OOC: Who Is This Creeper?
MUN
Name/Nickname: Hound
Journal: houndartemis
Email: the_hound_of_artemis @ yahoo.com
IM (AIM): homocycle
Timezone: EST
--
Name: The Corinthian (ID #3987981)
Age: Physically 28, mentally centuries old (not specified in canon), was actually only created a few years ago. It's complicated.
Series: The Sandman
Species: Nightmare
Gender: Male
Occupation: "Fetcher" (fetches and delivers things for people)
Point of canon: The end of the series, after "The Wake"
Level: Abyss
Appearance: Short, perpetually mussed white hair, average muscular build, average height, average good looks-- he was designed to look the part of an average man, and besides the white hair and the fact that he has two fully-functional mouths instead of eyes, he does that easily. Perpetually wears tinted sunglasses and dresses plainly: white shirt and jeans, black boots. Sometimes he wears a black leather jacket. The mouth-sockets have sharp white teeth and little black tongues.
Personality: The Corinthian is markedly inhuman in nature. He doesn't understand fear, as his purpose is partly to inspire the feeling in others, and being incapable of experiencing the feeling means he can be reckless in his actions and vicious to the point of insanity. Sadness and mourning are also foreign to him, as is love, though he can show hints of affection and attachment, and he can display sympathy after a fashion. He has, as his name might suggest, a devil-may-care attitude, that for the most part is relaxed and subdued. Unless the situation hits one of his few pressure points he's likely to be the most relaxed man in the room. He's also entirely without shame-- his nature is his name, and to be a corinthian means to be "debauched in character or practice; a licentious libertine".
He carries some of the arrogance of his predecessor, and is cocky and proud, though he feels no need to boast his abilities. He takes a delight in the kill and the eyes he's able to consume afterward, and while he doesn't kill wantonly, those that try to harm him or obstruct his duties are fair game. He takes delight in "awful things", and though he's not as prone to uncontrolled sadism as his predecessor was, he's attracted to darkness. The nightmare is usually independent and solitary: though he can seem very social on the surface, he needs to be on his own now and again or risk giving into dark impulses.
As he was literally created by the Dream Lord, and was made to be a loyal servant to him, he'll be burdened with hints of that bond. While he won't know who or what is missing, there will be a perpetual feeling that he's been cut off from something.
Abilities: He has skill with a knife and deadly accuracy, as well as skill at hand-to-hand combat. He's intelligent and observant, and has a basic understanding of people on a level that's almost creepy. Smooth in speech and action.
Nightmare abilities:
. super strength
. minor healing abilities
. can create nightmares (he wouldn't be aware of this ability yet)
. can distinguish between mortals and spirits/gods/other
. can sense illusions
. can see through a person's eyes temporarily (by putting them in his mouth-sockets), or see what they saw before they died if it was a violent death
. can promote/influence feelings of unease (not consciously)
. doesn't need to sleep (though he can), doesn't require food or water (but constantly hungers for eyes)
History: The Corinthian is a nightmare, created many centuries ago by Dream, the Lord of Dreaming and one of the Endless-- beings who have existed since the beginning of time and exist above the gods. He was described by the Dream King as "a nightmare created to be the darkness, and the fear of darkness in every human heart. A black mirror, made to reflect everything about itself that humanity will not confront." But when Dream was for a time held captive, his kingdom thus abandoned and his creations free to roam, The Corinthian left the Dreaming and became a serial killer, preying on young men and eating their eyes. Eyes are a particular obsession to the nightmare as he has none of his own-- instead, his eye sockets are two small mouths capable of both speech and breath. For many years he continued on in this fashion, until finally Dream broke free and found The Corinthian and saw what he had become. His intention had been corrupted-- his dark mirror had become nothing more than a common, twisted murderer. Displeased with his creation, he unmade him.
Years later he made another, born partly of the first but less corrupted and far more loyal. He had a task for him, to retrieve a child who had been stolen. Along with Matthew, the Dream Lord's raven, he tracked down the Norse God Loki and strangled him into unconsciousness, took his eyes, and retrieved the boy. When the Dream Lord died, the boy took up the mantle. Up until the end of the comic series the Corinthian is an able and faithful servant, above the petty murderous instinct of his predecessor, though no less vicious.
False memories: The Corinthian has no family, and no one who has ever seen beneath his sunglasses would be surprised to learn this: what family would want a freak for a child? His earliest memory is of waking up beaten and bloody in a trash heap, with no memory of where he'd come from. It's assumed that this incident is the reason he cannot remember anything from early childhood or who might have raised him. He was found by one of the local street gangs, who "took pity" on the strange mutant and gave him a purpose, having him run small, odd jobs for them. He remembers being given his strange name by the gang that took him in, named laughingly by one of the leaders for his libertine behavior, his careless attitude. Eventually he learned to wear sunglasses to hide his freakish abnormality, and hid mention of other oddities-- the way he could sense people, the way he didn't need to sleep or drink or eat... and the way he felt a stirring hunger for eyes. He remembers the first time he cut them from a corpse and carefully devoured them with his strange mouths. He remembers how good they tasted.
He's been sure to keep that appetite fed since then.
The Corinthian remembers working up through the ranks, and what a long, hard battle it was. He remembers studying to be of more use, of using his vocabulary and smooth manners to blend in on trips to Terra and, once, to the upper level itself. He remembers the night the gang was utterly decimated in a turf war. The nightmare was once again alone. Thankfully, his usefulness has kept him alive and out of slavery or dead in a back alley. He acts now as an independent "fetcher", retrieving things for anyone who will hire him, be it a person, a body part, drugs or a stolen item, and he's been hired to act as a go-between when a neutral party is needed. He's known to be capable and loyal when he's on someone's payroll, and a hard man to find when he's not.
He usually keeps to himself except when working, though he'll leave his home (if the broken building can be called that) from time to time to find pleasure in the entertainment venues. Anything to take his mind off the odd dreams he has when he does try to sleep, of the shadowy figure in the long, black robe. The one who feels so much like home.
Sample Post: His phone was ringing. The nightmare glanced up from the show he was watching, lifting his brows faintly. Work. His new employer... Vincente, wasn't it? Some aristocratic name, attached to some fat, fine-dressed thing who imagined himself an Elysian. Three mouths smiled in the darkness at the thought. Only in your dreams, dull as I imagine they are.
"Mr. Vincente? ...Mm, good. I was hoping you'd call." He walked calmy as he spoke, toeing aside an empty bottle (left by whatever unfortunate soul had squatted here last) and wandering into another room. "Yes, I have. I told you I would. I'd almost think you hadn't believed me, Mr. Vincente.
"...No, no trouble." His voice had gone low and dull, bored by the man's concerns. He was full of inane questions. Was it intact, did it go okay, did anyone see--? What a weak creature the man was. The Corinthian's lip curled in distaste. "I tell you again: it was fine. I'll meet you tomorrow, as I agreed, and then you'll pay me, as you agreed. Good night." He cut the call, ignoring the protest of the man on the other side.
Tossing the phone between his hands, the Corinthian stared impassively down at the mutant animal, which had finally stopped ripping up the carpet and snapping at the chain long enough to sleep. Not his most respectable fetch, and hardly his most daring, but oh well. Money was money, and pickings were slim lately. There were too many other free agents around offering the same services. Too much competition. He'd have to see if he couldn't get rid of some of it.
Name/Nickname: Hound
Journal: houndartemis
Email: the_hound_of_artemis @ yahoo.com
IM (AIM): homocycle
Timezone: EST
--
Name: The Corinthian (ID #3987981)
Age: Physically 28, mentally centuries old (not specified in canon), was actually only created a few years ago. It's complicated.
Series: The Sandman
Species: Nightmare
Gender: Male
Occupation: "Fetcher" (fetches and delivers things for people)
Point of canon: The end of the series, after "The Wake"
Level: Abyss
Appearance: Short, perpetually mussed white hair, average muscular build, average height, average good looks-- he was designed to look the part of an average man, and besides the white hair and the fact that he has two fully-functional mouths instead of eyes, he does that easily. Perpetually wears tinted sunglasses and dresses plainly: white shirt and jeans, black boots. Sometimes he wears a black leather jacket. The mouth-sockets have sharp white teeth and little black tongues.
Personality: The Corinthian is markedly inhuman in nature. He doesn't understand fear, as his purpose is partly to inspire the feeling in others, and being incapable of experiencing the feeling means he can be reckless in his actions and vicious to the point of insanity. Sadness and mourning are also foreign to him, as is love, though he can show hints of affection and attachment, and he can display sympathy after a fashion. He has, as his name might suggest, a devil-may-care attitude, that for the most part is relaxed and subdued. Unless the situation hits one of his few pressure points he's likely to be the most relaxed man in the room. He's also entirely without shame-- his nature is his name, and to be a corinthian means to be "debauched in character or practice; a licentious libertine".
He carries some of the arrogance of his predecessor, and is cocky and proud, though he feels no need to boast his abilities. He takes a delight in the kill and the eyes he's able to consume afterward, and while he doesn't kill wantonly, those that try to harm him or obstruct his duties are fair game. He takes delight in "awful things", and though he's not as prone to uncontrolled sadism as his predecessor was, he's attracted to darkness. The nightmare is usually independent and solitary: though he can seem very social on the surface, he needs to be on his own now and again or risk giving into dark impulses.
As he was literally created by the Dream Lord, and was made to be a loyal servant to him, he'll be burdened with hints of that bond. While he won't know who or what is missing, there will be a perpetual feeling that he's been cut off from something.
Abilities: He has skill with a knife and deadly accuracy, as well as skill at hand-to-hand combat. He's intelligent and observant, and has a basic understanding of people on a level that's almost creepy. Smooth in speech and action.
Nightmare abilities:
. super strength
. minor healing abilities
. can create nightmares (he wouldn't be aware of this ability yet)
. can distinguish between mortals and spirits/gods/other
. can sense illusions
. can see through a person's eyes temporarily (by putting them in his mouth-sockets), or see what they saw before they died if it was a violent death
. can promote/influence feelings of unease (not consciously)
. doesn't need to sleep (though he can), doesn't require food or water (but constantly hungers for eyes)
History: The Corinthian is a nightmare, created many centuries ago by Dream, the Lord of Dreaming and one of the Endless-- beings who have existed since the beginning of time and exist above the gods. He was described by the Dream King as "a nightmare created to be the darkness, and the fear of darkness in every human heart. A black mirror, made to reflect everything about itself that humanity will not confront." But when Dream was for a time held captive, his kingdom thus abandoned and his creations free to roam, The Corinthian left the Dreaming and became a serial killer, preying on young men and eating their eyes. Eyes are a particular obsession to the nightmare as he has none of his own-- instead, his eye sockets are two small mouths capable of both speech and breath. For many years he continued on in this fashion, until finally Dream broke free and found The Corinthian and saw what he had become. His intention had been corrupted-- his dark mirror had become nothing more than a common, twisted murderer. Displeased with his creation, he unmade him.
Years later he made another, born partly of the first but less corrupted and far more loyal. He had a task for him, to retrieve a child who had been stolen. Along with Matthew, the Dream Lord's raven, he tracked down the Norse God Loki and strangled him into unconsciousness, took his eyes, and retrieved the boy. When the Dream Lord died, the boy took up the mantle. Up until the end of the comic series the Corinthian is an able and faithful servant, above the petty murderous instinct of his predecessor, though no less vicious.
False memories: The Corinthian has no family, and no one who has ever seen beneath his sunglasses would be surprised to learn this: what family would want a freak for a child? His earliest memory is of waking up beaten and bloody in a trash heap, with no memory of where he'd come from. It's assumed that this incident is the reason he cannot remember anything from early childhood or who might have raised him. He was found by one of the local street gangs, who "took pity" on the strange mutant and gave him a purpose, having him run small, odd jobs for them. He remembers being given his strange name by the gang that took him in, named laughingly by one of the leaders for his libertine behavior, his careless attitude. Eventually he learned to wear sunglasses to hide his freakish abnormality, and hid mention of other oddities-- the way he could sense people, the way he didn't need to sleep or drink or eat... and the way he felt a stirring hunger for eyes. He remembers the first time he cut them from a corpse and carefully devoured them with his strange mouths. He remembers how good they tasted.
He's been sure to keep that appetite fed since then.
The Corinthian remembers working up through the ranks, and what a long, hard battle it was. He remembers studying to be of more use, of using his vocabulary and smooth manners to blend in on trips to Terra and, once, to the upper level itself. He remembers the night the gang was utterly decimated in a turf war. The nightmare was once again alone. Thankfully, his usefulness has kept him alive and out of slavery or dead in a back alley. He acts now as an independent "fetcher", retrieving things for anyone who will hire him, be it a person, a body part, drugs or a stolen item, and he's been hired to act as a go-between when a neutral party is needed. He's known to be capable and loyal when he's on someone's payroll, and a hard man to find when he's not.
He usually keeps to himself except when working, though he'll leave his home (if the broken building can be called that) from time to time to find pleasure in the entertainment venues. Anything to take his mind off the odd dreams he has when he does try to sleep, of the shadowy figure in the long, black robe. The one who feels so much like home.
Sample Post: His phone was ringing. The nightmare glanced up from the show he was watching, lifting his brows faintly. Work. His new employer... Vincente, wasn't it? Some aristocratic name, attached to some fat, fine-dressed thing who imagined himself an Elysian. Three mouths smiled in the darkness at the thought. Only in your dreams, dull as I imagine they are.
"Mr. Vincente? ...Mm, good. I was hoping you'd call." He walked calmy as he spoke, toeing aside an empty bottle (left by whatever unfortunate soul had squatted here last) and wandering into another room. "Yes, I have. I told you I would. I'd almost think you hadn't believed me, Mr. Vincente.
"...No, no trouble." His voice had gone low and dull, bored by the man's concerns. He was full of inane questions. Was it intact, did it go okay, did anyone see--? What a weak creature the man was. The Corinthian's lip curled in distaste. "I tell you again: it was fine. I'll meet you tomorrow, as I agreed, and then you'll pay me, as you agreed. Good night." He cut the call, ignoring the protest of the man on the other side.
Tossing the phone between his hands, the Corinthian stared impassively down at the mutant animal, which had finally stopped ripping up the carpet and snapping at the chain long enough to sleep. Not his most respectable fetch, and hardly his most daring, but oh well. Money was money, and pickings were slim lately. There were too many other free agents around offering the same services. Too much competition. He'd have to see if he couldn't get rid of some of it.