MdP - Gabriel's Vessel
Jun. 1st, 2012 11:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tricks_and_treatsCharacter: Richard Nicholas Taylor
Canon Point: 5.19
Age: Physical and mental – 39 || Actually - 180s
Gender: Male
History:
Before his birth, the Taylor family became hunters. Somewhere along the line, centuries before Richard was even thought of, his family was attacked by demons. By a miracle, the demons were killed. So were members of his family. One man disappeared. The remaining members of his family started hunting. Journals were kept of their adventures. Most were telling hunting jobs, but a handful showed even more. One, which went missing after it's completion, tracked the movements of the missing family remember through many centuries. The entries stopped in 1720.
March 5th, 1827, Richard was born. He was the oldest of Nicholas and Rebecca Taylor. He was spoiled. Though his family didn't have anything other than an aged bar in Lawrence, Kansas, he was still given almost everything he wanted. He was late learning to walk, since his mother carried him around almost everywhere. He was quick to talk. Most of his time was spent with people who talked around him, so he was quick to pick up on words. Because of his time in the bar, his first word was 'whiskey'. His father would constantly tell people this if they asked about Richard's early years.
In 1828, his sister, Sarah Ann was born. She died the next night. Although Richard would know nothing but her name, his parents would latch onto him more. Nicholas would sometimes close early to care for him. Rare, seeing as the bar was their only source of income.
In 1830, Edward Levi was born. Immediately, Richard loved him. When his parents were too busy, Richard was hovering over Edward, talking with him through disjointed words and trying to make him smile.
In 1831, Simon David came into the world. Although Richard loved him too, his connection with Simon wasn't as strong. After Simon's birth, Richard's time with Edward grew as their mother cared for Simon. Edward started following him around. Richard taught him how to walk and talk. Soon, Edward would never leave his side.
Two years later, Laura Ann was born. Richard's elation for another sibling was crushed soon after. Laura was still born. Hours later, Rebecca died from complications. At six-years-old, Richard held Edward's hand and watched his mother and sister get buried. The first few days were spent with tears in his eyes, but slaving over the care of his loved ones. This is when he first started working in the bar. His work was limited to sweeping and talking with younger costumers who walked in this their parents. Once the late night patrons started in, Richard was sent upstairs to care for Edward and Simon.
Things didn't change much through the next couple of years. Work, family, work, family. Routine.
After his thirteen birthday, things changed. One evening, in 1840, a loud crash downstairs woke him up. He grabbed his revolver and ran downstairs. A vampire stood in the middle of the room, holding his father up by his throat. Richard took a shot, but the vampire was able to evade. Luckily, another hunter was nearby, which took care of the vampire in seconds. With the faces of three sons now staring at him, Nicholas spilled the truth about their family lineage.
Richard starts training for hunting. He was handed the family journals. Although his education was limited, he learned to read through those leather backed books. Once he finished, two years later, he received a blank journal of his own. The first entries were bland, talking about family and working in the bar. Once he was eighteen, those entries turned into tales of fights and drinking, but not always his own.
The bar was a place where hunters came and went. A central spot of sorts. Hunters would come and share stories on occasion. At eighteen, Richard was allowed to stay for those late night patrons, and their tales were repeated to him. The things they saw would pushed nightmares in his head. The idea of losing anyone to beasts and demons nearly drove him mad. His training intensified. Knowledge of those monsters grew. Edward, who stayed by his side all this time, joined him in his more extreme regiment. Simon, however, turned to a different sort of knowledge – medical. Although Richard was against it at first, Simon ended up being very persuasive.
From 1845 to 1850, his hunting, family and business was all he worried about. His father would leave on occasion for missions that were close enough to deal with. Edward and Simon stayed with him at the bar.
Late in 1850, his father left for a hunt and never came home. His companion arrived at the bar two weeks after his departure and told them the news. Nicholas was killed by a demon. The gruesome details were spared. His body was burned and salted. Still, Richard had a stone made, which he settled next to his mother's.
During the next thirteen years, Richard's sole purpose became protecting his family. His interest in women became non-existent. Edward married, but stayed living at the bar. Several little kids, two boys and a girl, started running around the place. Richard cared for them as if they were his own children. He fell in love with talking to them, because they had the weirdest insight. His journal entries changed as they grew to lighter, happier tales. His optimism went up with each second. His hope for the future, in humans, in life all soared.
Simon left the bar, but stayed in Lawrence. Richard kept in contract with him daily, learning of a group called the Jayhawkers. They were humans that clashed with the pro-slavery group in Missouri called the “Border Ruffians”. In 1861, several Jayhawkers, including Simon, went over to the Missouri border to destroy and plunder from the Confederates. When Simon came back and shared his stories, Richard was horrified. His hope dwindled. He wrote in his journal - ”Never have I heard of men acting as the beasts I have grown to hunt. I fear that Simon may become one of them.”
His connection with Simon was severely damaged. Although he still cared deeply for Simon, he didn't want to talk with him much. Tales of his horrors were bound to crop up.
At the beginning of 1862, Richard started having odd dreams where a white light surrounded him, asking him for his body as a vessel. Each time, he said 'no'. After a few months, a voice spoke in his head, urging him for a yes. The voice spoke of all the things he could do for Richard. Healing, protection, all those things he wanted for his family. Still, Richard declined. He wouldn't even try anything the voice urged. He just wanted him to go away.
After a year, he finally started writing about the voice in his journal. ”He calls himself Gabriel. Although I have heard the name from texts, I believe that angels are a myth. This being that calls himself after the archangel is only here to take my flesh for himself. He promises things that he cannot possibly keep. I do not wish to communicate with him any longer, but he will not leave me alone.”
The next several months were spent with him ignoring the voice. It gave him leeway when he spoke to others, but once alone, he was there, prodding for a yes. Richard wouldn't relent, but neither would he.
August 21st, 1863 brought Quantrill's Raid. After the attacks from the Jayhawkers, a group of Missouri Confederates led by William Clarke Quantrill stormed into Lawrence, Kansas. Three to four hundred riders stormed into Lawrence and spent the next four hours burning down buildings, killing a majority of the male population and looted businesses and banks.
Once the raid began, Richard grabbed his gun and stood in the middle of the bar, waiting for them to come. Since his family was tucked away upstairs, except for Edward, who stayed by his side, he wanted to protect them. Five men came in. Battle erupted. Edward was shot in the chest. The other men were killed. Richard, uninjured, hovered over Edward, trying to get the bleeding to stop. He called for Simon, but his youngest brother was already dead. That's when Gabriel came back. Gabriel promised to save Edward if Richard said 'yes'. Reluctantly, Richard agreed.
He remembers very little of being a vessel. He does know that Gabriel kept his promise though. He saw Gabriel heal that chest wound with his own eyes. Because of the effort on the vessel, Gabriel tries to keep him as tucked away as possible. Little flashes come in from Gabriel's sex-capades and little bits of fighting. Lucifer stabbing Gabriel stands out as well.
Personality:
Richard is loyal. If he owes a debt to someone, he will repay that debt. Although he gave his body to Gabriel for him to use, Richard feels he will always owe Gabriel a debt for saving Edward. For that reason, he will always say 'yes' when Gabriel needs a vessel. It doesn't matter what he's doing or who he's with. He will do anything for his loyalties. He would lie, steal, cheat, murder, or anything else most wouldn't even consider. Anything to protect or repay a debt. When he dies, he wants to know that he's done something for someone.
With anyone, he's speaks in a somewhat formal manner. He'll call people “sir” or “ma'am” until he learns a name. There's no nicknames with him. He'll call Sam “Samuel”, for instance. Not even Edward had a nickname. His speech will slack formalities if he's talking with people he's close with. Gestures will also change. Less hand shakes and bows, more hugs and light hits with his fist to their arm. In any case, he will never swear.
As far as casual conversation is concerned, Richard doesn't make fun of people for his own enjoyment, but he will try and crack a joke when he can. If all else fails, he'll tell the fun stories he's gathered. Most of the time, he just wants people to be comfortable and at ease around him. Mainly, this is for him. He wants to know they're human. There's a limitless amount of evil in the world, and he doesn't want to be around it. That evil even extends to some people, so a nice smile means a lot.
He does have serious conversations though. With hunters, he'll often open a bottle of liquor first. Anyone else, sitting at a table with his attention solely on them is enough. Most of the time, these conversations are with men. That doesn't mean he won't talk with women, but growing up working in a bar with little contact from women, Richard was a little skittish around them. His voice grows quiet, and the formalities are stronger. He hardly makes eye contact. Gabriel didn't help matters. In the most painful sex situations, Gabriel's ability to hold him back would lapse and he would feel bites and other matters. Always, he believed Gabriel was in a fight and this twisted his thought on women. Now he believes they're turning into beasts of some kind, just as Simon might have. With little girls, he's perfectly fine.
He's not the most educated individual, due to the times, but he can read and write. Numbers he's not so great at. Edward always handled the money and inventory while they worked at the bar. Richard took care of the costumer logs and anything else writing wise that cropped up. That doesn't mean he enjoys reading though. Richard find books boring. If he's going to enjoy a story, he'd rather it come out of their mouths. He believes that the best story tellers aren't scripted – they express their emotions through their expressions and words together. Nothing on paper can portray that.
When it comes to stories, he's far more interested in non-fiction. He believes fiction is a waste of time. Although people could learn things from that work, he doesn't care about it at all. He'd rather hear the gritty truth. That's why, when he tells stories of his own, they're only the truth. Not always the complete truth, though. He might omit certain details, depending on the person.
Because of his years around stories and hunters, Richard has made himself into a near master story teller. He uses these stories to entertain kids. He'll leave out the monster tales, only telling of heroes and sheriffs in town that took out villains that came in. Demons became people. Vampires turned into super-powered humans. But they're still about good battling evil, and good winning. Sometimes, it's with sacrifice.
In situations where others will panic, Richard stays calm. When hunting, he'll face down just about anything without hesitation. He can give orders really well, and take them with just as much ease. A team player. He is very understanding of others, and will offer advice if he can. Except with relationship issues. He sucks with women, and will know nothing about romantic relationships at all.
With everything, Richard is careful. He thinks things through as much as he can before moving forward with a decision. If on a team, he will listen to everyone's plans before making or backing a choice. If he believes that his team is making a bad choice, he will say so. He doesn't want to lie to appease the leader and then get him teammates killed. He will always speak up.
In fight or flight, Richard is a fighter. He will bite and claw his way out of things if he has to. He doesn't like violence, per say, but he wants to live to see tomorrow.
Fears:
Women. Talking with women makes him skittish when others are around. If alone with a woman, he might talk with them before politely excusing himself and running. If said woman is laying on the moves, he will panic. He doesn't like women. One could guess that he's gay, and they would be right. He's not comfortable with women at all. At a woman's attack, he will fight, but he won't be as focused. If they aren't human, that's even worse.
Large scale attacks against anything scary. Mob mentality is his main scare. People turn into monsters in those instances. A zombie horde would scare him. If these large groups are destroying buildings and setting fires, that's even worse. Richard will stand his ground to get safety for others, but if it's just him, he'll fight his way out and run. He knows he can't win against a mob.
Losing people. If Gabriel was lost to him, he would have no one to turn to, really. He needs someone to fall back on, and if that's gone, he'll panic. Eventually, he will find other people, but that initial loneliness will scare him. If he were to make friends in the house and Gabriel returns, he would beg Gabriel to protect them with everything he had.
Failing a task. If Richard is assigned to do something and he does it wrong, he's afraid his mistakes will cost someone their life. He will do tasks to the best of his ability.
Weaknesses:
Women. Not only is he scared of them, but he can't carry a very good conversation with them. Because of that, he could lose some valuable information and might miss something that could save him. That doesn't mean he won't listen to them, though. If someone else is there carrying the conversation for him, he'll listen to what she has to say and be as polite as possible. Also, as a man, he has to protect them if they're in danger.
Children. He loves children, and as a man, he has to protect them. It's even worse if he's gotten to know the kids. Even with the children he doesn't get along with, the more he knows them, the more attached he's going to get.
The people he's close to. He would literally do anything for them, including dying. Because of his loyalties with Gabriel, however, he would avoid the dying as much as possible. It would be the very, very last option. He would go through days of torture. He would allow someone to set him on fire. He would go disfigured for the rest of his life. Hell, he would talk seriously with a woman for hours for those he held dear.
Math. He sucks with numbers. Don't even think about asking him what addition is, he wouldn't be able to do it. Really.
Mundane Strengths/Abilities:
He's good with any hunting gear from the 1860's. Revolvers, knives, exorcisms, chants, seals, and so on. Anything they knew back then, he knows. He's got a pretty good shot with most guns. Large guns with bigger kicks can be a problem, but he'll take his time if he thinks he's going to have a problem shot.
Richard is a very good story teller, especially with kids. If nothing else, he'll be able to distract a kid or two with a story. Because of that, he's good with words (with men). Even in serious conversations, he knows what to say and how to say it. He might not be the most graceful person though. He's blunt and honest, but he'll still be as polite as possible.
He's also a good team player. If they want him to play the leader, he will and take it with pride, but if they want him to hang back and protect, he's more than willing to do that too. He won't be running off to do his own anything. He'll do the job he's assigned to do and he'll do it with pleasure.
Sensitivity/Magical Ability:
He has knowledge on how to hunt and kill beasts from his world, but that's about it. There's no surprise abilities in him or anything. Well, unless you count Gabriel, but that's not really him.
Sample RP post:
Waking up, there was a problem. Because, well, he was waking up. Richard was use to the blur of white keeping him in an unknown veil. It wasn't a particularly nice veil, but he'd grown use to it. Now, it was gone. Richard was staring up at an unknown ceiling, that little nagging from Gabriel gone completely. He swallowed and closed his eyes.
Gabriel?
Nothing. His heart wrenched in his chest. Did something happen to the angel? No. No, it couldn't have. There had to be some sort of mistake. Gabriel was powerful. More powerful than anything else he'd ever seen. Healed his brother, even. There's no way something happened. Right? Richard opened his eyes, looking at that ceiling again before slowly sitting up. His body ached. Alright, something definitely wasn't right. Gabriel would heal him automatically.
Richard got up as quickly as he could and jerked around, looking for enemies or any clues. Nothing. He was alone. Inside and out. There was no one. His eyes widened, panic settling in. Then he closed his eyes and took in a deep breath.
No. It is going to be alright. There must be a reasonable explanation for all of this. Just calm down and look around.
Eyes open again, Richard looked around the room. There was nothing that seemed out of place, but how was he to know? He looked down in an attempt to think but his clothes caught him off guard. This wasn't what he was wearing last. What was this? He fiddled with his jacket for a moment, a puzzled look spreading across his face. Obviously some time has past. There weren't even clothes like this back then. How much time? Where was he?
Richard's head jerked up again, looking for clues around the room again. He spotted a door on the far end and went for it. Opening it, he stepped into the hall. He expected the outside. That room wasn't small. He blinked at the length, surprised for a moment before making his way. Perhaps he should speak. But to who? It didn't seem like anyone was there. He kept walking, peering into rooms with open doors.
“Hello?”
Canon Point: 5.19
Age: Physical and mental – 39 || Actually - 180s
Gender: Male
History:
Before his birth, the Taylor family became hunters. Somewhere along the line, centuries before Richard was even thought of, his family was attacked by demons. By a miracle, the demons were killed. So were members of his family. One man disappeared. The remaining members of his family started hunting. Journals were kept of their adventures. Most were telling hunting jobs, but a handful showed even more. One, which went missing after it's completion, tracked the movements of the missing family remember through many centuries. The entries stopped in 1720.
March 5th, 1827, Richard was born. He was the oldest of Nicholas and Rebecca Taylor. He was spoiled. Though his family didn't have anything other than an aged bar in Lawrence, Kansas, he was still given almost everything he wanted. He was late learning to walk, since his mother carried him around almost everywhere. He was quick to talk. Most of his time was spent with people who talked around him, so he was quick to pick up on words. Because of his time in the bar, his first word was 'whiskey'. His father would constantly tell people this if they asked about Richard's early years.
In 1828, his sister, Sarah Ann was born. She died the next night. Although Richard would know nothing but her name, his parents would latch onto him more. Nicholas would sometimes close early to care for him. Rare, seeing as the bar was their only source of income.
In 1830, Edward Levi was born. Immediately, Richard loved him. When his parents were too busy, Richard was hovering over Edward, talking with him through disjointed words and trying to make him smile.
In 1831, Simon David came into the world. Although Richard loved him too, his connection with Simon wasn't as strong. After Simon's birth, Richard's time with Edward grew as their mother cared for Simon. Edward started following him around. Richard taught him how to walk and talk. Soon, Edward would never leave his side.
Two years later, Laura Ann was born. Richard's elation for another sibling was crushed soon after. Laura was still born. Hours later, Rebecca died from complications. At six-years-old, Richard held Edward's hand and watched his mother and sister get buried. The first few days were spent with tears in his eyes, but slaving over the care of his loved ones. This is when he first started working in the bar. His work was limited to sweeping and talking with younger costumers who walked in this their parents. Once the late night patrons started in, Richard was sent upstairs to care for Edward and Simon.
Things didn't change much through the next couple of years. Work, family, work, family. Routine.
After his thirteen birthday, things changed. One evening, in 1840, a loud crash downstairs woke him up. He grabbed his revolver and ran downstairs. A vampire stood in the middle of the room, holding his father up by his throat. Richard took a shot, but the vampire was able to evade. Luckily, another hunter was nearby, which took care of the vampire in seconds. With the faces of three sons now staring at him, Nicholas spilled the truth about their family lineage.
Richard starts training for hunting. He was handed the family journals. Although his education was limited, he learned to read through those leather backed books. Once he finished, two years later, he received a blank journal of his own. The first entries were bland, talking about family and working in the bar. Once he was eighteen, those entries turned into tales of fights and drinking, but not always his own.
The bar was a place where hunters came and went. A central spot of sorts. Hunters would come and share stories on occasion. At eighteen, Richard was allowed to stay for those late night patrons, and their tales were repeated to him. The things they saw would pushed nightmares in his head. The idea of losing anyone to beasts and demons nearly drove him mad. His training intensified. Knowledge of those monsters grew. Edward, who stayed by his side all this time, joined him in his more extreme regiment. Simon, however, turned to a different sort of knowledge – medical. Although Richard was against it at first, Simon ended up being very persuasive.
From 1845 to 1850, his hunting, family and business was all he worried about. His father would leave on occasion for missions that were close enough to deal with. Edward and Simon stayed with him at the bar.
Late in 1850, his father left for a hunt and never came home. His companion arrived at the bar two weeks after his departure and told them the news. Nicholas was killed by a demon. The gruesome details were spared. His body was burned and salted. Still, Richard had a stone made, which he settled next to his mother's.
During the next thirteen years, Richard's sole purpose became protecting his family. His interest in women became non-existent. Edward married, but stayed living at the bar. Several little kids, two boys and a girl, started running around the place. Richard cared for them as if they were his own children. He fell in love with talking to them, because they had the weirdest insight. His journal entries changed as they grew to lighter, happier tales. His optimism went up with each second. His hope for the future, in humans, in life all soared.
Simon left the bar, but stayed in Lawrence. Richard kept in contract with him daily, learning of a group called the Jayhawkers. They were humans that clashed with the pro-slavery group in Missouri called the “Border Ruffians”. In 1861, several Jayhawkers, including Simon, went over to the Missouri border to destroy and plunder from the Confederates. When Simon came back and shared his stories, Richard was horrified. His hope dwindled. He wrote in his journal - ”Never have I heard of men acting as the beasts I have grown to hunt. I fear that Simon may become one of them.”
His connection with Simon was severely damaged. Although he still cared deeply for Simon, he didn't want to talk with him much. Tales of his horrors were bound to crop up.
At the beginning of 1862, Richard started having odd dreams where a white light surrounded him, asking him for his body as a vessel. Each time, he said 'no'. After a few months, a voice spoke in his head, urging him for a yes. The voice spoke of all the things he could do for Richard. Healing, protection, all those things he wanted for his family. Still, Richard declined. He wouldn't even try anything the voice urged. He just wanted him to go away.
After a year, he finally started writing about the voice in his journal. ”He calls himself Gabriel. Although I have heard the name from texts, I believe that angels are a myth. This being that calls himself after the archangel is only here to take my flesh for himself. He promises things that he cannot possibly keep. I do not wish to communicate with him any longer, but he will not leave me alone.”
The next several months were spent with him ignoring the voice. It gave him leeway when he spoke to others, but once alone, he was there, prodding for a yes. Richard wouldn't relent, but neither would he.
August 21st, 1863 brought Quantrill's Raid. After the attacks from the Jayhawkers, a group of Missouri Confederates led by William Clarke Quantrill stormed into Lawrence, Kansas. Three to four hundred riders stormed into Lawrence and spent the next four hours burning down buildings, killing a majority of the male population and looted businesses and banks.
Once the raid began, Richard grabbed his gun and stood in the middle of the bar, waiting for them to come. Since his family was tucked away upstairs, except for Edward, who stayed by his side, he wanted to protect them. Five men came in. Battle erupted. Edward was shot in the chest. The other men were killed. Richard, uninjured, hovered over Edward, trying to get the bleeding to stop. He called for Simon, but his youngest brother was already dead. That's when Gabriel came back. Gabriel promised to save Edward if Richard said 'yes'. Reluctantly, Richard agreed.
He remembers very little of being a vessel. He does know that Gabriel kept his promise though. He saw Gabriel heal that chest wound with his own eyes. Because of the effort on the vessel, Gabriel tries to keep him as tucked away as possible. Little flashes come in from Gabriel's sex-capades and little bits of fighting. Lucifer stabbing Gabriel stands out as well.
Personality:
Richard is loyal. If he owes a debt to someone, he will repay that debt. Although he gave his body to Gabriel for him to use, Richard feels he will always owe Gabriel a debt for saving Edward. For that reason, he will always say 'yes' when Gabriel needs a vessel. It doesn't matter what he's doing or who he's with. He will do anything for his loyalties. He would lie, steal, cheat, murder, or anything else most wouldn't even consider. Anything to protect or repay a debt. When he dies, he wants to know that he's done something for someone.
With anyone, he's speaks in a somewhat formal manner. He'll call people “sir” or “ma'am” until he learns a name. There's no nicknames with him. He'll call Sam “Samuel”, for instance. Not even Edward had a nickname. His speech will slack formalities if he's talking with people he's close with. Gestures will also change. Less hand shakes and bows, more hugs and light hits with his fist to their arm. In any case, he will never swear.
As far as casual conversation is concerned, Richard doesn't make fun of people for his own enjoyment, but he will try and crack a joke when he can. If all else fails, he'll tell the fun stories he's gathered. Most of the time, he just wants people to be comfortable and at ease around him. Mainly, this is for him. He wants to know they're human. There's a limitless amount of evil in the world, and he doesn't want to be around it. That evil even extends to some people, so a nice smile means a lot.
He does have serious conversations though. With hunters, he'll often open a bottle of liquor first. Anyone else, sitting at a table with his attention solely on them is enough. Most of the time, these conversations are with men. That doesn't mean he won't talk with women, but growing up working in a bar with little contact from women, Richard was a little skittish around them. His voice grows quiet, and the formalities are stronger. He hardly makes eye contact. Gabriel didn't help matters. In the most painful sex situations, Gabriel's ability to hold him back would lapse and he would feel bites and other matters. Always, he believed Gabriel was in a fight and this twisted his thought on women. Now he believes they're turning into beasts of some kind, just as Simon might have. With little girls, he's perfectly fine.
He's not the most educated individual, due to the times, but he can read and write. Numbers he's not so great at. Edward always handled the money and inventory while they worked at the bar. Richard took care of the costumer logs and anything else writing wise that cropped up. That doesn't mean he enjoys reading though. Richard find books boring. If he's going to enjoy a story, he'd rather it come out of their mouths. He believes that the best story tellers aren't scripted – they express their emotions through their expressions and words together. Nothing on paper can portray that.
When it comes to stories, he's far more interested in non-fiction. He believes fiction is a waste of time. Although people could learn things from that work, he doesn't care about it at all. He'd rather hear the gritty truth. That's why, when he tells stories of his own, they're only the truth. Not always the complete truth, though. He might omit certain details, depending on the person.
Because of his years around stories and hunters, Richard has made himself into a near master story teller. He uses these stories to entertain kids. He'll leave out the monster tales, only telling of heroes and sheriffs in town that took out villains that came in. Demons became people. Vampires turned into super-powered humans. But they're still about good battling evil, and good winning. Sometimes, it's with sacrifice.
In situations where others will panic, Richard stays calm. When hunting, he'll face down just about anything without hesitation. He can give orders really well, and take them with just as much ease. A team player. He is very understanding of others, and will offer advice if he can. Except with relationship issues. He sucks with women, and will know nothing about romantic relationships at all.
With everything, Richard is careful. He thinks things through as much as he can before moving forward with a decision. If on a team, he will listen to everyone's plans before making or backing a choice. If he believes that his team is making a bad choice, he will say so. He doesn't want to lie to appease the leader and then get him teammates killed. He will always speak up.
In fight or flight, Richard is a fighter. He will bite and claw his way out of things if he has to. He doesn't like violence, per say, but he wants to live to see tomorrow.
Fears:
Women. Talking with women makes him skittish when others are around. If alone with a woman, he might talk with them before politely excusing himself and running. If said woman is laying on the moves, he will panic. He doesn't like women. One could guess that he's gay, and they would be right. He's not comfortable with women at all. At a woman's attack, he will fight, but he won't be as focused. If they aren't human, that's even worse.
Large scale attacks against anything scary. Mob mentality is his main scare. People turn into monsters in those instances. A zombie horde would scare him. If these large groups are destroying buildings and setting fires, that's even worse. Richard will stand his ground to get safety for others, but if it's just him, he'll fight his way out and run. He knows he can't win against a mob.
Losing people. If Gabriel was lost to him, he would have no one to turn to, really. He needs someone to fall back on, and if that's gone, he'll panic. Eventually, he will find other people, but that initial loneliness will scare him. If he were to make friends in the house and Gabriel returns, he would beg Gabriel to protect them with everything he had.
Failing a task. If Richard is assigned to do something and he does it wrong, he's afraid his mistakes will cost someone their life. He will do tasks to the best of his ability.
Weaknesses:
Women. Not only is he scared of them, but he can't carry a very good conversation with them. Because of that, he could lose some valuable information and might miss something that could save him. That doesn't mean he won't listen to them, though. If someone else is there carrying the conversation for him, he'll listen to what she has to say and be as polite as possible. Also, as a man, he has to protect them if they're in danger.
Children. He loves children, and as a man, he has to protect them. It's even worse if he's gotten to know the kids. Even with the children he doesn't get along with, the more he knows them, the more attached he's going to get.
The people he's close to. He would literally do anything for them, including dying. Because of his loyalties with Gabriel, however, he would avoid the dying as much as possible. It would be the very, very last option. He would go through days of torture. He would allow someone to set him on fire. He would go disfigured for the rest of his life. Hell, he would talk seriously with a woman for hours for those he held dear.
Math. He sucks with numbers. Don't even think about asking him what addition is, he wouldn't be able to do it. Really.
Mundane Strengths/Abilities:
He's good with any hunting gear from the 1860's. Revolvers, knives, exorcisms, chants, seals, and so on. Anything they knew back then, he knows. He's got a pretty good shot with most guns. Large guns with bigger kicks can be a problem, but he'll take his time if he thinks he's going to have a problem shot.
Richard is a very good story teller, especially with kids. If nothing else, he'll be able to distract a kid or two with a story. Because of that, he's good with words (with men). Even in serious conversations, he knows what to say and how to say it. He might not be the most graceful person though. He's blunt and honest, but he'll still be as polite as possible.
He's also a good team player. If they want him to play the leader, he will and take it with pride, but if they want him to hang back and protect, he's more than willing to do that too. He won't be running off to do his own anything. He'll do the job he's assigned to do and he'll do it with pleasure.
Sensitivity/Magical Ability:
He has knowledge on how to hunt and kill beasts from his world, but that's about it. There's no surprise abilities in him or anything. Well, unless you count Gabriel, but that's not really him.
Sample RP post:
Waking up, there was a problem. Because, well, he was waking up. Richard was use to the blur of white keeping him in an unknown veil. It wasn't a particularly nice veil, but he'd grown use to it. Now, it was gone. Richard was staring up at an unknown ceiling, that little nagging from Gabriel gone completely. He swallowed and closed his eyes.
Gabriel?
Nothing. His heart wrenched in his chest. Did something happen to the angel? No. No, it couldn't have. There had to be some sort of mistake. Gabriel was powerful. More powerful than anything else he'd ever seen. Healed his brother, even. There's no way something happened. Right? Richard opened his eyes, looking at that ceiling again before slowly sitting up. His body ached. Alright, something definitely wasn't right. Gabriel would heal him automatically.
Richard got up as quickly as he could and jerked around, looking for enemies or any clues. Nothing. He was alone. Inside and out. There was no one. His eyes widened, panic settling in. Then he closed his eyes and took in a deep breath.
No. It is going to be alright. There must be a reasonable explanation for all of this. Just calm down and look around.
Eyes open again, Richard looked around the room. There was nothing that seemed out of place, but how was he to know? He looked down in an attempt to think but his clothes caught him off guard. This wasn't what he was wearing last. What was this? He fiddled with his jacket for a moment, a puzzled look spreading across his face. Obviously some time has past. There weren't even clothes like this back then. How much time? Where was he?
Richard's head jerked up again, looking for clues around the room again. He spotted a door on the far end and went for it. Opening it, he stepped into the hall. He expected the outside. That room wasn't small. He blinked at the length, surprised for a moment before making his way. Perhaps he should speak. But to who? It didn't seem like anyone was there. He kept walking, peering into rooms with open doors.
“Hello?”
