Player Information
Name: Essay
LJ:
skorupionContact:
AIM || horribee
MSN || lunarwingit@hotmail.com
YIM || starfruitsombrero
Twitter || vinegarroons
Plurk || haxorus
Tumblr || icehornet
YEAH...
Current character(s): No one else!
Character Information
Name: Tavros Nitram
Age: 21
Canon: Homestuck [AU / 4chords]
Timeline: Just slightly pre-comic
Affiliation: Trainer
Starter(s): Tauros
History:
Tavros Nitram grew up a young, relatively healthy, yet socially awkward boy in the state of New York, the only child of two well-off parents. He didn't live under a necessarily rich family, so to speak, but they weren't exactly in poverty either. They could have been better- at least to the point of not having to move from time-to-time when money got tight- but they were never without a home or lacking too terribly in food.
This also meant the Nitram boy had enough to undergo a decent education. He did well enough in his schooling, progressing through everything with, at the very least, a C. No redoing grades, no expulsions, and no terribly nasty marks on his record. Unfortunately, the social aspect didn't blow over so well for young Tavros. He always found himself meek and lacking in confidence around other kids his age and older. This namely stemmed from his years in earlier grades where the children were too rough for him and/or shoved him aside, resulting in him staying to himself.
Otherwise, his life went with only minor hitches, such as moving from place-to-place, apartment-to-apartment to keep within budget and keep themselves under a roof. His health remained quite well off for the years with only small issues busting through on occasion (the worst being having tonsils removed). Everything seemed so perfectly, perfectly fine.
That is, until he and his family got caught in a nasty car crash just outside of Rochester. The collision was rear-ended, resulting his parents turning up fine. However, nothing nearly as bright could be said for Tavros. After being practically pried out of the car and rushed to the hospital, his legs were discovered to be horribly mangled. The area just below the knee for each leg had the worst prognosis of the rest of him: amputation. This resulted in only his kneecap upward remaining on his body, thus rendering him to only a wheelchair for transportation.
It was honestly the worst moment in Tavros's life, and for a time, he was in a nasty rut. People looked at him different because of his disability, moving around was harder, and in general, life was harder. Eventually, however, he accustomed, and he regained what little bit of his confidence he had back, as well as some more optimism about his life. He may have lost his legs, but it seriously could have been worse. He could have died in that crash, but he didn't.
He still had reason to go on after living through that. He went through a life-or-death situation and survived. That kept him fighting on. There must have been some reason why he didn't die then, he felt. As if life had a plan for him in the future. Oh, did it ever? He found himself having enrolled into NYU around the age of 20, looking to major in veterinary science. His aspiration was to be a vet tech, as he always felt that he had a communication with animals and, in the end, would like to help them. He couldn't see any other career worth having more.
Well, okay, he'd like to be a successful jousting paladin for that one medieval restaurant in the state of Florida, but that probably wouldn't happen. Okay? Okay.
Some time after his enrollment, he found even more reason to push forward. On a breezy October day, he found himself late for school. Horribly late. As a guy usually focused on getting his work done right, he began to worry as he hurriedly wheeled to the school just walking distance from his apartment in Brooklyn.
On the way there, something- or rather, someone- compelled him to stop in his tracks. Music danced about his ears, faintly at first. It was so soft that Tavros thought he was just hearing things, but as he rolled on, the melody grew louder and louder. Turns out, he wasn't just hearing things. There sat a man, guitar in hand, strumming on the side of the street. The music was impeccable. Sure, it wasn't professional-grade, but he could tell that this guy had some talent. That music sounded very pretty.
So Tavros remained for a few minutes to listen, and yet even longer just to get to know the guy and introduce himself. The man went by the name Gamzee. Gamzee Makara.
The two hit it off immediately, and from then on, the two became good friends. Tavros had never felt so comfortable with someone in his life until that fateful day. If he hadn't been so late to his classes, he would have never met Gamzee that day, which may have even resulted in never meeting him in his entire life. Funny, that, since they lived surprisingly close to each other.
Life just has its ways of going about things, doesn't it? What an odd thing, this indescribable way called life.
It is about to get even more indescribable, too, once a very certain dimensional trip comes into play...
Personality:
One's first impression of Tavros Nitram may be, "Wow, he's really some kind of a woobie." As someone gets to know this boy, their opinion may change to, "Well, okay, he's still sort of a woobie." Then, as they get to learn even more about him, they realize, "Oh... he's not as wimpy as I thought at all." In a manner of speaking with less derogatory, exaggerating, and generally down-putting meaning, there is a lot more to this guy than what meets the eye.
It can't be denied that Tavros isn't the most confident man out there. In fact, that may even be an understatement. He has a pretty low, battered self-esteem after years of not fitting in with others and being mocked, prodded at, and shoved to the side. He doesn't think he's anything that special, let alone someone important to anybody. He doesn't see much potential in himself necessarily, so in the end, he always feels that he needs to try harder and better himself instead of screwing up.
However, he doesn't just sit and wallow in self-pity all the time without putting effort. He really does try to improve himself socially, physically, mentally, emotionally, and well, generally every single aspect. Despite this, his attempts usually fall pretty flat, winding up in him either looking ridiculous, wimpy, unintelligent, or something or another. It can put him down sometimes and make him feel 'sad and alone', but in the end, he doesn't really give up on trying to get better. He doesn't think he's exactly hopeless, even though he certainly doesn't think of himself highly.
The biggest aspect he wishes to improve is how he handles social situations. He isn't severely anxious to the point of running, hiding, or breaking down, but he does get a little uneasy with people. He can come across as nervous, awkward, or just plain unsure about himself, his words, and his actions. Despite this, he will face people and talk to them. He wants to be brave and confident with others, so he isn't willing to run and hide from socialization. It doesn't stop him from coming across as pretty hesitant and reluctant, though, as he fumbles and tries to think of the right things to say or do with some pauses and fidgeting.
At times, Tavros can even have some small bursts of self-esteem, usually when he's longing hard to achieve something important. If something either seems like a really good idea at the time, if it's his only chance to do it, or if he feels it's something within his reach, he may just do it. Later on, he may either feel proud of himself for it or regret it, especially if those moments of confidence wind up turning the tables on him. Bless his poor little heart. He tries his damndest.
Around friends, he may also find himself a little less anxious. A good example would be Gamzee Makara himself. Even before that little crush began to bubble up in Tavros's heart, he felt more at ease with him and became more open with him. With friends, he is able to reach more levels of communication than with any others. He still does feel uneasy at times and will still come across that way, but it may be less apparent and strong. Around his bros, he actually feels pretty darn okay.
When it comes to people he's more unsure about than the usual, however, the more awkward and reluctant Tavros will resurface. In fact, he may even seem a little worse around said people (i.e. people like Vriska). Even then, he rarely backs down with these kind of people and even allows them to pick around with him. Regardless, it doesn't mean he'll conform to their every whim (such as how he denies Vriska an apology for 'being a cripple' in canon due to him thinking it's nonsensical). It's more of the fact that he can't bring himself to be nasty or rude to people by ignoring them or some such. Along with that, he'd feel pretty unaccomplished for not sticking it out bravely, but instead, just running away.
Overall, Tavros has a gentle, friendly nature with others, even to the point that he doesn't think he has the ability to hate or dislike anyone. He isn't exactly good at advising or helping others with their problems, but with other people, he will definitely feel concern and worry instead of being judgmental or venomous over their problems. He likes to have fun, go out with friends, and do a lot of things that any socially successful person would, despite his pressing self-confidence problems. He loves people through and through, and he couldn't see himself being any other way.
He is also very loving and caring about animals, which explains his goal to be in the veterinary or animal shelter professions one day (he hasn't quite decided which yet). He enjoys seeing animals of all shapes and sizes, fur or scales or fins. He even likes to sit down and talk to these animals like he would with people, if not even better than he can with people. Animals unconditionally love, after all, and they can't judge people for what they say or anything. That helps him connect with animals much easier.
Overall, Tavros loves fantasy and still has a glimmer of belief in some aspects of it. In the end, he knows that the fairy tale characters he loves aren't real (including Peter Pan, his favorite), but a part of him still holds onto the boy he was as a child, waiting for Peter Pan to fly into his window and take him away on an adventure. Because of his love for that tale in specific, stories with fairies and flight usually captivate him the most.
Along with that, however, Tavros does have plenty of other interests, including putzing around on the internet, playing video games (especially his favorite, Fiduspawn III: Horsaroni Version for the Game Boy Advance), and casually collecting memorabilia of his favorite series. He dislikes very few things and prefers to enjoy the brighter aspects of his life instead of getting too down on himself. (This sometimes works and sometimes... doesn't.) Despite being so negative on himself, he tries to shove through it and still enjoy life as much as he can.
Powers & Abilities:
Tavros isn't supernatural in the slightest in this incarnation of him! However, he does have one important ability retained from Homestuck canon: he is very, very good with animals. He can't commune with them perfectly like Homestuck's canon, of course, but he is very knowledgeable and friendly when it comes to them. He enjoys any kind of animal, from aardvarks to zebras. He always did feel a little more apprehensive around spiders, though...
Posting Samples
Third-Person Sample:
"Hey! Hey, you!"
Tavros whipped his head around, his hands at work on the wheelchair he was situated in. The source of the sudden voice that rang out from behind him was none other than a Youngster boy, proud and mighty, with his spunky Rattata hunched next to him. He couldn't help but quirk an eyebrow. Why was he being called for?
"Uh, yeah?" That was the kneejerk response, but should he just leave it at that? He didn't think so. That might seem rude. What is standard trainer etiquette nowadays, anyway? He wasn't so sure. He gave a bit of a cough. "Or uh, hello, I should say, as a polite greeting to a fellow trainer, and--"
Tavros was cut off by the trainer's determined bellowing. "I challenge you to a battle! My name is JOEY, and don't you forget that! This is my Rattata!" Youngster Joey gestured to the perky rat Pokemon beside him. Rattata squeaked and bore its fangs 'ferociously', trying to look intimidating, but falling incredibly flat. "We're the best of partners! You know what they say about good partners? They're the ones who WIN. They're the ones in the top percentage!"
He had no idea what this Joey person was going on about, but what else could he do? Tavros grinned and reached for his satchel, signaling that the challenge was accepted. "Oh, well, you better watch out because my Tauros is. You see, he's really..." What's a good word for it? Hmm. "He's got some bullhockey crazy horns, and they're shined! Shined to perfection for the best, uh, and most prime, of battling to be endured. WIth any trainer. And, we're higher than top percentage, too, so, consider this to be a battle of, I guess the highest percentages of--"
Rattata fell asleep. Joey began to laugh.
Oh. He must have gone on too long. Welp.
"... combatants. Yeah," Tavros finished, an awkward feeling settling in his chest. Well, he can't say he didn't try, and he was going to continue to try harder. He found no other next step more fitting than tossing the Poke Ball. Out came Tauros, Tavros's main man, his bro, his mother-fudging homeboy, the roughest cow this side of Johto, ready to drive some mice ratshit up the bull-fry.
He gave a shrill mooing sound, to which the faux-hawked trainer applauded with a few claps. "Yeah, see, now this. This is what's going to happen. We're doing this, man."
Joey smirked widely and gave a very simple response to initiate the battle with:
"We're making this happen!"
First-Person Sample:
[It would probably be hard for anyone to notice the awkwardly-written, dull orange speech written on the network, standing out in a very bold courier font. Sadly, Tavros types like this all the time, so it's something people will just have to get used to. Hopefully.]
rIGHT, sO,
wOW, i NEVER THOUGHT i'D EVER BE, aCTUALLY RAISING MONSTERS LIKE THIS IN MY ENTIRE LIFE,
aS, uHH, i THOUGHT COMPLETELY, aND UTTERLY, tHAT THIS SORT OF CONCEPT WAS JUST A FAKEY-FAKE THING,
fOR ANYONE, rEALLY, bUT,
i GUESS THERE'S NOTHING FAKE ABOUT THIS, uNLESS i'M HAVING A REALLY, rEALLY NOT-FAKE FEELING DREAM,
oR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT,
[He is kind of thrilled. So thrilled that he completely forgot to introduce himself because, right, other people read this. Right. Righto-shmighto-dorito, he is going to do this.]
bUT REGARDLESS, oF THE SITUATION OF BEING A THING i THOUGHT WOULDN'T EVER HAPPEN,
i AM REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE, aND, tO BE A TRAINER,
wITH A BULL AND EVERYTHING,
a TAUROS, i MEAN,
}:D
[Okay, no, NOW he will.]
i GUESS IT'S FITTING, tOO, bECAUSE OF MY NAME,
oH YEAH, aND THAT'S,
tHAT'S tAVROS, tAVROS nITRAM,
i'M FROM nEW yORK, aND, rESIDED IN bROOKLYN,
bEFORE THESE MONSTERS OF THE POCKET KIND SHENANIGANS, bECAME A THING THAT WAS ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE,
oR, mORE LIKE, iT CURRENTLY IS TAKING PLACE,
aND, i'M READY, fOR SAID MONSTERS IN BALLS TO BE, bRINGING IT,
tO BROADSIDE SCHOOLFEED ME, rIGHT UP MY BONE BULGE, sO HARD,
eXCEPT, tHEY WOULD JUST BE TRYING BECAUSE, tAUROS AND i,
wE'RE GOING TO BE AWESOME TRAINERS, fOR SURE,
yEAHHHHHH,
}B)
Anything else?
- This Tavros has a typing quirk just like his troll quirk in Homestuck's actual canon. He speaks in a LITTLE BIT OF, uHH, a AWKWARDLY-SPOKEN MANNER, by speaking in reverse caps (yes, he doesn't capitalize the first letter after each comma), using commas in place of punctuation, and using said punctuation a little excessively. 'Uh's and 'um's, as well as other general stammers, are not uncommon in his speech either, and his font is courier with an orange-ish color. He also adds 'horns' to his smilies because bulls are his favorite animals! }:)
Why does he type like this, you ask? Well, he just thinks that fits him for some reason. Perhaps it makes him look cool! Ha... ha... NO
-
This entire info post, basically.