Post by reinla on Oct 25, 2012 23:04:04 GMT -5
Amber | 27 | Female | 13+ years
[/color]___________________________________________
Gabriel
Gabriel | Four Hundred Sixty | Heterosexual | Good | 'cursed' vampire | Channing Tatum[/color][/font][/CENTER]
STRENGTHS
• basic vampire powers As is normal for his kind Gabriel is stronger, faster and able to see and hear things others cannot. The speed allows him to stalk his prey when the hunt is upon him. As a nocturnal creature being able to see in the dark is a bonus, not only for the sake of finding a food source but to see if anyone is trying to stalk him as well. He is after all immortal and there are certain things that come from that. Being able to hear greater distances allows him to protect himself, far better than anyone could imagine. He could hear people approaching and prepare for an attack, unless they know how to move without making any noise. The one thing though that he kind of wishes he didn't have was that increased sense of smell. He doesn't want to to have to constantly smell blood and other putrid scents that the humans around him cannot.[/BLOCKQUOTE]
• strength It's hard to imagine someone that looks like Gabriel is strong. He really is. While it might not be recommended that he punch a wall just to see if his hand would go through the brick the man is strong. Whether it has anything to do with his immortal status or not is part of the question. He can pick up things that are heavier than most humans can. At the same time it's an inner strength. To have survived as long as he has and not have allowed himself to meet the sunrise, Gabriel posses a great amount of inner strength. It's what let him focus his mind on the task at hand and will keep him safer as more centuries pass. Gabriel much prefers the inner strength that he possesses to the physical strength that was enhanced by his status. He knows that he has to be stalwart if he plans on being of any assistance to anyone or to be 'good' and render aid. Inner strength begets physical strength.
• immortality For some the ability to live forever would be the thing that they love. For Gabriel its almost more of a curse than his own curse. He's already lived four hundred lifetimes and no one should have that power. He's not like the fledgling vampires that someone might encounter, his age allows him a certain amount of wisdom and understanding. Of course the fact that he is now living dead makes the knowledge that he will never die naturally a bit overwhelming. Some might consider this ability a gift but for Gabriel it is nothing more than a curse. He knows that living forever is not what the world intended, its not the way that nature intended it. There was after all a reason that when humans died and were buried their bodies turned to ash and bone after so many years. That was how the world was supposed to be.
• compassion Is it hard to imagine that a vampire, someone who had spent three hundred years inflicting pain and now was cursed with a soul could understand compassion. For some the idea is. Emotions and feelings were something that used to be a part of who he was as a human and now was much more who he is. Having a soul, it's what makes him feel the need to protect and aide when he should want to simply rip out the throats of everyone he meets. Gabriel would not call it love, but more like understanding and the need to want to see humanity survive. He doesn't want them to be killed or destroyed and he does what he can, from the sidelines, to aide humans.
• survival To have lived for more than four centuries as a vampire, Gabriel has learned ways to survive. He wouldn't consider himself an expert in anything, more just someone who's had to learn to adapt and fight if they want to continue on this existence. He can fight and will do his best to adapt to any weapon that happens to make it into his hands but that doesn't mean he's proficient. He's not some kung fu master that wants to show off his talents. No he is an expert at hiding in the shadows and moving through time. He blends into the background, the surroundings. He lets the darkness be his guide and his leader and it's aided him this far.
WEAKNESSES
• vampire How is this a weakness? Simple. Because he is a vampire Gabriel is susceptible to everything that can be used to kill the rest of his kind, soul or not. While not every human is strong enough to actually fight his kind that doesn't mean they cannot kill him. The easiest for humans to obtain is Holy Water. A splash of that and he's in incredible pain. Then of course's theirs fire which would kill him if he didn't put it out fast enough. Those are the easiest two. Of course a stake through the heart if you are lucky enough to get off a decent blow or a shot from a crossbow. Sunlight but he does everything that he can to avoid it. Garlic and crosses will affect him as well. He's learned to avoid most of those things, so far.[/BLOCKQUOTE]
• soul No vampire wants to be cursed to relive the pain they inflicted on their victims. Yet he does. It has only been a century but that's not enough time for him to have truly learned to cope with all the pain that he can feel now. Every victim he'd murdered, everything he'd destroyed it all comes back to him. It makes him want to meet the sunrise and for a century he has thought about doing just that. He's got emotions, feelings, but more than that guilt. Too much guilt for anyone to ever truly deal with. All of this makes him weak at times, and so very ungrateful for the now forced humanity. It's the reason he spends a lot of time brooding but at the same time hiding in the shadows and helping from afar.
• bloodlust The constant need to sate his hunger by gorging on human blood is overpowering at times. It makes him crazy the need for blood but he's learned to control it. Hunger is a way to get to him though, to stop him from getting blood at all. He's learned to adapt over the last century and while he can barely stand the taste of animal blood it is sufficient enough on most days and much easier to obtain. It's not exactly kosher to break into a blood bank and steal the blood bags right off the shelves. True he could do that but it would also mean he'd have to move around much more than he already has. Blood calls to him, summons fears and doubts in his mind and tries to force the monster to the front.
• hero-complex The sudden need to do good, to help the helpless and the victims. It's going to get him killed one of these days but that doesn't mean he can stop it. He's lost, mostly and searching for a meaning or a reason to why he still is around and hadn't yet met the sunrise. He doesn't want to help people, not really but now that he feels guilt and pain he can't stop himself. He has to make sure that no one else falls victims to the creatures like he is and that they live to be happy. Call it reluctance or call it a way to atone, whatever it is, Gabriel has it and he is so desperately trying to get rid of it.
• age For some this is an advantage but for Gabriel he sees it as a weakness. He knows what it is like to live and die and understands that not every vampire is ruled by the desire to kill and drain human blood. His age also makes him a wonderful target for study, should someone be brave enough. After all he's far older than most of the vampires that are made, the fledglings around that seem to attack without regard and worry. He learned long ago that as a vampire he had to be cautious. His life, while far longer than others could be terminated by the appearance of a slayer, if he's not careful. It's a weakness that others can exploit, trying to use him for information when they realize that the younger vampires just don't understand the nuances of their own species.
LIKES
• noise Sound, any sound at all helps to block out the thoughts that tend to run through his mind. Gabe spends too much of his time brooding in the dark that he like to be in noisy areas. The noise helps to drown out his own minds insecurities and the constant nagging and guilt that he feels. It distracts him enough that he doesn't have to worry about being focused on the bad and forgets, if only for a little while, that he is cursed with a soul and forced to relive the pain he inflicted upon others. He likes the way the pulsing beets from the clubs reach out and take hold of him. The sounds that drown out his own irrational thoughts like never before.[/BLOCKQUOTE]
• traveling The world truly is a large place and Gabe has seen some of it but not all yet. That's a goal for the future, depending upon how long he survives. He wants to visit every city in every country on every continent. It's a hefty goal but one he wouldn't mind doing. Gabe understands the restrictions for his kind, that some places he would only be able to see at night. He doesn't care. He likes to travel, to move from place to place to place and learn about the culture and heritage that they hold dear. It's in part a way to stay in touch with his own past and the life he had to leave behind when he was turned.
• secrets His own of course. He likes to hide the fact that he's a vampire, his name common enough that people don't always make the jump to the fact that he used to be this big and bad vampire. Hiding who he is is so much easier than trying to be honest up front. Of course he's also known to keep other peoples secrets. Gabriel can on some level sense when people are being honest with him and he's using that knowledge that others wanted kept secret to his advantage. It was manipulation at it's finest but it was also a true way to survive. Some secrets were healthy and good for a person depending upon what was being kept secret.
• books Everything has a story and when he can't sleep during the day Gabriel spends his time reading. To him there is nothing wrong with being educated and reading is the only way to do that. It's not exactly like night school's an option. Too much paperwork and too many questions. He doesn't exactly have photo id and the documents that would prove he is legal in the country. Instead he just reads book after book about history, art, literature, geography and the like. It's more than that though. Gabriel likes to read books about prophecies and legends, about demons and other creatures that are said to roam the land.
• waterfallls They remind him so much of home. While most people visit them during the day and let the light shine down upon the water, Gabe prefers to look at them through the moonlight. It makes water look a murky black and the places where it crashes from top to bottom sound almost eerie. The feel of the moisture in the air as it kisses his skin is enough for him to be transported back in time to before he was turned. He remembers his human life, almost as much as he remembers every aspect of his vampire life. His home was surrounded by waterfalls, the rivers the source of life and water for his people. None will be exactly like Rhine Falls back home but still they are enough to trigger the memories.
DISLIKES
• pain Not just physical but the mental kind as well. Reliving everything he's ever done to a person is hard enough. That kind of emotional pain would be enough to turn most humans into a vegetable and yet he's still alive. Cursed to forever remember what he's done to others and to be afflicted by it himself. Physical pain of course is not a pleasant thing either. Too little fresh human blood makes it harder for him to heal and regenerate. It makes things much more painful than they should be and far more drawn out. Of course its the price that one pays when they have decided that they will try to atone for the injustices they have previously done the world.[/BLOCKQUOTE]
• clowns Its sad really. It's not so much that they creep him out as much as he just feels that they are absolutely useless. What point could a clown possibly have? Most children do not find them funny, instead they tend to be either scared or mad at them. He doesn't understand how a red nose and big shoes and that really ridiculous outfit is of any help. If someone wants to be funny there are other ways, better ways to make that point. In truth if he had the power he would wipe out all clowns and spare the children the nightmares. It's just wrong on so many levels.
• hopelessness It crept up inside of him and burrowed in so deep he's not quite sure he can shake it. That feeling that no matter what everything he does is hopeless. There will never be a time when good doesn't have to fight evil, when vampires don't exist and all that remains is humanity. It's a goal that he's sure every slayer, and watcher and anyone else that has encounters vampires and demons wishes for. To Gabriel it's a hopeless cause. Just like it's hopeless for him to think that anyone would understand his situation either. He's lost the power that he once had as a powerful vampire and now he's got no allies on this side either.
• lost Is more than just not knowing your own location. Gabriel truly is lost. He doesn't have a focus, a drive, a mission. He just kills vampires if he encounters them and moves on. It's not that he wants to but he cannot afford to risk the the dangers of being discovered. He's lost with his soul, lost in the sea of emotions and pain that seems to rise up and take control. He's lost as to where he wants to be in his life. The only thing that makes any sense is maybe for him to try to find the Slayers. Either he's going to be given the final death he deserves or he's going to find that calling he so badly wants. What in the world is a cursed vampire supposed to do?
• intolerance Over the years since his curse Gabriel has come to find it hard to tolerate those people that can't tolerate others. He doesn't care about gender or race, or sexual preferences. All he honestly cares about is intent. If someone is out to hurt someone then he will do what he can to stop them. If only to ease the guilt on his conscience a little bit more. Even before he became a blood sucker a part of him hated the intolerance that lead to wars and battles. He can forgive misunderstandings and small conflicts but flat out intolerance is something that he refuses to put up with. Especially when it is directed at him for being what he is.
HISTORY
The year is 1552 and its so very cold that many of the people aren't sure if they are going to make it through the winter. Schaffhausen Switzerland is, for its size, rather large and bustling with activity. The European Renaissance is in full swing and Switzerland is not left in the dust. For a family it's not exactly the best time to have children but there was not really a way to stop it. For Lukaz and Analiese it would be a miracle if this child even survived. Times weren't easy in the sixteenth century but they were hopeful that their son would come out healthy. The exact date of this birth is unknown to him but Gabriel was believed to be born on or around December twelfth. At his birth he was the seven children and the second of the boys. The first few months of his life were extremely difficult but he survived and soon grew into a young boy.[/BLOCKQUOTE]
His parents were happy and so were the rest of the family that he had survived. So many deaths had happened already and it was a miracle that he would make it. His early childhood was spent learning to read and write and speak. He was taught by his father and his mother and the older siblings that he had everything that he would need to know to grow into a fine young man. By the time he was twelve he had already been helping his father at the mill and was fully versed on how everything worked. It was expected that as the youngest he would take over if something happened, each of his siblings having their lives that they had to adjust too. At fifteen the first major tragedy struck. There was an accident near the waterfall that was a part of his town. Some people were out trying to learn to swim in the warm summer days. That was all fine and good except for the fact that there was a wind that day. Anyone that was smart enough to see that there was a decent wind blowing through that the water would be dangerous.
Apparently these four people were not that smart. They were childhood friends of Gabriel's and their deaths changed him. He was no longer the happy and bright boy that everyone loved, suddenly he was sullen and quiet. He became the observer, the one that would watch from the fringes and think before he acted. It made those that used to be close to him push away and isolate him. Gabriel was suddenly more alone now than he had ever been. Aside from his own family there was no one there for him. His father grew harsh and demanding, expecting him to spend every waking moment watching the family business rather than attempting to make friends or find love. Thats what the older children were for, to carry on the family name and give him grandchildren. So he did. Gabriel threw everything that he had into the family work and was successful. He made a name for himself almost as much as his own father and people stopped caring. Only the job mattered for a while.
Everything changed again when he was twenty seven years old. That was the age when he was sure he would finally be ready to take over the time on his own. He would be wrong. It would be the day that the man would cease to be and the demon would be born. There had been a string of attacks in the city for weeks but in his arrogance he had never expected that he would become a victim. Whatever it was that was murdering the people was careful and concealed. The attack itself Gabriel doesn't remember he just remembers waking up a few days later and feeling so different. It was as if he could feel the very essence of the earth, the fact that it was alive and more beautiful than he could have imagined. When he awoke he was alone. There was no one to guide him or explain what he was. It took him a few weeks to regain all the memories that he had as a human and to remember that the town he was from wasn't all that far away. He of course needed to return home.
Arriving back upon his family house Gabriel was surprised that he could not just walk in the door. Of course the look of pure shock on his eldest sister's face was enough to tell him that something just wasn't right. It only took mere moments for the realization that everything was different now to sink into his mind. His mother refused to look at him and his father called him a demon. Whatever it was that was going on Gabriel was quite sure he couldn't just fix it. The anger and rage at the how well they turned their backs on him again was all the catalyst he needed. The rage and anger became all consuming and when one of his nieces finally let him into the house he attacked. Every single person that was in there was murdered. Twenty seven lives, some innocent some not were all taken in a single act of violence on his part. Some he drew out, other's deaths were quick and painless but soon enough he was done.
It was after that action that Gabriel, the legend, was born. He couldn't stay in Switzerland, too much open air and sunshine and not enough places to hide. So he fled further west into other European countries; finally settling in England. He would travel up and down the country for one hundred years, never staying in one place too long. Every where he went pain and death followed and he enjoyed it. He was happy to cause chaos and create upheaval. London was the main area that he would attack, as it progressed through the century. Enough bodies that no one questioned too much but not too little that he wasn't seen as a serious threat. Others had come after him, but he'd thwarted them all and the moved on. He would sire others like him, some would be temporary lovers other much longer but all were alive still because of his actions.
It was the same story for another two hundred years before things changed again. Gabriel was in Ireland, hiding out in the tiny city of Galway on the coast. Up until now. He never really cared about who he picked as far as victims go. He was unlucky when his last victim's family sought revenge. It was of course completely justified. Gabriel had found a young woman out on the streets after dark and had seduced her in all kinds of ways. When she was dead, completely drained of blood and horribly disfigured she was left on the doorstep of her family house. He was fleeing to get away from the impending sunlight when he caught a glimpse of someone else. What would happen next still haunts him to this day. Slipping into the abandoned house that he had been using he had not been quick enough. Whatever the person that had spotted him wanted it was starting to take effect.
All Gabriel remembers next was nothing but pain, unimaginable pain and suffering as images of everyone that he had ever killed swam through his head. He couldn't move, couldn't think or function for days. It was enough that it would drive even the sanest of people insane and he was lucky. His mind didn't break even when he was sure his body would. After he was sure he could deal with the pain, or at least learn to cope, the vampire fled Ireland. He was headed for the new world. At three hundred and sixty years old he had been through a lot now he was lost. What did he have to do with his life? He couldn't kill he had tried and the pain of it had been enough that he couldn't move for days. As a vampire he was absolutely useless. At least until he discovered a loophole to whatever curse this was. If the victim was already dead, he could feed from whatever bit of blood they had left. It wasn't a lot, often cold and tasted horrible but it helped him get by until he could decide his next course of action.
For the last one hundred years he has been traveling trying to find a purpose and seeking to rid himself of the guilt and pain. He's not had any luck riding himself of the curse but he believes that he has found a purpose. Rumor had it that there were two slayers in Mystic Harbour, so that is where he was headed. A part of him could understand the danger of making himself known to them. It could very well be the end of his life but he can't help it. He has to know who they are and if they are willing to form some sort of truce. After all they would have the resources that he wouldn't, they could help him find a fix for the curse that he was bearing. The question though is if he will survive much longer?
___________________________________________
Time was the enemy for someone that was going to truly live forever. All it did was get under the skin of a certain vampire and make him grumpy. Time was not their friend and fate was a fickle mistress. Wasn't that how it was supposed to go? For someone that was over four hundred years old Gabriel was still bad with adages. Call it a lack of caring or whatever it was but the vampire was far from happy with the fact that he had all the time in the world to do whatever he wanted. He should have been dead, his body nothing more than ash and bone by now and yet he was alive and walking the streets and alleyway of Midnight Harbour. What was he doing? Well that was the million dollar question. He was only hear because of a rumor that he had yet to be able to substantiate. Supposedly there were two slayers in this town, one male and one female and he wanted to find out for himself. After all for someone who had a bit of a hero-complex, it would be so much easier to aide the slayers in their fight than to try to do it on his own.
Dark eyes watched from the shadows off the corner of Jackson and Matlock at the sudden activity. Being cursed to be a night walker, he was able to spy things that others would ignore. His world was so much apart from theirs and yet a part of him, one that was growing larger, wanted to be able to be with the humans again. He wanted his world and their world to be the same but it would never happen. Instead he would just continue to watch from the shadows, stalking his victims. No he wasn't hunting humans but he might as well had been. Every time he killed one of his own kind he could feel the humanity inside of him slip away. He was an animal, a monster, cursed with eternal life and the to be the child of the night and now cursed with a soul to feel three hundred years of pain that he had inflicted himself. Taking it out on others of his kind was the only thing that made any sense. Gabriel would be lying to himself if he thought that he deserved any sort of mercy or reprieve. He was a vampire. and they were by nature beasts and monsters.
Just as the group of vampires were about to attack the the unsuspecting group of humans Gabe made his move. His feet were deadly quiet and there was a calmness about him that belied just how dangerous he was. He was upon them before any of them could honestly strike. "Now now boys. Let's not be hasty. There's other fun to be had tonight so why don't you just run along." It wasn't clear just who he was speaking to. It could have been meant for the gathering of humans or for the vampires that wanted to make them all meals. Either way no one really listened to him, just like he figured would happen. He could see the vampires move even before the humans could and he was reacting. It was almost instinct that drove him to land the first blow. To the left and right he was flanked by vampires and the only way out of this was for them to die and he to live. Of course he was prepared, he'd be stupid not to be. Compared to himself, these were nothing more than fledglings. Children that needed to be taught just how to behave and tonight he was going to teach them a lesson.
Letting his vampire visage slip into place, Gabriel moved like a panther as he took out a few of the vampires, the humans seemed to be shocked in place. His voice was harsh and cruel as he yelled at the. "Run or die!" Maybe that would be enough to trigger their leaving and he was right. The sudden shock of another voice piercing into their consciousness was enough to get the group of happy meals on legs to take off running. He couldn't worry about saving all of them, there were just too many. It was a fact of life that humans would die but he would hold back as many of the vampires as possible and then hope that he could pick off the stragglers later. Letting himself resume the full focus of his task, Gabriel picked off as many of the vampires as he could. It felt good to be able to actually have a fight where he was wasn't so easily able to subdue his targets.
[/color]