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1. Player Information
Name : Anne
Current characters in Bete Noire: Jim T. Kirk (Trek: XI)
2. Character Information
Name: Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler
Livejournal Username: toseebeyond
Fandom: X-Men
Image:
Reserve: Here
3. Character Information II
Age/Appearance: Kurt is in his late twenties. However thanks to his mutation and natural agility he's able to keep up with those much younger than him.
More than once in his life Kurt's been accused of deing a demon or some kind of supernatural creature, thanks to his mutation. His skin is indigo/dark blue, naturally smooth. His hair is a similar colour, his ears pointed, his irises are yellow and are luminous in the dark. He has three fingers (two fingers and a thumb) on each hand, and two on each toe. His teeth are pointed, slightly longer than human teeth. He has a prehensile tail, roughly 3 1/2 feet long, which is strong enough to hold his weight or that of another person. Both feet and tail are dextrous enough to be used as hands/limbs.
While his skeleton and physiology are roughly similar to a human's Kurt is much more flexible. For example, sitting crouched for hours on end causes him no discomfort.
History: Kurt's birth and early years. (First two paragraphs.) This is from the comic verse
Summary of the movie prequel comic. It presumes that the circus has travelled to America from Germany.
This summary doesn't specify how long Kurt was held by Stryker, but I imagine it would have been a couple of months at the very least. It also doesn't deal with the fact that Kurt has set up a home for himself in the abandoned church in Boston where Ororo and Jean find him during the movie, though it is implied that this is the church Kurt is in when he is put under the illusion (explaining the posters behind Kurt in the church).
A summary of X2. Kurt is taken post-movie.
Personality: NOTE! Because Kurt is only in one movie of the trillogy I'm filling the gaps in with what we know of Kurt from the comics. I'm running with the assumption that movie!Kurt should have roughly the same characteristics as comic!kurt and that at least some part of his generally more serious/withdrawn tone in the movie can be put down to his having just been abducted, tortured and forced to kill people. That takes it out of anyone, even good humoured blue people.
While his appearance my be demonic, Kurt's personality is anything but. Good natured and light hearted, anyone who really knows him can't deny he's a people person; ready with a smile, a joke, a listening ear and encouraging word for whoever might need it.
The gypsies/Roma Kurt was raised by were key to this. They accepted Kurt as he was, giving him no reason to feel that his appearance was anything to be treated differently, and while the truth that the wider world might not share the opinion has affected him, he tries never to allow that to dictate his behaviour. It's better, he feels, to face the world confident and with good humour that to allow the world to wear him down.
He understands keenly the distinction (and at times utter dissimilarity) between outer appearance and inner nature and tries never to judge people before knowing them. He has always tried to give people the benefit of the doubt, however his kidnapping and torture at the hands of General Stryker have made him much more wary. He doesn't want to be used again, and he doesn't want to scare people into retaliating against him based on appearance alone. He will reveal himself to others if he feels it is safe to do so, but is extremely cautious until he feels they really won't get shooty or violent towards him.
He also understands and respects that some people will need time to adjust to him. As long as people are open about their feelings, he will do what he can to accomodate them.
As a child he loved stories of pirates and their swashbuckling adventures and even as an adult he cannot deny he doesn't try to be (even a little) as daring, brave and chivalrous as he can. The showmanship he learned in the circus certainly helps, and Kurt isn't above pulling out a performance to bring a smile to someone's face (or even just listening in on an important conversation). He won't back down from opporutinties to have a little more adventure and fun in his own life. He can be quite a flirt under the right circumstances, and, like the dashing pirates he admires so much, tries to always be a charming gentleman.
This is his way of fighting mutant hatred, almost. To show that depite his inhuman apperance and the way he has been treated he can still laugh and smile and be normal, and so can other mutants.
Despite his cheer, he finds it disheartening to be so judged only by his appearance. He struggles with it himself, wavering between the desire to be accepted as he truly is and the longing simply to be accepted no matter the cost. Among other mutants he takes the opportunity to show himself, but in public he'd prefer to hide his appearance rather than face the rejection and hatred he expects.
He prefers not to kill, and the memory of his time with Stryker haunts him. If he can incapacitate an enemy without hurting them, he'll do so. This isn't to say he is a coward. If asked he would do anything he could to help a friend, to the extend of putting his own life in danger.
He doesn't believe in mutant superiority. Humans and mutants are different, yes, but essentially the same when it comes to their nature (which he thinks is more important that the ability to shoot lightning out of your eyes or be blue). Both are capable of terrible things, of inhumane acts and both are capapble of trememdous altruism and caring. Understanding and patience, he thinks, are needed on both sides to eradicate the fear and prejudice. He realises it's an ambitious ideal
Kurt is also deeply religious. Brought up in the Catholic faith it is an important part of his life and character. He has studied a little theology, but his faith is very practical. He believes God loves mankind and mutantkind equally, this reinforces his desire to see the world become a place where mutants and humans can co-exist together. The world isn't a perfect however and he doesn't expect it to be, neither does he expect to change it on his own. But his faith helps give him hope that one day things will be better.
He treats his faith like his mutation. He is more-or-less comfortable with it and doesn't see it as something to be hidden or ashamed of, simply something that is part of him.
A sidenote on Kurt's tattoos. I've been really conflicted about these. The tattoos really speak to me of fanaticism and an unhealthy approach to religion which Kurt in the comics never displayed. Kurt in the X2 prequel comic doesn't have them. The Catholic church, as far as I'm aware, doesn't condone this sort of behaviour and I have a suspicion that it was only included as a part of Kurt's character design in the movie to make him more interesting looking (after his fur was left out because it would have been too impractical to make such a costume for the actor to wear/made him resemble Mystique more). However they're so visibly a part of him that it'd be difficult just to ignore them. So I'd like to aknowledge them, suggest that possible Kurt made them when he was younger, (a little like a teenager getting a tattoo?) and not make too big a deal of them at all.
Sexual Preferences/Orientation: Heterosexual, generally monogamous. Having been brought up Catholic, Kurt holds strongly to the ideals of the church. However being brough up with Gypsies and in the circus he has had a chance to explore his own sexuality, if only a little so while he is quite naive he isn't ignorant when it comes to the birds and the bees. He views sex as a deeply personal, deeply intimate act.
Powers:
Teleportation.
Kurt can transport himself, his clothing and anything touching him from one place to another, nearly instantaneously. He creates a portal or wormhole into another dimension and travels there to reappear at his desired location, so fast that he is usually unaware of having travelled through it. The opening and closing of this portal makes a 'bamf' sound (the sound of air rushing to fill/leave the space), and gasses escaping the other dimension leave the smell of brimstone. He has a limited subconscious sense which keeps him from teleporting into objects, into the floor for example. It is very limited, however.
The limitations on this power are that it takes a great deal of effort to carry anyone else along with him, his limit is two. The trip makes any passengers feel extremely nauseous and dizzy. He can only travel somewhere he has been or has a clear line of sight to, otherwise he could teleport into a wall, which would cause it to fuze with him and most likely kill him. The absolute furthest distance he can travel is four miles. Any inertia is kept intact through the teleport.
People with superhuman senses will be able to detect a change in the atmosphere in the few seconds before Kurt teleports to a location.
Super Flexiblity/Agility.
As a mutant his physiology is different to that of a human's. Kurt's spine and limbs allow him to contort his body in ways that humans usually cannot.
Year in the circus have increased his natural superhuman balance and flexibility so that he is able to contort himself
Night Vision
He can see exceptionally well in the dark. Not in total darkness however.
Sticking to Surfaces
He's able to scale walls, holding himself with only the slightest friction. He isn't able to hold himself on frictionless surfaces.
Blending into shadows
While not exactly an ability, thanks to his colouring Kurt can blend into shadows and darkness extremely well. This is naturally limited by how deep the shadow is and how much attention people nearby are paying.
Reason for playing:
I find Kurt to be a fascinating character; one of the least human-looking mutants and yet one of the most humane.
In the comics he's fun and lighthearted, and has developed into a someone confident enough in his appearance to go out in public without disguising his appearance. X2!Kurt has been burned, and badly. While he tries not to hold resentment against those who kidnapped and tortured him he is a lot more cautious than he has been before. Teaming up with the X-men has helped him regain some of his confidence, but his recovery and return to 'normal' behaviour will take time.
The increasing tension between humans and non-humans in Bete Noire means that Kurt's presence in the city will be extremely unwelcome to many. Playing out his strong ideals against such a setting will be a challenge. That the Church of the Soul are such strong advocates of the pro-human sentiment will be an interesting point of conflict with him and his own faith. His first thought would be to find help in a church, after all.
5. Samples
First-Person:
Dear Mun thread
Test drive meme (included because in the first thread he only talks/reacts to one person)
Third-Person: It was night. This both made the situation better (he could hide more easily in the dark) and worse (it would be harder to get a clear understanding of where he was).
It was a large city, not one he recognised. Kurt had approached it cautiously, taking care not to be spotted until he reached the relative safety of the buildings' shadows and their rooftops. Until he knew where he was and how he could get back to the school, it would be safer to stay out of sight, he felt.
And if he needed help there was more chance people would respond favourably in daylight.
His teeth glinted in the moonlight as he surveyed the horizon, a smile crossing his face. There was the unmistakable outline of a Cathedral against the sky. Wherever he was, he would find help there.
It was an easy matter to cross the rooftops, teleporting across the streets that were too wide to jump. As he crossed the city he took note of what he saw in the streets, buildings, pubs, landmarks. It could be useful to know the layout of the streets, get a feel for the city.
A sudden cry in an alley caught his attention. Arriving at the edge of the roof overlooking it he found a man backing into a dead end, three bigger men advancing on him. The looks on their faces were not pleasant, and they seemed to only grow more amused with the shouts for help their victim was making.
"Three against one? An unfair fight, don't you think?" The heavily-accented voice, seemingly out of nowhere, startled the attackers. By the time they'd looked up Kurt was on the other side of the alley, calling out again. "Perhaps you wouldn't mind a few more joining in-" another bamf in the shadows, now he was shadowed in a window above them "-to make it fair?"
He teleported in front of the first mugger, a big man holding a baseball bat, and took advantage of his shock to remove the weapon. "I would find another alley to lurk in," Another quick teleport, removing a knife- but one of the men had already taken to his heels.
The two men looked at each other, leaning away from Kurt. He smiled then, making sure they took full notice of his pointed teeth. They followed suit of of the alley, pushing at each other in their desire to get as far away from the demon apartation as possible.
Kurt chuckled, amused and relieved. Hopefully that would encourage the men to try more honest ways of finding an income, for a few nights at least.
"Are you all right, sir?" He extended a hand to the fallen mugee, similing reassuringly now. "I do not think they'll return-
The fear in the man's eyes was nothing he hadn't seen before, but even after the sound of his running feet had faded out of hearing Kurt sat crouched in the now empty alleyway. Wherever this city was, human still seemed to be the norm.
There was a soft bamf, the smell of sulfur, and then the alley was empty once more.
Third-Person #2:
Since their first meeting back in the condemned church in Boston, Kurt had been unable to stop thinking of her. Ororo. She was charming, intelligent and powerful. And she also carried a deep hurt in her that made Kurt's heart ache. Currently it was not the only part of him that ached for her.
They had run into each other only moments ago, literally. He had teleported to the corridor outside the schoolrooms, right into her path. Overbalancing, he'd instinctively grabbed her and teleported. Right onto his bed.
For long, tongue-tied moments he had been unable to apologise, to explain, to move (one part of him had been crying out for movement, but he wasn't listening to it). He'd been unable to read her expression- shock? Anger? Confusion? Thankfully shehad said something amused and witty before sitting herself up. He (eternal dummkopf that he was) had managed only a few mumbled apologies, moving to the edge of the bed and praying fervently that she wouldn't notice his arousal.
If she had, she hadn't mentioned it, which he was thankful for. But she had joked about how nice it was seeing the inside of his room before she left, which had left him more confused that ever. He wasn't sure
With a sigh, he allowed himself to fall back onto his bed, trying to ignore the throbbing between his legs.
He had longed for her to touch him again for such a long time. He dreamed of the touch of her fingers against his chest and back, that night in Boston. Now he burned all over, almost shivering at the memory of her weight above him, her thigh between his legs... her breast pressed firmly against him. He placed a hand against his chest, where hers had been as she had pushed herself off him.
He might have kissed her, if he had been only a little bolder.
He grabbed the bedding with one hand in frustration and- what? Arousal? Lust? He wanted more than kisses- he wanted to worship her, leave no part of her unloved or untouched and undo whatever had been done to make her so angry. He longed to feel her heart race against his lips at her neck, between her breasts- to see love and desire returned in her own eyes as he kissed her navel and then again lower-
With a groan, Kurt sat up off the bed. That was wrong. Ororo was beautiful (oh, how hard it was to forget) and perhaps one day he would work up the courage to tell her he thought so, but she deserved his respect. Whoever looks upon a woman with lust... To think of her in such a way- of any woman- without permission was as bad as forcing himself upon. A cold shower and a run through the Danger Room should distract him.
Perhaps he could ask her later if she'd join him for dinner.