[CENTER][color=gray][SUp][I]From Gotham, with Love[/i][/sup][/color]
[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]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/ckFupKT.png[/img]
[hr][img]https://i.imgur.com/r9w9FVk.png[/img][hr][img]https://i.imgur.com/ZaOWVCR.gif[/img][/CENTER][COLOR=285882][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3][COLOR=141016] C H A R A C T E R   C O N C E P T:[/COLOR]
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=285882]"Whenever someone's asked what powers they wish they had, flying is always at the top of the list. But I have to admit, I've learned to love falling too."[/color][SUP][SUP][H3][COLOR=141016]  DICK GRAYSON[/COLOR]
[COLOR=SILVER]DICK GRAYSON[/COLOR][/H3][/SUP][/SUP][/sup][/CENTER]
[COLOR=GRAY][INDENT][INDENT][i]Like his mentor, Gotham's Batman, Richard John 'Dick' Grayson lost his parents at a young age. John and Mary Grayson were the casualties of an extortion plot against Haly's Circus, a travelling company that acted both as Dick's home and extended family. With their deaths, Dick was placed into Gotham's foster system before being taken as the ward to Bruce Wayne. Wayne, who had witnessed the death of the boy's parents, felt a kindred spirit within Dick and sought to ensure the boy had a better life than he ever did after the deaths of his own parents. However, fate took a different path when Dick eventually uncovered the billionaire's secret life as Gotham's Dark Knight. Training under Bruce, Dick became the costumed vigilante known as Robin and fought alongside the Batman against Gotham's worst.

Then came Superman, and everything changed. The appearance of the Man of Steel was a catalyst for metahumans alike. Where the streets of Gotham had previously only feared the mafiosos, it was suddenly home to a new breed of supervillain. To Dick, it felt that the world had changed overnight, and it began to alter his perspective on Bruce's war. Over the next year, the differences between the two built to a boiling point, and it eventually exploded when Dick began to attend college at Columbia University, splitting his time between Gotham and New York. Feeling as though Dick was no longer interested nor loyal to his cause, Bruce began to act coldly towards his ward, and in return, Dick continued to pull away from his mentor. His time away from Gotham allowed for his nostalgia and naivety towards their vigilante activities to fall away as Dick realized nothing in Gotham ever truly changed despite their efforts. 

Advancing through his college, Dick continued to focus more and more on his future and less on his time in Gotham. Taking a deliberate interest in law enforcement, Dick began to look into some of the country's best agencies. Originally intending to join the Gotham Police Department and make a change from within, that all changed when he was scouted by S.H.I.E.L.D. and approached by Amanda Waller. Waller knew of Dick's previous nocturnal activities and insisted he'd be the perfect candidate. Graduating from Columbia with honours, Dick was immediately put through S.H.I.E.L.D.'s training academy and continued to prove himself to be a prime candidate. No matter was S.H.I.E.L.D. threw at him, Bruce's training regiment had been more intensive.

Leaving the academy to transition into fieldwork, Dick was assigned by Waller to the tutelage of Senior Special Agent Clint Barton and his unit. No sooner had Dick boarded Barton's Zephyr, then did the unit receive an assignment from Deputy Director Maria Hill. S.H.I.E.L.D. had found a pattern between a series of murders carried out against several officials around the globe. The method of operation was the same between each killing and furthermore matched that of one allegedly belonging to an ancient conspiracy known only as the Parliament of Owls. At the very least, Dick and his unit are to stop the killer and uncover whether there is any truth to these rumours or merely a deranged mind acting on old folktales.[/i][/indent][/indent][/COLOR]
[COLOR=285882][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3][COLOR=141016] 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:[/COLOR]
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][COLOR=GRAY][INDENT][INDENT][i]Anyone who knows me, knows that Dick Grayson is my favourite character, so it's only natural that I want to play him. He's a character I know and understand well and have always found to be relatable. However, instead of playing him in his Robin years, or instead of making another attempt at a Year One Nightwing in Blüdhaven, I decided to try my hand at something different. Despite it being a controversial move on D.C.'s part and one I wasn't necessarily initially open to, I did end up enjoying Dick Grayson's run as an Agent of Spyral. Rather than introduce yet another spy organization into this 'One Universe' R.P., I thought I'd make Dick an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. I want to tell a story of a Dick Grayson who has become disillusioned with the revolving doors on Blackgate Prison and Arkham Asylum and instead wants to take a legitimate path in law enforcement. To this end, his skills make him suited for S.H.I.E.L.D., who are aware of his past as Robin (or at least key figures like Waller are). 

I feel telling a story with Dick in S.H.I.E.L.D. allows for him to trot the globe and show up for collaborations that he otherwise would have been locked out of, and it also allows him to go toe to toe with the international Parliament of Owls. Likewise, down the road, he could work alongside characters like Captain America or other government-sanctioned heroes. Long term, I would like to transition Dick towards the Nightwing identity, but that's not an immediate goal. Instead, I want to tell hybrid superhero/super spy stories focusing on Dick coming into his own as both a man and an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.[/i][/indent][/indent][/COLOR]
[COLOR=285882][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3][COLOR=141016] C H A R A C T E R   N O T E S:[/COLOR]
C H A R A C T E R   N O T E S:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][/COLOR][COLOR=GRAY][INDENT][INDENT][i]I know traditionally this is where we'd put a long list of characters that we want to use as N.P.C.s and then act all catty when someone else dares apply for them or try to claim them for their own. But realistically, we also always talk about how these games need more collaboration and to that end, instead of laying absolute claim to characters, I'm instead going to talk about the characters I would like to feature in my story. [color=silver][b]BATMAN[/b][/color] is a massive part of Dick's backstory, and no, I never intend for him to be an N.P.C. that I can control. Still, I would appreciate the cooperation of a Batman player in keeping my backstory as unaltered as possible and having them guest feature in collaboration and other arcs. [color=silver][b]HAWKEYE[/b][/color], I understand, is an Avenger, but I love the similarities to Dick's backstory in his own and would love to N.P.C. him as Dick's S.H.I.E.L.D. mentor, but I do understand if he's too big of a name for that to happen. I'll make changes if that's the case. [color=silver][b]AMANDA WALLER[/b][/color] is also name-dropped through my sheet, and I'd like to keep her impact as well, but she could be exchanged for [color=silver][b]NICK FURY[/b][/color] or even [color=silver][b]MARIA HILL[/b][/color], who I've also mentioned.

Other characters I'd like to interact with include [color=silver][b]BLACK WIDOW[/b][/color] and Bobbi Morse, aka [color=silver][b]MOCKINGBIRD[/b][/color]. [color=silver][b]SUPERMAN[/b][/color] is definitely a crossover I'll be angling for eventually. In terms of villains, for the time being, I'll be relying heavily on the [color=silver][b]PARLIAMENT OF OWLS[/b][/color], so I'm hoping the Batman player won't have an issue with surrendering them from their [s]massive[/s] rogue gallery. If I maintain sole control of Clint, I'll be factoring in some of his rogues as well. 

In terms of love interests, I'll be drawing on more obscure references from Dick's history as I anticipate both [color=silver][b]BARBARA GORDON[/b][/color] and [color=silver][b]KORIAND'R[/b][/color] being popular. Not that I'm against hashing out a history between either or even collaborating/referencing them, but that'll depend on their player(s) and the game's history, pending things like the [color=silver][b]TITANS[/b][/color]. Overall, I'll solidify this a bit more once the I.C. gets rolling.[/i][/indent][/indent][/COLOR]
[COLOR=285882][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3][COLOR=141016] S A M P L E   P O S T:[/COLOR]
S A M P L E   P O S T:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][/COLOR][COLOR=GRAY][INDENT][INDENT][i]A stilted silence fell over the cave as Dick glared towards Bruce, an outstretched arm pointing towards the image of a younger boy on the screen. It had only been a week since Amanda Waller had approached him regarding an opportunity to work with S.H.I.E.L.D., he had still been mulling it over. Foolishly he had hoped he could talk to Bruce about; in hindsight, Dick had no idea why he thought Bruce would even entertain the conversation. 

[COLOR=285882]"Who is he, Bruce?"[/color] Dick yelled, anger practically seething from every ounce of his being while he continued to raise an accusatory finger towards the figure on the screen wearing his former costume. [COLOR=285882]"Did I truly let you down so badly that you found a replacement? Were you just going to take me out in the Batmobile and dump me on the side of the road like some stray puppy who had finally grown into an ugly dog?"[/color]

The dark and stoic knight remained completely unphased in the face of Dick's outburst whilst he carefully manufactured an inoculation against Crane's newest fear toxin. Perhaps it was Bruce's nonchalance towards Dick's anger or the fact he always hated when Bruce ignored him. Instead of displaying a single emotion, Bruce brushed it off with a scowl, a narrowing of his eyes or just silence. It drove Dick insane when he was thirteen, and it still did so at twenty-two.  

[COLOR=285882]"I haven't even accepted the offer that you no doubt already know about? We could have talked about this; I could have still worked with you, just in a different capacity. S.H.I.E.L.D. is an opportunity for me to become my own man, you have absolutely no idea what it's like being your Robin, living in the shadow of your cape."[/color]

Dick placed his hands on either side of his head in frustration. 

[COLOR=285882]"I'm not a thirteen-year-old boy who's happy to play dress-up anymore, Bruce. Between my studies, training and patrol, you were smothering me. All I'm looking for is my own identity; I never had any intention of quitting. But no, instead of treating me as an equal, instead of talking to me, you go behind my back and replace me? It's no wonder you've never had a lasting relationship with your adult life beyond the man you pay to care for you!"[/color]

Dick began to pace back and forth as Alfred stood quietly to the side, his ever unflappable demeanour never changing nor reflecting his true emotions as the most loyal member of the Wayne estate played Switzerland. Though Dick could have sworn, he almost saw the elderly man wince with his last comment.

[COLOR=285882]"Or wait, is this because I was shot and gassed? Even criminals can be prepared, Bruce! They knew we were coming. Alfred said that I'd make a full recovery. You worked alone for years. Surely a week would have been fine while I healed. Instead, what did you do? You found another naive teenager to bring aboard! What did you do, hold tryouts? What were the merits, capable of doing a backflip and take orders? Or did you just find the first dark-hair kid that fit the costume, so Gordon didn't ask questions?"[/color]

[COLOR=BLACK]"We are at war, Dick."[/color] Bruce answered flatly. [COLOR=BLACK]"You're a soldier, Tim's a soldier."[/COLOR] He spoke while continuing to pour the inoculation serum into a syringe before loading it into a jet injector.

[COLOR=285882]"I looked up to you as a father!"[/color] Dick roared.

[COLOR=285882]"You weren't my commander, you weren't a general. You were my guardian, my protector and mentor."[/color] Without warning, Bruce unexpectedly turned and placed the injector against Dick's arm before pulling the trigger. A sharp pain shot through Dick as surprise and outrage overwhelmed his sense of reason. Dick's face curled into an expression of sheer rage before he suddenly turned and let loose a sucker punch, striking the older man across the jaw. From the nearby corner, Alfred flinched as Bruce dropped the administration instrument, the syringe breaking open on the floor while Dick stood over the fallen man. His chest heavily heaving up and down, his nostrils flaring before he spat venom towards his former mentor.

[COLOR=285882]"You're nothing but that same scared boy from the alley Bruce, hiding beneath your armour, so you don't have to feel emotion. But what you fail to realize is that if you truly wanted to help Gotham, you would have hung up your cape years ago. Bruce Wayne can do ten times more for Gotham than what Batman can."[/color]

[COLOR=BLACK]"Get out of my cave."[/COLOR] Bruce growled as he finally turned to look at Dick. [COLOR=BLACK]"And don't come back."[/COLOR]

[COLOR=285882]"I was already gone."[/COLOR] Dick retorted from halfway up the stairs. Silence once again descended over the cave as the elevator departed, leaving Alfred to hang his head as Bruce resumed his work.[/i][/indent][/indent][/COLOR]
[COLOR=285882][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3][COLOR=141016] P O S T   C A T A L O G:[/COLOR]
P O S T   C A T A L O G:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][/COLOR][COLOR=GRAY][INDENT][color=silver][sup]S E A S O N   O N E:   T H E   G R A Y   S O N   L E G A C Y:[/sup][/COLOR]
[INDENT][b][sub][color=SILVER]► C H A P T E R   O N E[/color][/sub][/b][b][color=285882][sup][sub][h1]KNIGHT AND S.H.I.E.L.D.[/h1][/sub][/sup][/color][/b]
[quote][color=GRAY]Coming Soon[/color]

[SUP][color=silver][b]Primary Antagonist:[/b][/color] [color=GRAY]TBD[/color][/SUP][/quote]
[sup][COLOR=GRAY]#X.XX:[/COLOR] [COLOR=SILVER][i]TBD[/i][/COLOR][/sup][/indent][/indent][/COLOR]