O R P O R A T E D[/b][/h1][hr]
[img]https://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/0/40/2012493-bminc_lev1_jsadfhklasd6f8as98df6245kjhsdf.jpeg[/img][h3][sup][sub]B R U C E   W A Y N E  ♦   C E O   O F   W A Y N E   E N T E R P R I S E S  ♦  G O T H A M   C I T Y[/sub][/sup][/h3][img][/img]
[/CENTER][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]C H A R A C T E R   C O N C E P T:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr]
[CENTER][sup]"Witty Quote"[/sup][/CENTER]
[INDENT][INDENT][i]Almost fifty years ago, two ringing gunshots in the rainy, cold black of an unassuming alley would go on to change the world. For the better, some might say, sacrificing but two in exchange for the greatest hero Gotham City had ever known. Others say the death of Thomas and Martha Wayne has has only made things harder and stranger, letting new breeds of criminal fester in the city, and depriving Gotham of her last, best hope at leaping forward into a brave new world. But, with the efforts of their son, Gotham may just have a chance.

Gotham's streets have known the legend of The Batman for some-odd thirty-five years; they have known his blood and his sweat, the sweeping black of his cape, the glow of his symbol in the sky, and the blinding fury of his rage. Trained under countless masters in the Far East and pushed through endless trials, Gotham's first son forged himself into something new. No longer a mere orphan, but a weapon of devastating power, a cruel reminder of what Gotham lost that night in the rain. But this is the Batman of days gone by. A younger man, heart twisted by senseless violence into something even those closest to him would not recognize.

The Bat grew as the city did, calming with the years, settling into a new normal. From urban myth to vigilante to hero, and everything inbetween. His campaign against Gotham's criminal element has slowly morphed into something more, no longer a boy's struggle for vengenace, but a battle of hearts and minds, hopes and dreams: security for the next generation, lessons for each of his sons to wear the mantle of Robin, his faithful boy sidekick.

Since the emergence of the Superman, Batman has been preparing for the end: the day he can hang up his cowl and watch the sun set on an unwatched city knowing, for the first time, that it would be safe without him. To this end, he has established the so-called Batman Incorporated, dedicated to training gifted youngsters and up-and-comers the ways of The Batman, passing on the tutelage he recieved all those years ago to a new, extended class of proteges.

But something lurks in the back of Bruce's mind, the same paranoia that his festered within the very heart of Batman since the night in the alley. Something is changing in Gotham -- whispers of monsters and owls in the streets, talk of mutant gangs, and a new kind of unrestrained police force. Word of something that is hunting his students. The Batman may need a few more long nights, after all...[/i][/indent][/indent]
[INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]C H A R A C T E R   M O T I V A T I O N S   &   G O A L S:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][INDENT][INDENT][i]For most of my life now, I think we've been getting a different Batman from the one that lives in my heart. The last twenty-odd years of Batman movies have featured a dark, violent vigilante that exacts cruel vengeance on anyone who dares to cross him. I like this Batman, to be sure, and I think it's a wonderful version of the character, but I also think this is a rare opportunity to bring something else to the table.

My Batman is older, and has learned over the years that while scars will leave their marks, they can heal -- especially with a little help from your friends. This is a Batman who wants to be Gotham's protector before he wants to be her 'dark avenger', and a Batman who is getting old enough that the game might be a little more about training the next generation and a little less about making sure to squeeze into the Batsuit every night. I want to write a Batman that has a little more heart to him, one with a storied history and a list of rogues as long as his arm, a long history to reckon with, and a solid troupe of Robins and heroes to help get him through it all.[/i][/indent][/indent]
[INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]C H A R A C T E R   N O T E S:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][INDENT][INDENT][i]
[hider= Supporting Cast]
[/hider][/i][/indent][/indent]
[INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]S A M P L E   P O S T:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][INDENT][INDENT]
[hider= Sample]Bruce took his sake warm, in Dad’s old whiskey glass. At this point it had been Bruce’s for a decade or so more than it had been Thomas’. But Bruce still caught himself thinking of it that way, Dad’s class, half filled with shimmering bronze that disappeared beyond his lips in measured sips, just enough to calm the nerves and steady the hands. Bruce would think about how it looked on his return from Japan all those years ago, rimmed in dust and looking back at him sadly through the sharp angles of the glass, untouched and uncleaned by Bruce’s own orders. But that was the past.

Still: his glass or not, [i]clean[/i] or not, the best manufacturers in the world evidently still hadn’t managed to make sake that went down as smooth Yoru-Sensei’s. Old man never did like to write anything down -- apparently recipes least of all. Bruce supposed that was the one thing he’d admonish his old teacher for, if he ever came back from the other side of the veil: [i]you should have left us something to remember you by.[/i] Instead all that Yoru left was a burnt dojo and a class of disillusioned students wondering what went wrong. But this, too, was the past.

This was now: Jim Gordon making his way across the Persian Rug back from the wet bar, holding his gimlet in one hand and steadying his horn-rimmed glasses with another. The scars and bruises and bullets of the years hadn’t done much to shake him. He was still the same old Jim, a little grayer than he used to be, but he still had the same set to his jaw, no matter how many times some crook had gotten the better of him and broken it.

“Sake?” Bruce offered as Jim lowered himself into his seat. He waved Bruce off.

“I’m good.” Jim set his glass on a coaster. He pushed his glasses up from the nose, the blue of his eyes had dulled with age, but they still retained their focus, arcing across Bruce’s features like a searchlight. “Thank you for having me, Bruce. I know you’ve been busy -- all these kids running around...”

“These days I can afford to make time for an old friend. The boys have a handle on things.” Bruce poured himself another glass. “What brings you my way?”

Jim took a long swallow from his drink and then turned his eyes down on it, watching the ice cubes float and bob in the glass. He looked back to Bruce, “just checking up,” he smoothed his mustache with one hand, settling in his seat, “it’s been a while since [i]we’ve[/i] talked. Usually I only get the other guy.”

“Hrm,” Bruce tipped up his glass, letting the warm wash into his belly, still focusing on Jim. How the other man’s shoes tapped against the carpet, how he fingered the rim of his glass.

“You hear from Dick much?” Jim asked. Bruce shook his head.

“I get Christmas cards. You know how they are, at his age,” Bruce said. Some part of him wished he really did get the cards, at least. To get some indication of what his boy was up to in his own words, instead of just the whispers Bruce scraped from the S.H.I.E.L.D servers.

“Always too busy for a phone call,” Jim nodded.

“The same with Barbara, I take it?” Bruce set his glass aside and leaned back in his chair, looking out to the stretches of Gotham winking at him in the distance, beyond the ceiling-high windows of Wayne Manor that cast the house’s light across Bruce’s clipped lawn. Jim’s glass clinked against the table.

“You probably get to talk to her more than I do,” Jim said. Bruce caught the edge in his voice and let the silence sit between them for a moment, keeping his eyes out on the city, tracing out her belfries and alleys in his mind, wondering in which ones his proteges lurked, completing their rotations for the night. Jim probably did the same for Barbara, staring at the stars.

“Managing the Watchtower keeps her just as busy as Dick, I’m afraid.” Bruce said.

“I always thought she was happier as Batgirl,” Jim said, “not up there on that station, looking down on all of us.” Jim put his hands together, squeezing them. Bruce looked back.

“Why are you here, Jim? We’re both too old to this dance.”

Jim closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose with both hands. “When this started, when [i]Batman[/i] started, it was just us and Harvey against the world. Against the Falcones, the Maronis, Cobblepot, even the old Commissioner. Do you remember what we wanted?”

“To save the city,” Bruce said simply. Jim was wound up into himself, muscles tight, with a together expression on his face, lips strained and eyes pressed.

“We wanted [i]accountability[/i], Bruce. A world where cops like Loeb couldn’t take dirty money under the table and let the families run loose. And what do we have now?” Jim leaned forward, Bruce could smell the gin and lime on his breath.

“We wanted [i]safety[/i], Jim. A world where Babs and Jim Jr. wouldn’t have to worry about the gangs, the drugs, the violence,” Bruce began.

“So instead they have to worry about the Justice League hanging over their heads, and a Batman in every neighborhood? It-it’s not right,” Jim shook his head and he stood, pushing back from his chair, “Batman used to be a-a nightmare, a story we made to scare every crooked cop straight. A threat, not a plan. It was never supposed to be [i]this[/i], an unchecked army in your basement.”

Bruce stood, carefully, rising to face Jim, meeting the burning blue beneath his gray caterpillar eyebrows. Bruce felt the register of his voice step backwards, Batman’s voice clawing its way forward from his throat. “What’s the alternative, Gordon? Letting Loeb fester in his filth? You built this right along with us.”

“Jesus, Bruce. We need… We need [i]reform[/i], checks and balances… I don’t know. Harvey always knew the policy. He wouldn’t have wanted this. Big Brother in the sky, a cape on every corner that can do whatever he damn well pleases --”

“Why don’t you head down to Arkham and ask Harvey for his answer?” Bruce caught himself growling, feeling the pressure build in his chest. He fought it down, forcing his shoulders back and making his eyes stay on Jim, calm, level. Jim shrugged his shoulders, and turned, heading for the huge oaken doors on the far side of the Manor. He sighed.

“Maybe I will. I’m going to have a lot of free time.” Jim said. The gears turned in Bruce’s head. Free time?

Jim reached the coat rack by the door, and slipped his arms into his overcoat. He grabbed his hat, the same one he’d held onto since Bruce met him, an old brown trilby finally starting to be pocked with holes.

“I built all this with you, Bruce, but I can’t just sit by this anymore… But I’m too old to fight it. I’m stepping back as Commissioner. You’re the first to know,” Jim said. He took the knob in his hands and pulled, sending the main doors creaks all through the house. Jim sat his hat on his head.

“Stop this, while you still can. And take care of yourself. Give the kids my best.” Jim didn’t look back as he stepped out of Wayne Manor. Bruce watched Gordon as he went, heard his footfalls echoing down the drive as the door moaned shut behind him. 
[/hider][/indent][/indent]
[INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]P O S T   C A T A L O G:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][INDENT][INDENT][i]A list linking to your IC posts as they're created. This can be used for a reference guide to your character or to summarize completed arcs and stories.[/i][/indent][/indent]
[/hider]