~Deacon Beckett~
{Name Meaning: Servant, Messenger}
“There’s doing the right thing and there’s doing the wrong thing. I prefer to do my own thing.”
Nickname(s):
DC
Age:
23
Gender:
Male
Sexuality:
Heterosexual
Diagnosed Disease/Condition:
Luck was not in Deacon’s favor as a youth whatsoever. It was actually an accident that severely injured his spine that became the root of his troubles. His parents at the time didn’t think it was that severe, and assumed it would “eventually heal”, so they didn’t take him to a doctor despite the clear severity. A few days of constant screaming and crying, as well as Deacon’s inability to walk now, his parents got sick of it and finally took him to an ER. It was the lack of care and ignorance of the severity of not taking Deacon into the doctor until it was too late that cost him the ability to walk. Deacon was four years old at the time, where doctors determined neglect led to the severity of his condition, and he was given to the state of Washington. Steroid shots ensued to try and aid the paralysis, which he remembers as being highly painful. It was 3 years later he was then “adopted” at age 7 and taken to the place that granted him the ability to walk again.
~~~
Appearance:
Deacon is easily passed off as an individual fairing on the barely above average spectrum appearance wise. He physically fronts a diamond shaped face that possesses a higher and more defined set of cheekbones. It’s a face that is completely clean shaven, and he keeps it this way at all times. It’s really only his eyes that could be regarded as ‘standing out’ compared to the rest of his features. These eyes are a vibrant periwinkle with softer brown flecks within them around the iris. Framed by a thinner but dark set of lashes, his eye type is best described as slightly hooded. While his eyes do typically convey the majority of his emotions, the crow lines at the corner of his eyes indicate he probably smiles more than he should. Above are eyebrows that are, well, averagely thick with a faint arch to them. The straight structure and slope of Deacon’s nose is also no exception to his apparent mediocrity. In addition, the lips that form the multitude of smiles and smirks are that of a soft shade of rose and possess a slight resting downturn to them. Now, Deacon's hair is something he prefers to put pride into. With the root and primary color being his natural deep oak color, it flows into a dusty blonde to give it -at least what he considers- an attractive ombre contrast. It’s a bit shorter along the sides while the top is long enough for him to slick back. When it’s not fashioned to be in that preferred look, the top typically has a more untamed and ruffled look to it.
Standing at a respectable 6”2, Deacon’s somewhat above average height also tends to reflect his above average ego influx. That alone is evident with his confident and straight posture, and a small pep in each step. His primary build is a bit more triangular; starting with broader shoulders and dwindling down to his more narrow set hips. Deacon is someone that doesn’t have an insanely muscular build, but he does maintain and keep a presence of muscle on his arms, legs, and core. If he didn’t have that -average- muscle to him he would honestly be on the verge of having a more Jack Skellington type build to him. It’s a little bit of an exaggeration, but he would be pretty thin. His body isn’t littered with many marks other than a few less than honorable stories to go along with a few of his more defined scars. The most prominent and story worthy of those scars being along his spine from where he would receive steroid shots for his former paralysis. Deacon's hands are a bit softer than those of a heavy working man, since he has never actually done any grueling physical labor with his hands. Deacon’s skin tone is that of a duller ivory; meaning it isn’t blindingly white, nor is it a sickly look. . . just average.
Attire wise, Deacon is a man who dresses based on his general mood. If he’s feeling better about himself than usual; something along the lines of a tighter white T-shirt and red leather jacket with stone washed jeans is his go-to. If he’s feeling mellow; usually a baggier shirt and sweats. It’s not uncommon to see him in an open hoodie with no shirt underneath and pants varying between different types of jeans and sweats though. He dresses for himself basically, not to impress those around him. Looking too formal is both unnatural and uncomfortable, and looking unkept is just gross. The one thing that never changes with his style is his shoes; always sneakers. Always. Like girls with an obsession with different styles of high heels, that’s Deacon with sneakers.
Personality:
Contrary to his more ordinary appearance, Deacon’s personality is quite exceptional. Not suffocatingly strong, but one that leaves its mark in the space he’s in. It’s his more reasonable and charismatic nature that generally makes him a person that’s easy to be around. Pridefully he could consider himself fairly balanced in terms of temperament, ego, and ideals. Of course the scales tip further on one end of the spectrum every now and then, but being perfect is too exhausting of a goal to maintain in his eyes. Instead, he wears his entire self out loud. If Deacon doesn’t just straight out say what’s on his mind or states his opinion, then all you have to do is ask. This makes him a considerably open and honest person most of the time. While he won’t always be insensitively blunt with others, if someone is of particular annoyance to him he has no problem being politely snarky. It’s actually the well mannered but back handed comments that make it more insulting, but it can also be difficult to attack him for it because they come across so deceivingly civil.
Deacon also has the ability to be such a graceful liar that it can make heads spin. He prefers honesty, but where lies are needed, lies there will be. It almost makes him two faced, but believe it or not it is usually never fueled by malicious intentions. If anything, he lies so fabulously out of what he may consider to be protection. Some people can’t handle the truth, some people shouldn’t know the whole truth. . . and those are his primary ideals behind lying. When it comes to people Deacon is accepting and always respectful up front. There are not many judgmental bones in his body unless you’re really pushing on making a bad impression with him. It’s rather easy for Deacon to insert himself into most crowds as well beings he usually finds a way to relate to everyone. In some ways more than others. Plus, it’s not just his lies that are as fluid as water, his manner of speech is usually highly articulated without him having to put too much effort into it. His casual manner of speech is filled with less attractive words than his formal speech, but it still possesses a light charm to it.
Deacon doesn’t actually consider himself a natural born leader due to the fact that the weight of the title feels almost restricting. However, he does actually hold several qualities that contradict his views on himself. Deacon’s faith is placed more into individuals and their potential, which makes him naturally more in tune with seeing the better side of everyone. Small insertions of inspiration and build ups is what he may offer from time to time with people he sees struggling, but he has a little trouble diving deep into hearty conversations. Encouraging is something he can be, but he has a small habit of expressing disappointment when he sees individuals not applying themselves to the level of greatness he believes they have.
Instead of being a rather boisterous person, Deacon holds a more calm demeanor to him. When things like ambition and passion are sparked within him though he can be a bit more animated. Paired with being a more optimistic person, Deacon is still very realistic. That’s the side of him responsible for preferring calculated decisions and risks, but even he knows circumstances that can change on the dime may rely more on impulsive actions. In this way Deacon is fairly adaptive to many situations. That adaptability leaves him to be less bull headed when it comes to his decision making. Being overly stubborn isn’t much in his nature unless it’s for what he believes is the right cause. Sure, he makes mistakes, and he’ll admit it too. However when he really applies his belief into something there’s not much of a chance that he’ll back down.
Heavy conflict is something Deacon believes is fully avoidable if things are handled correctly, so he is definitely someone that tries to keep tension to a minimum wherever he may be. Communication is a skill he encourages others to embrace, though there isn’t a lot that’s considered to be forceful about Deacon’s character. In fact, he's more of someone that makes suggestions, and leaves an individual to choose whether or not to follow that suggestion. Choice is an entity he firmly believes in, and no matter any situation, he believes there’s always a choice to be made. He can’t say he always makes the right one in the moment but he can say he does his best. With that being said he doesn’t fault others or shame them for making poor choices unless it deliberately is intended to do more harm than good.
There is a bit more pride than humility to Deacon as one may pick up on. Then again he thinks too humble of individuals are more inclined to be unnecessarily apologetic, incapable of standing up for themselves and others, as well as being viewed as a bit of a pushover. While he doesn’t judge those who are more humble than he, it’s just not a trait he would allow himself to practice heavily. It makes him appear a bit cocky, which isn’t a wrong observation, but he isn’t drunk on pride or arrogance in any way.
Along with Deacon’s snarky nature he tends to express a witty and sarcastic essence to him. Well placed remarks or puns are something he tends to relay when he deems them fit. Sarcasm is both how he tends to be playful with others, but he can also channel that sarcasm into expressing irritation. Deacon probably isn’t always the brainiest in the room, but he is fairly intelligent, which is seen through some of his sharper and witty remarks as well as his brief but thoughtful responses. It would actually take a lot to push Deacon to the point of being angry enough to evolve from snarky comments since he’s so slow to anger. However, his genuinely angry side isn’t a very pretty side. It changes his entire persona into something worth fearing when he unleashes it. All the more reason he has been feverishly worked with as a youth to suppress and channel that anger healthily when he feels he’s on the verge of a war path. Another somewhat alarming side to Deacon is when he gets pushed to a point that leads him to believe some people need. . . to be reminded of their place. Or rather, he believes some people need to be viciously removed from their high horse. That belief paired with even a small hint of rage is a very dangerous combination when it comes to what he’s capable of and willing to do.
Ability:
Illusion Projection
When Deacon first began to exhibit signs of being able to conjure things that weren’t really there, it was noted that his ability was highly unstable and possible to have a wide array of potential. As he was watched and worked with through a variety of emotions over the course of several years, two things were made evident; his ability can be heavily influenced by strong emotions, and they prey on deceiving others' senses.
Sight:
When Deacon conjures an illusion to mess with the sense of sight, he is using a very strong use of focus to channel the illusion into being believable and completely realistic. While first learning his ability he was able to start with simple things; duplicating items, weaving an illusion of invisibility over still items, and conjuring items in spaces it didn’t actually exist in. Over time, his ability in terms of capability has grown immensely. Now Deacon is capable of creating the illusion of people, making himself or others look different, concealing himself or others in apparent invisibility, changing a persons entire view of where they are, and he even has nailed creating places and things of complete fantasy. He is bound by his own imagination when it comes to deceiving with sight, as well as focus. While his illusions are so vivid and perfect that they are perceived as reality, if his focus is broken, so is the illusion. It’s the most strenuous part of his ability, and the more complex and large scale the illusion, the more difficult it becomes for him to keep the antic up, but also to keep it looking realistic. Headaches of varying severity are the most common side effect, but exhausting himself completely in all areas of his ability can lead to his eyes streaming a few drops of blood, or in more severe cases, unconsciousness.
Touch:
The illusion of touch is something that can be a little tricky, since the most authentic illusions of touch he can cast are ones he has felt himself, though he can experiment a bit with this. With that being said, the easier illusions are things like wrist grabbing, warmth, cold, and even giving something like a rock the illusion of feeling as soft as fur. Deacon is also very capable of making others feel pain with something like paper cuts, stab wounds (don’t ask how he learned to make that feeling authentic), and other types of physical pain. While this isn’t necessarily touching, Deacon can give the illusion of internal sensations such as throbbing migraines, or the sense that your heart is beating so rapidly it hurts. The greatest limitation of this is that if his target(s) become greatly aware that what they are feeling isn’t real, whatever he’s making them feel becomes tolerable to the point the target(s) can overcome that sensation. Feeling it may still be uncomfortable depending on the illusion, but it will not be very hindering.
Smell:
This is pretty self explanatory; he can conjure the illusion of smell. This is strictly limited by things he has smelt before though. He can pair this illusion with another though; like the smell of gasoline before he gives the illusion that something is on fire.
Taste:
Also self explanatory, and also limited to things he has tasted before.
Sound:
While similar to taste and smell, the only difference when it comes to his illusions preying on sound is that he can -in a way- combine and create new sounds. It’s almost like layering a few different sounds as done in things like songs or movies. The sounds he produces can be voices to match the illusion of people, music, screaming, water, wind, etc..
Deacon’s ability is *mostly* controlled. Like it was first noted however, a very strong sense of emotion can influence this ability. If something like anger were to trigger him, he may -possibly involuntarily- lash out at someone and give the illusion of some aspect of pain. While this happened a few times when he was a bit younger, he has a steadier grip on controlling both his emotions and ability. The illusion of emotions is something he can’t directly do; his illusions can only influence a person’s emotion. For example if he were to create something truly horrifying like shadow creatures crawling on ceilings. . . that might leave a person to be pretty fearful of something that isn’t there. So it can influence, but he can’t actually mess directly with emotion.
Likes:
Experimenting with his ability/getting into rare and light mischief (who wouldn’t do a smidge of trickery from time to time for simple fun?)
Being around people
Music; mostly songs he feels a connection to
People Watching
Sleeping; if he could he would nap several times a day
Dislikes:
Loud and/or obnoxious sounds and people
Bright clothing
Bright lights
People lacking a sense of humor
Anyone who dares touch his hair
Strengths:
Leadership (whether he realizes it or not)
Vivid Illusions
Adaptability
Generally positive
Being mindful of his and others emotions
Weaknesses:
Most forms of combat (he relies a lot on his ability, though he could be considered a bit more than novice when it comes to hand-to-hand)
Unpredictable when he loses his temper
Lies more often than he lets on
Not always a great listener
Not always patient
Backstory:
Nicely put, the only thing good that came from Deacon’s parents procreating was him. They did not deserve a child in the slightest sense due to their general lack of care, love, attention, the list goes on. The fact he even survived for longer than a few months in their care is a miracle in itself. Deacon doesn’t actually remember much about his parents, but he does remember one thing. The accident. He has NEVER spoken about what happened then, nor will he ever disclose that information. As far as anyone knows, he just doesn’t remember. It stops people from pushing, but don’t expect to ever hear that story.
The sixteen years he spent in the base were actually fairly enjoyable for Deacon. Some days were definitely harder than others, especially when it came time to start to find and push his abilities boundaries, but there was no direct cruelty in those moments. The worst he fared were a few outbursts with other children, and the occasional lectures. The primary scientist assigned to Deacon, as he was told, was one of two assigned to the more unstable abilitied children. Instead of being treated like a test subject, Dr. Nicolette was more of a mothering figure in Deacon’s life as well as her other assigned children. She did have to be a bit firm and clear that she was not their mother or guardian, but she full heartedly had the best intentions and aspirations for them all in mind. From what Deacon had come to know, every scientist assigned to their group of children took different approaches to interactions; some were admittedly a bit less warm, but never cruel.
For a long time Deacon could have been considered a curious boy who asked many, many questions to whomever would answer. Though recently is when he decided asking questions he didn’t really want the answers to would be in his best interest.
~~~
“What’s in it for you, you know, with us?” Deacon asked the government official that had pitched the idea of being one of the world’s first Heroes.
“A lot. My question as to whether you would accept being the designated lead of this group wasn’t rhetorical though. So I ask again; do you agree?” The official stated with a colder tone. Deacon took only a second to ponder the question before asking another one of his own.
“What happens if I don’t?” Deacon asked respectfully, though he was fishing for an honest answer.
“Refuse and you’ll be another ordinary cripple still relying on government funded programs to get you by until you inevitably succumb to complications and die of your defect. So you can be a pathetically mediocre citizen, or you can be great. Your choice.” The official responded, though his tone was far more impatient. Deacon was not expecting that level of honesty, or that harsh of an answer which he reflected through his moderately baffled expression.
“I accept.” Deacon said hesitantly, which seemed to be all the official wanted to hear since now he forced a small smile.
“Fantastic. I’ll notify the others’ handlers. You’re set to leave in less than 48 hours, when you arrive at your destination you’ll get your orders.” The official explained in a hurried fashion before turning on his heels and walking with a determined step elsewhere. It was that exact moment Deacon wasn’t so sure he wanted to ask those men in suits many questions; since that altered a bit of his perception on the heads of this all. He should be grateful though, right? In a way Deacon was, although that didn’t replace the sense of anxiousness.
~~~
~Lola Vidale~
{Name Meaning: Lady of Sorrows}
“People like causing problems, they just don’t like resistance.”
Nickname(s):
Lolly
Age:
20
Gender:
Female
Sexuality:
Demisexual
Diagnosed Disease/Condition:
Norrie Disease is what Lola came fresh out the womb with. She was blind before birth, but she had no hope of ever seeing the world. Lola was 2 years old when her family, bound by poverty, couldn't keep up with the optometrists, and other varying specialists, and therapies. . . it was all too much money. Her parents willingly surrendered her to the state of Ohio knowing she would receive the care she needed in their hands. Lola underwent her medical issues while being shifted around through various foster families, until the day came where she was “adopted” at 4 years old. Lola didn’t even know what a human face looked like; just what it felt like. When the chip was inserted into her, it took a week before her eyes were repaired and she could see the world around her. It was fairly overwhelming for some time, but she managed to adjust over time, and can now see and experience the world just like every other 'normal' person.
Appearance:
There is a beauty to Lola that is best described as ‘dark’. She’s no cover model, and certainly no delicate looking doll. However she does possess curves, a face that sings with simple enchantment, and an ever present aura of longing that makes her in herself attractive. Her face is that of a subtle oval with a set of defined cheekbones to add a flare of definition to her soft jawline and rounded chin. A piercing sterling gray is the primary color of her eyes, although in her left is a dark brown that takes up nearly half the color in her eye. It’s considered to be a birthmark, although Lola considers it to be a reminder of how she’s different. Just above her eyes are a thinner set of highly defined and angled brows which are just naturally that way rather than her plucking or anything to maintain the thinness. She possesses a more pointed nose with an otherwise straight bridge. The lips that are either always held in a straight line or a bitter smile contain a slight pout to go along with their natural medium toned pink hue. From those lips comes a voice that’s a soft yet chilling sound. It’s an octave or two higher than the average girl, but it’s oddly fitting. Lola’s natural color of hair is a soft strawberry blonde, but currently it's dyed a shade of white comparable to freshly fallen snow. There is a natural subtle wave with evident volume to her hair that falls to her mid back, although you’re more likely to see her with her hair styled in a fishtail braid, or put up into a messy bun. If she feels up to it, Lola may add a touch of dazzling hair clips and a very light and natural looking addition of makeup, but she has to be in a particular mood for that to happen.
Lola stands confidently at a height of 5” 8, which makes her somewhat intimidating along with her steady cold stares. In contrast with her aloof demeanor, her skin is a shade of a warmer olive with medium undertones. It looks more like she’s constantly slightly sun kissed with a soft tan actually. It’s rather rare to see her in a relaxed stance, which could make her appear a little rigid when she’s still. That observation is highly misleading though since she is a very agile and swift female. Her body is above averagely toned, which helps to show how often she labors her body into being what is. Well, a higher metabolism helps too. It’s pretty clear her figure though does not support a woman capable of brute strength, but rather great flexibility and the ability to turn on a dime. She still holds a light hourglass figure that is really just her natural body type, no matter how hard she has tried to make herself perfectly proportional. Like most of the children that took an interest in knife and sword play, she has a variety of thin clean scars, with the exception of a few more jagged ones, along her arms, legs and even torso. The scar that stands out the most on Lola -the one she despises- is one going over the normal eye she had once lovingly admired. A misstep in fencing and a bad swing from the hands of her sparring partner left the straight slice over her eye to be forever imprinted onto her. It doesn’t stand out drastically, but it is without a doubt there.
Lola is someone that dresses in a multitude of ways. It depends more on the goals she sets for herself that day. If she’s hell bent on spending her day training herself to be able to hold her own, a sports bra and thin capri leggings is what she sports. When she feels the need to dress nicer, typically she can be seen in some kind of darker colored blouse and jeans, or a dress that falls just below her knees. Casually; the baggier the better. Lola actually has quite the wardrobe though, so she’s capable of pulling off and wearing a variety of looks. Shoe wear usually consists of converse and running shoes, though every now and then she enjoys strutting in a few styles of heels.
Personality:
Lola can be regarded as a bit complex, but she would much rather be that than predictable. There is a light bitterness to her when it comes to the desire of being nothing more than normal. . . but she knows that’s not exactly a card in her deck. It’s that hopeless longing that has contributed to turning her this way though, so she’s just become accustomed to it being a crushing weight she carries within herself. Lola would have been happy as a woman living a simple life somewhere surrounded by nature away from other human beings, but she’s learned people hardly get what they want in life.
By default Lola is a rather abrasive person; not necessarily apathetic, but constantly surrounding herself with others' problems and feelings is just draining and quite frankly, annoying. For those more sensitive and faint of heart, Lola may not be among your first pick to be around. Honestly, she doesn’t care enough to be first pick anyway since her more dominant stature leads her to follow her own rhythm. At the expense of others from time to time admittedly. She packs just the right amount of intensity to not only be taken seriously, but to be someone that can easily become a person whose threats should be feared. When she says she’s going to do something threatningly, oh, she’s making a promise that she is hellbent on following through with. Can you blame her though? She’s become accustomed to walking among men with egos over compensating for their bird sized. . . manhood, so someone needs to settle the playing field. She doesn’t have a problem per say with men in general, but she will go out of her way to spark a war path with one who thinks he’s above everyone else. As one will come to know, Lola is highly opinionated and will argue her point with nothing short of cutthroat words and undeniable facts. If what she says hurts a person's feelings, then they become an object of pathetic pity in her eyes. ‘Cruel’ is a term she’s been called a time or two, though she would prefer spicy if anything.
While she doesn’t seem the type capable of much good, she’s just a very driven person willing to do what’s needed. Bold and blunt go hand in hand with Lola, which makes her pretty unforgettable no matter which side of her you meet. Good friends are in short supply these days so Lola wears a very independent and distant front to her to weed out fake friends. Those who get to know her better see that she is definitely an armored individual when it comes to protecting her coveted sensitive nature. She’s someone that tends to silently struggle with self worth, but who has time to address such a silly thing? Certainly not Lola.
When her goals, friends, and things she feels a need to defend are threatened, she turns very combative. She hardly needs an ability to fight her battles though as her words are sure to be laced in venom and tear someone apart from the inside out. Aside from words, her intelligence-fueled manipulative actions are sure to tear down any foundation she intends to knock down. She is capable of so much graceful malice that it can easily be regarded as badass. So basically Lola isn’t afraid to step up to anyone no matter how ‘intimidating’, which is also a bit of her stubborn and ferocious qualities at play.
Now for being understood as quite the character, Lola’s friendlier side is as follows. Her loyalty knows no bounds when it comes to people she lets in, but only the ones willing to work past her issues and habit of pushing people away. Being a bit playful through humoristic sarcasm and enticing friends into having a good time is how she expresses her warmth. She is a person that one can be real with, and right back she’ll be just as real with them. Being competitive is something one should expect to see when she’s really having fun as well. Emotionally she can be a bit insensitive, but she does try to be a little more empathetic and caring when someone really needs it from her. One could say a few relationships that have crashed and burned -in blazing infernos- have also contributed to her ruthless nature to avoid getting hurt again. She can’t say she’s much of a romantic since she has an odd way of expressing love, but she has yet to completely abandon the idea. That doesn’t mean love from a partner though, perhaps one day she might find an endless supply from a cat. Or her plants.
Ability:
Ability Mimicry
Simply put, Lola’s power is mimicking the abilities of those around her. However skilled the original user of the ability will be how skilled Lola is with the ability. It’s kind of nice if you ask her since who she mimics put in the hard work of controlling the ability. How this works is that Lola is capable of reproducing the energy and control embedded within the abilities, since they all carry their own kind of unique energy stamp to them.
The greatest limitation to this is that she cannot mimic someone who hasn’t used their power in over a day. Otherwise the ability to replicate the energy isn’t possible. It’s a little complicated to explain how she reads and manipulates the energy, but it happens flawlessly within seconds. At most she can only take on and mimic two abilities at one time, three or more results in consequences that take quite the heavy toll on her body and mind.
Likes:
Plants; particularly poisonous or carnivorous plants, but she loves them all very deeply
Controlled chaos
Storms; the more violent the more alluring to her
Rule bending (sometimes breaking)
Dislikes:
Men with egos that soar higher than the empire state building
Being underestimated
Being different
Backstabbers
Strengths:
Wielding knives and swords
Manipulation
Fearless
Loyal
Weaknesses:
Physical strength
Empathy; it’s borderline non-existent
Self-loathing
Blunt/Foul-mouthed
Backstory:
There’s not much Lola is willing to share. If she could have anything in the world it would be to live in a green house in the middle of nowhere surrounded by murderous plants. An odd dream, but one she romanticizes about often. People are typically a source of disappointment for her for some time, but she used to be a bit more of a ‘heart on the sleeve’ kind of girl.
Relationships for Lola have always ended badly. The first steady one was physical in the worst way, which is where her dislike and mistrust for men started. The second she tried on a female she once considered a friend, though some people just can’t help but to be the scorpion on the frog’s back. The third, and most recent, well she might have ruined a soft hearted guy to deflect all of the wrong that was done to her. Oops. She’s not very interesting if you were to ask her, so truly, there’s not much to share.
Winter 
Day Weather: 
