Profile (wip)
Aug. 16th, 2015 04:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
afullmooncharacter.
CHARACTER NAME: Gemaryah "Chika" Washington
AGE: 32
APPEARANCE: Human form: He is 6"6, with hair all over his body. His eyes are also the color hazel, His hair is black, and with a slight kink to it. Usually, he has quite a bit of facial stubble, if not an actual beard or goatee. He also has an olive skin tone, prone to darkening with the smallest bit of sunlight. He tends to smile a lot, and when he speaks, there is the fainest of drawls. He's also very well muscled, both due to his condition, and the fact that he works out. The feature that may stand out, however, is the fact that his nose is slightly crooked; someone was obviously not kind to him once. Given a chance, he tends to wear work clothes; flannels, crew neck shirts and jeans are his main choice of wear. However, if convinced, he can and will wear clothing that is more formal, or closer to what is the norm of whichever society he is taking part of.
Doesn't mean he won't gripe about it though.
Wolf form: Unless something unusual has happened-say, he was injured, or injected with a poisonous substance-China will look like a normal black wolf with a scattering of white fur on his muzzle, face, and chest. His eyes are amber in color, and usually it is not easy to connect the wolf to the man. A wolf is known to act like a wolf, and not a man...right?
BRIEF WORLD INFO:
His world and ours are similar on the surface. There is technology, war, governments that don't quite work. There are issues with the environment, and fights for social and human rights as well. A major difference between his world and ours is the every day magic and the clans. For Chika, the clans are of greater importance, which we will cover below.
Dismissed as most as an urban myth, there are people loosely tied by blood who have what is labeled 'an abnormal connection with nature' . The truth is, shapeshifters-those who can change their form, usually to animals-exist. Reasons for this has been coined by religion, science, and cynicism alike; the same for how they came into being. For one person's story, there is another, told by science, grandparent stories, or tradition. But the fact is they exist. For the most part, they have attempted to blend in with human society. And for thousands of years, that has worked. Stories have leaked from all over the world, ranging from were dolphins to were wolves, seen mostly as polite fiction on a global scale. It was not until more recently that the truth came to light, leaving the Clans people, a minority to the rest of the human race, exposed. Most have been drilled since childhood with the fear of exposure, tales that they would be used, hunted, or more recently experimented on by humans.
Secrecy was their one global policy throughout the world; now it is to stand united against the greater threat. And yet, there are major differences when it comes to the various clans. Some are looser in meaning, while others are more tight knit, with familiar creation myths, magic abilities, enemies and allies, known for generations. In the east, for example, there is the Tsukiko Clan, fiercely united and under the banner of various businesses, which has gained economic and political power, more with every year. In their myth, they were blessed by a goddess, and were made to be guardians of nature. Their form is that of dragons, and are small in comparsion to the other various clans, numbering in the hundreds. The Hamrammr clan in contrast is more loosely tied and has spread throughout the world, with thousands of people as members and even part of sub clans for various parts of the world. For most of the werewolf clan, they do not claim divinity. While some claim genetics, odd occurrences, magic or curses, they are united in their diversity and various cultural backgrounds. Most local groups are organized into smaller organizations following pack leadership, as they, unlike the Tsukikios, have both a larger population, and the urge to lead and follow amongst themselves.
The Hamrammr clan have also been known to fight other clans for various reasons: territory, resentment, greed, amongst othher historial reasons. (Usually if their countries were in conflict, but not the clans, their people would either try to discreetly support each other, flee, or simply avoid their territory, even if it meant desertion). One of the sub clans of the were wolves within Turkey and the Balkans is known to have a history of conflicts with the Ninkharsag clan, a sub-werefox clan who claims to have originated as far back as Mesopotamian times. Both clans are known to resent and despise each other; conflict could break out at any time, causing an untold loss of lives and exposure. The hate formed many factors in Chika's life without his being aware of them, or their impact.
BRIEF CHARACTER HISTORY:
Origins and Childhood
CHARACTER NAME: Gemaryah "Chika" Washington
AGE: 32
APPEARANCE: Human form: He is 6"6, with hair all over his body. His eyes are also the color hazel, His hair is black, and with a slight kink to it. Usually, he has quite a bit of facial stubble, if not an actual beard or goatee. He also has an olive skin tone, prone to darkening with the smallest bit of sunlight. He tends to smile a lot, and when he speaks, there is the fainest of drawls. He's also very well muscled, both due to his condition, and the fact that he works out. The feature that may stand out, however, is the fact that his nose is slightly crooked; someone was obviously not kind to him once. Given a chance, he tends to wear work clothes; flannels, crew neck shirts and jeans are his main choice of wear. However, if convinced, he can and will wear clothing that is more formal, or closer to what is the norm of whichever society he is taking part of.
Doesn't mean he won't gripe about it though.
Wolf form: Unless something unusual has happened-say, he was injured, or injected with a poisonous substance-China will look like a normal black wolf with a scattering of white fur on his muzzle, face, and chest. His eyes are amber in color, and usually it is not easy to connect the wolf to the man. A wolf is known to act like a wolf, and not a man...right?
BRIEF WORLD INFO:
His world and ours are similar on the surface. There is technology, war, governments that don't quite work. There are issues with the environment, and fights for social and human rights as well. A major difference between his world and ours is the every day magic and the clans. For Chika, the clans are of greater importance, which we will cover below.
Dismissed as most as an urban myth, there are people loosely tied by blood who have what is labeled 'an abnormal connection with nature' . The truth is, shapeshifters-those who can change their form, usually to animals-exist. Reasons for this has been coined by religion, science, and cynicism alike; the same for how they came into being. For one person's story, there is another, told by science, grandparent stories, or tradition. But the fact is they exist. For the most part, they have attempted to blend in with human society. And for thousands of years, that has worked. Stories have leaked from all over the world, ranging from were dolphins to were wolves, seen mostly as polite fiction on a global scale. It was not until more recently that the truth came to light, leaving the Clans people, a minority to the rest of the human race, exposed. Most have been drilled since childhood with the fear of exposure, tales that they would be used, hunted, or more recently experimented on by humans.
Secrecy was their one global policy throughout the world; now it is to stand united against the greater threat. And yet, there are major differences when it comes to the various clans. Some are looser in meaning, while others are more tight knit, with familiar creation myths, magic abilities, enemies and allies, known for generations. In the east, for example, there is the Tsukiko Clan, fiercely united and under the banner of various businesses, which has gained economic and political power, more with every year. In their myth, they were blessed by a goddess, and were made to be guardians of nature. Their form is that of dragons, and are small in comparsion to the other various clans, numbering in the hundreds. The Hamrammr clan in contrast is more loosely tied and has spread throughout the world, with thousands of people as members and even part of sub clans for various parts of the world. For most of the werewolf clan, they do not claim divinity. While some claim genetics, odd occurrences, magic or curses, they are united in their diversity and various cultural backgrounds. Most local groups are organized into smaller organizations following pack leadership, as they, unlike the Tsukikios, have both a larger population, and the urge to lead and follow amongst themselves.
The Hamrammr clan have also been known to fight other clans for various reasons: territory, resentment, greed, amongst othher historial reasons. (Usually if their countries were in conflict, but not the clans, their people would either try to discreetly support each other, flee, or simply avoid their territory, even if it meant desertion). One of the sub clans of the were wolves within Turkey and the Balkans is known to have a history of conflicts with the Ninkharsag clan, a sub-werefox clan who claims to have originated as far back as Mesopotamian times. Both clans are known to resent and despise each other; conflict could break out at any time, causing an untold loss of lives and exposure. The hate formed many factors in Chika's life without his being aware of them, or their impact.
BRIEF CHARACTER HISTORY:
Origins and Childhood
Chika was born as a product of a affair between his parents. His father was of the Ninkharsag clan and a high profile business man, and his mother was a diplomat's wife and werewolf whose bloodline was claimed to be of a sub clan, the Allta, also known as the Wolves of Ossory. However, her bloodline was considered diluted; her family claim went back to the Crusades era. Though there had been known breeding to other werewolves after her ancestor's journey from Ireland to the Holy Land, his mother could not change her form at all, and instead went through a mental change during every full moon. In the belief that neither wolf nor fox gene would be passed on, they gave Chika up for adoption in the United States (where incidentally most of their affair took place). Deducing that Chika did not take after his mother, it would be best that his mixed heritage was not seen nor guessed by their spouses. It would mean not only a divorce, but a possible outbreak of war. Both were content with the status quo, and did not wish to disturb it. If they thought Chika took after his mother, they might have kept him. Instead, they left him, thinking he would have a better life and be taken in by a wealthy family.
Youth
The Search
Without a chance for post secondary education (as his grades, even toward the end, weren't great, and no sports scholarship in sight) Chika worked various part time jobs for a year, saving up before he went back packing. Though it seemed a scattered trip-going from various locations in Central Europe before flying to Greece, for example-it was all in search of finding what his people were from, and where he belonged. And that in itself was no easy matter. He had to look for the signs of people who hid in plain sight, and for a wolf not offically part of any clan, this was not easy. More difficult still he had to keep an eye on his monthly transformations. Going without meant irritation, muscle cramps and vomiting at the worst times. Sometimes he risked being shot on sight, or injury due to the enivoronment he was in-not to mention having to find a place to keep his wallet and backpack locked up and safe. With this forced trial and error, he was able to figure out what was best to keep his body from being irritated or forcing a transformation due to anger or fright, as well as various places to stay and who to trust.
Even as the shifting and the mundane was settled, he still had complications to face. The major one was to figure out where his family came from. The only thing he knew for sure was one of his parents was a Northern Wolf, if only due his physical appearance both as a wolf. He was unable to know if he was part of a certain bloodline for certain, with centuries of history, or if he had been cursed at birth due to something stupid his parents had done. He was, at least, able to find various werewolf families and other shape shifters throughout Europe, Asia, and South America after going through some effort to prove he was trustworthy, and not simply a spy or a sellout searching for people to take to various companies and governments. After speaking with the families and sub clans he met throughout his journey he came to a conclusion: either his parents did not know what he was, or they were too young and panicked to realize what giving up a werewolf child could be dangerous. He thought, and was told by various people in that giving up a were child to the world, it could have risked all kinds of genetic and domestic abuse.It could have caused a witch hunt of their kind, mostly of babies and young children, to be used as private soldiers, spies, and body guards for the wealthy. Once that was understood, Chika settled a little, understanding that he was now part of a culture that was more family centrist and protective that he was used to. Though he was now coming in late, he was welcomed, much to his mixed feelings. Part of him wanted to have this extended family, and part of him was bitter, thinking it was too little, too late. Obviously, they wanted something from him, like contributing into the gene pool, or protecting this family from some danger or another.
Going to so many places though bit deeply into his funds. In his efforts to continue making money (and not wanting a hand out) he had to start working around to get money. He started working for hostels, quick and easy English lessons, maintenance for houses, farming-anything that needed labor. He had to start camping out more and more often if he couldn't find a hostel to work from, or it was simply too much for his budget.
In the end, his green card was running out of days, and he did not want to be humiliated by being kicked out of the country. Much as he enjoyed doing the little tasks in order to pay his way, he didn't get much to get a ticket back. He also wanted to come back someday with a positive note. The communities were a touch stone that he was not alone. But he also did not want to be in debt to the locals.
So he joined in an old tradition in Ireland: an underground bare knuckles ring match.
This was likely one of his stupider ideas. If it hadn't been close to a full moon, he likely would have enjoyed a permanent limp, a concession, and scarred knuckles. He nearly killed the first challenger in the first match, because he didn't realize his own raw strength. But, he was able to get the money for home in one night.
Finally, Chika could go home, figure out what he could do, and drink some American beer. He didn't want to let Maksim know that he was back and without a home, so he started to do what he could, just like in Europe. He was a variety of things, just so he could get some money, and get a home: shelters, menial work, seasonal retail. Finally, Maksim found him again, and despite his protests dragged him back to his house. Maksim had been worried that Chika was going to get back into some bad habits. The young wolf was more thankful for a hot shower and a bed.
It didn't last for long though; for all that he was thankful to the only person he could call his foster father, he wanted his independence. Maksim offered him a loan; Chika refused. Maksim offered him work. Chika tried to go job shopping. Finally, after a lot of bickering, they settled on a plan so Chika could be employed, and pay Maksim back for his generosity. He joined an apprenticeship program. Not just any, but an electrician program. With it, he not only attended a local college to receive his license, but he was able to get work-first as an apprentice, then as a journeyman. With the hours he was able to put in, he was able to get his mastery at the age of twenty six, and found himself employed as general service electrician.
It was good work, and profitable; he was able to use the money to pay back his foster father, and save up for a new home. A new home with privacy. Chika wanted to be able to change when he could, and run without the danger of discovery. It was a small house, but it was his. It was worth it. It was his place, and he did not have to worry about strange people, strange noises, or disliking his current living quarters. It was his.
This doesn't mean he found peace. There were rumors from the were children he allowed to kip over during vacations. They spoke of war arising again, and of rumors of skinwalkers arising. Secret wars that did not involve him were one thing. He had ties to the European and South American weres, true, but few in America and none that he could find in state. That was of little concern. But the idea of the skinwalkers...they were frightening. And despite what the internet and humans thought, they were very, very real, and very easy to piss off.
But there was little he could do, unless he saw one around. He started training more at the gym, and took up boxing as well as mixed martial arts in order to defend and keep the fear at bay. While he wasn't looking for trouble, his state was a matter of record. His address was in the phone book. The only way he'd stay in the loop was if he stayed in contact with the other weres. For the past two years, he's been waiting word. Who knows when politics will cause war to break out...
Or when the other big bads decide to come and visit.
PERSONALITY:
When Chika was younger, he was angry, aggressive, and tended to pick fights and taunted whenever he had the chance. Most of what came out of his mouth was merely sarcasm and snide. The only times that he did not come up with insults or words laced with contempt was when he was exhausted, distracted, or high off the various drugs, too zoned out to make a fuss about anything. He was a punk, and he didn't care who knew it.
With the change of his body and various physical outlets for his anger, Chika has mellowed out. True, Chika still tends to be flippant and at times mouthy. This is especially true when he's frightened or nervous. However, the wolf is more good natured in his words and teasing. If nothing else, Chika is calmer with a more laid back attitude in accepting situations as they are. He doesn't get angry so easily anymore, and will not hesitate to poke fun at himself or admit that he was wrong.
However, for all that he is accepting of the world around him...Chika is not so trusting of people. Even with all of his smiles, they're nothing but sweeteners. All show but no substance. After growing up in a place where people are temporary and few even care about you, he tends to return the favor tenfold to the world. Very few tend to get past the smiles he uses to shield himself from people. If they're lucky, he'll even admit that he cares, and that they're his weak spot. These are the people he would show affection to not with words, but with physical touch. Beyond sex, Chika does not tend to get physical with others. He does not want his scent being on those he would not protect if they needed, or wanted, the protection.
Not that he explains that to human strangers; it's difficult enough as it is.
After his backpacking tour, and seeing people around the world, he has seen decency, and cruelty. It wasn't just in talking with the various clans, but with the people he found willing to talk to the local tourist guy. And yet, when it comes to humans, for all he acts kind, his opinion on the matter is...mixed, to say the least. On the one hand, with his childhood, he rather not risk being hurt. Hurt is a multi fold term for Chika: it could mean the recalls to the sneers and insults of his childhood, or exposure of what he truly is. He does not want to be considered a freak, by anyone. So he'll most likely keep his distance, make nice faces and at times, act childish. Unless there's a reason to make that effort, Chika will maintain his polite distance.
He also has long since embraced his wolf side. It may seem that he wanted to be special, to be something that would make him different enough from others that would have him marked. And it might have been correct. Or not. If asked, Chika enjoys having his wolfy nature for a chance to run, and have an outlet in hunting and sometimes fighting. He needs something to let out all of the anger, confusion, and just plain negative emotions. Some people rant, eat ice cream, or go get drunk when this happens. Chika just goes and turns into a wolf.
Though the werewolf is not easy to anger, he does have his triggers. He can be easily annoyed at the bashing of family ties. He can also get annoyed for people not trusting him on the basis of his nature, gender, or race. Call him an ass, and he's fine; that's something he does intentionally. Hate him for being a male...well, sparks might fly. He tends to get snappish and to the point when he's annoyed, physical when he's truly ticked off. Thankfully, his temper is not so short as some of the people he may find to be his companions.
Chika also likes to stay busy, usually with some form of work. Though he doesn't think himself as artistic, he does like to work with his hands. He's best when it comes to maintenance or repair. He works for hours on end, slowly and carefully enjoying the challenge and rushing only in need.
Chika loves to hackle romance movies and comedies. He also has a fondness for boxing, jogging cross country, and other various physical activities. If it's physical and outdoors, likely he has tried it at least once. He can also play a killer set of hand drums when he's drunk.
ABILITIES:
The werewolf is the perfect predator, a savage hybrid of human intelligence and animal cunning. The werewolf is extremely powerful, capable of easily ripping a man apart. The werewolf has incredible hunting and killing capabilities, possessing supernatural levels of strength, speed, agility, and endurance.
The werewolf has supernatural regenerative capabilities, allowing the creature to recover from even the most grievous wounds within minutes (although whether the werewolf is capable of regrowing a severed limb is unknown). Silver inhibits the healing process, but the werewolf will eventually recover. The claws and teeth are designed for shredding flesh and snapping bones. The creatures has enhanced senses of sight, smell, and hearing. It can see extremely well in the dark, and can track its prey for miles by scent alone. The werewolf is able to hear the beating heart of its prey. Basically, when a werewolf attacks, there is almost no chance of survival.
The werewolf cannot be harmed by conventional weapons, as ordinary firearms and blades seem to do little more than annoy the beast. Only a silver bullet or blade in the correct location can kill a werewolf. However, his strength is known to wax and wane with the phases of the moon.
Their trademark ability is of course changing shape into that of a wolf. Chika was born with this ability, though it took until his teens to adjust for the power to come into full. Though he can control when he can change most of the time, phases of the moon can make this more and less difficult.
Instead, Chika grew up with a strange name given by the state, and in a series of foster homes. Some were kind; some were not. He tended to be bounced around to state to state, when one home did not work out for one reason or another; sometimes his foster parents were reported for their behavior, or they could no longer take care of him or the other children in the household. Some were just meant to be temporary. And while he went from home to home, he suffered from bullying, fighting, anger and depression. It was difficult childhood, and not surprising that he did not think over much of academics. Gym and shop class were his best subjects as he grew from childhood, to youth.
Youth
Around the time he was twelve, he started to notice changes. He had odd dreams of forests and chasing prey, and itches. He would get muscle cramps at the oddest times, or feel tension if he stayed inside cramped spaces for too long. His appetite increased fivefold, and as puberty hit, the more out of his skin he felt.
More then ever, he wanted to feel normal, like everyone else. His grades were worse than ever, and friends were getting harder to come by. Due to this, and the painful roller costar of hormones, he started to experience violent mood swings. It scared him, and he tried to get help. He was told by doctors that he was merely growing up; that by foster parents and group leaders that it was his problem, and that he needed to have better control of himself. In order to calm down, he started taking drugs. Some of them worked, some of them did not. Some of them had serious side effects to his health, and did nothing for his temper. But he was hooked. He took anything he could get his hands on to keep the pain away. Soon he was with street gangs, not returning to the foster house for days at a time, witnessing and taking part of street violence. Anything to take the itching away. Anything to numb the experience, and his emotions was what he wanted.
Unknown to him, he had caught the attention of someone who knew his mother, and what she was. Through some careful arrangements, Maksim Ainsile arranged for Chika to be fostered in his home, wanting to hopefully adopt and mentor his friend's son. Though untrusting, Chika went along with the arrangement. Maksim was known to be something of mafia material on the streets, though he had a good political standing and was considered a philanthropist by most. Chika had some hopes with this new housing situation. He hoped the drugs would come by for free, making it easier to steal, use, and sell for himself and his habits. This never came into being however. Maksim informed his foster son that this was a drug free house and that he'd be assisting the boy in coming clean with both the drug and gangster life. Chika, angry and having withdrawals, turned on him, intending to shake Maksim down until he got what he wanted.
The confrontation wasn't like Chika had pictured. He was throughly outclassed when it came to Maksim's skills, and at one point, he ended up falling on top of Maksim's collection of silver coins. When the silver was pressed into Chika's broken skin, he experienced a severe reaction. He had never had such a allergeic (if it cold be called that) reaction to anything before-he always healed fairly quick and clean. When he instead passed out from the pain, and found himself in the hospital, he panicked, and tried to leave. Maksim wouldn't let him. Though angry with being attacked by his ward, it was far too dangerous to have a pre shifted werewolf who had no idea what he was out on the streets, alone.
The hospital visit and the disscusion after changed their relationship for the better. Though not a clan member himself, Maksim was able to explain much of what he was going through. He made Chika into a nobody experiencing pain into someone special. Life was going to be different once he had his first shift from human to wolf. Finally, Chika had an answer-even if it was hard to believe. There was no way of knowing until he changed forms. But to him, everything else seemed to make sense. The healing, the unease with himself, the desire to be in the forest. It all fit.
This did not mean that everything was better. Chika still needed to be rid of his gang activity and the drugs in his system. He had bad days, and there were even times were he accidentally broke things, or goofed up. But nonetheless, four months after being clean-and five months in being in the Ainsile household- Chika had his first change. It was the most physically painful thing he felt in his life, but it was well worth it. He had answers. He felt purged for awhile of the anger and anxiety at the world and at himself. He was more at ease, knowing that someone was right, and that he was not quite human. With a lot more poking and grumbles, Maksim was able to get Chika to focus on finishing up school. But something nagged at him.
He had been given up. He had no medical nor parental records from his birth. From what he was told by his foster father, exposure from people like him was dangerous to the so called clans. He could have been killed if Maksim hadn't taken him in, or worse. He had risked himself with every doctors visit. The idea that his parents were out there, that there were others like him nagged and bothered him. So as he turned eighteen and he had to work for food and home, he decided he wanted to find out who he was.
More then ever, he wanted to feel normal, like everyone else. His grades were worse than ever, and friends were getting harder to come by. Due to this, and the painful roller costar of hormones, he started to experience violent mood swings. It scared him, and he tried to get help. He was told by doctors that he was merely growing up; that by foster parents and group leaders that it was his problem, and that he needed to have better control of himself. In order to calm down, he started taking drugs. Some of them worked, some of them did not. Some of them had serious side effects to his health, and did nothing for his temper. But he was hooked. He took anything he could get his hands on to keep the pain away. Soon he was with street gangs, not returning to the foster house for days at a time, witnessing and taking part of street violence. Anything to take the itching away. Anything to numb the experience, and his emotions was what he wanted.
Unknown to him, he had caught the attention of someone who knew his mother, and what she was. Through some careful arrangements, Maksim Ainsile arranged for Chika to be fostered in his home, wanting to hopefully adopt and mentor his friend's son. Though untrusting, Chika went along with the arrangement. Maksim was known to be something of mafia material on the streets, though he had a good political standing and was considered a philanthropist by most. Chika had some hopes with this new housing situation. He hoped the drugs would come by for free, making it easier to steal, use, and sell for himself and his habits. This never came into being however. Maksim informed his foster son that this was a drug free house and that he'd be assisting the boy in coming clean with both the drug and gangster life. Chika, angry and having withdrawals, turned on him, intending to shake Maksim down until he got what he wanted.
The confrontation wasn't like Chika had pictured. He was throughly outclassed when it came to Maksim's skills, and at one point, he ended up falling on top of Maksim's collection of silver coins. When the silver was pressed into Chika's broken skin, he experienced a severe reaction. He had never had such a allergeic (if it cold be called that) reaction to anything before-he always healed fairly quick and clean. When he instead passed out from the pain, and found himself in the hospital, he panicked, and tried to leave. Maksim wouldn't let him. Though angry with being attacked by his ward, it was far too dangerous to have a pre shifted werewolf who had no idea what he was out on the streets, alone.
The hospital visit and the disscusion after changed their relationship for the better. Though not a clan member himself, Maksim was able to explain much of what he was going through. He made Chika into a nobody experiencing pain into someone special. Life was going to be different once he had his first shift from human to wolf. Finally, Chika had an answer-even if it was hard to believe. There was no way of knowing until he changed forms. But to him, everything else seemed to make sense. The healing, the unease with himself, the desire to be in the forest. It all fit.
This did not mean that everything was better. Chika still needed to be rid of his gang activity and the drugs in his system. He had bad days, and there were even times were he accidentally broke things, or goofed up. But nonetheless, four months after being clean-and five months in being in the Ainsile household- Chika had his first change. It was the most physically painful thing he felt in his life, but it was well worth it. He had answers. He felt purged for awhile of the anger and anxiety at the world and at himself. He was more at ease, knowing that someone was right, and that he was not quite human. With a lot more poking and grumbles, Maksim was able to get Chika to focus on finishing up school. But something nagged at him.
He had been given up. He had no medical nor parental records from his birth. From what he was told by his foster father, exposure from people like him was dangerous to the so called clans. He could have been killed if Maksim hadn't taken him in, or worse. He had risked himself with every doctors visit. The idea that his parents were out there, that there were others like him nagged and bothered him. So as he turned eighteen and he had to work for food and home, he decided he wanted to find out who he was.
The Search
Without a chance for post secondary education (as his grades, even toward the end, weren't great, and no sports scholarship in sight) Chika worked various part time jobs for a year, saving up before he went back packing. Though it seemed a scattered trip-going from various locations in Central Europe before flying to Greece, for example-it was all in search of finding what his people were from, and where he belonged. And that in itself was no easy matter. He had to look for the signs of people who hid in plain sight, and for a wolf not offically part of any clan, this was not easy. More difficult still he had to keep an eye on his monthly transformations. Going without meant irritation, muscle cramps and vomiting at the worst times. Sometimes he risked being shot on sight, or injury due to the enivoronment he was in-not to mention having to find a place to keep his wallet and backpack locked up and safe. With this forced trial and error, he was able to figure out what was best to keep his body from being irritated or forcing a transformation due to anger or fright, as well as various places to stay and who to trust.
Even as the shifting and the mundane was settled, he still had complications to face. The major one was to figure out where his family came from. The only thing he knew for sure was one of his parents was a Northern Wolf, if only due his physical appearance both as a wolf. He was unable to know if he was part of a certain bloodline for certain, with centuries of history, or if he had been cursed at birth due to something stupid his parents had done. He was, at least, able to find various werewolf families and other shape shifters throughout Europe, Asia, and South America after going through some effort to prove he was trustworthy, and not simply a spy or a sellout searching for people to take to various companies and governments. After speaking with the families and sub clans he met throughout his journey he came to a conclusion: either his parents did not know what he was, or they were too young and panicked to realize what giving up a werewolf child could be dangerous. He thought, and was told by various people in that giving up a were child to the world, it could have risked all kinds of genetic and domestic abuse.It could have caused a witch hunt of their kind, mostly of babies and young children, to be used as private soldiers, spies, and body guards for the wealthy. Once that was understood, Chika settled a little, understanding that he was now part of a culture that was more family centrist and protective that he was used to. Though he was now coming in late, he was welcomed, much to his mixed feelings. Part of him wanted to have this extended family, and part of him was bitter, thinking it was too little, too late. Obviously, they wanted something from him, like contributing into the gene pool, or protecting this family from some danger or another.
Going to so many places though bit deeply into his funds. In his efforts to continue making money (and not wanting a hand out) he had to start working around to get money. He started working for hostels, quick and easy English lessons, maintenance for houses, farming-anything that needed labor. He had to start camping out more and more often if he couldn't find a hostel to work from, or it was simply too much for his budget.
In the end, his green card was running out of days, and he did not want to be humiliated by being kicked out of the country. Much as he enjoyed doing the little tasks in order to pay his way, he didn't get much to get a ticket back. He also wanted to come back someday with a positive note. The communities were a touch stone that he was not alone. But he also did not want to be in debt to the locals.
So he joined in an old tradition in Ireland: an underground bare knuckles ring match.
---to be edited below----
This was likely one of his stupider ideas. If it hadn't been close to a full moon, he likely would have enjoyed a permanent limp, a concession, and scarred knuckles. He nearly killed the first challenger in the first match, because he didn't realize his own raw strength. But, he was able to get the money for home in one night.
Finally, Chika could go home, figure out what he could do, and drink some American beer. He didn't want to let Maksim know that he was back and without a home, so he started to do what he could, just like in Europe. He was a variety of things, just so he could get some money, and get a home: shelters, menial work, seasonal retail. Finally, Maksim found him again, and despite his protests dragged him back to his house. Maksim had been worried that Chika was going to get back into some bad habits. The young wolf was more thankful for a hot shower and a bed.
It didn't last for long though; for all that he was thankful to the only person he could call his foster father, he wanted his independence. Maksim offered him a loan; Chika refused. Maksim offered him work. Chika tried to go job shopping. Finally, after a lot of bickering, they settled on a plan so Chika could be employed, and pay Maksim back for his generosity. He joined an apprenticeship program. Not just any, but an electrician program. With it, he not only attended a local college to receive his license, but he was able to get work-first as an apprentice, then as a journeyman. With the hours he was able to put in, he was able to get his mastery at the age of twenty six, and found himself employed as general service electrician.
It was good work, and profitable; he was able to use the money to pay back his foster father, and save up for a new home. A new home with privacy. Chika wanted to be able to change when he could, and run without the danger of discovery. It was a small house, but it was his. It was worth it. It was his place, and he did not have to worry about strange people, strange noises, or disliking his current living quarters. It was his.
This doesn't mean he found peace. There were rumors from the were children he allowed to kip over during vacations. They spoke of war arising again, and of rumors of skinwalkers arising. Secret wars that did not involve him were one thing. He had ties to the European and South American weres, true, but few in America and none that he could find in state. That was of little concern. But the idea of the skinwalkers...they were frightening. And despite what the internet and humans thought, they were very, very real, and very easy to piss off.
But there was little he could do, unless he saw one around. He started training more at the gym, and took up boxing as well as mixed martial arts in order to defend and keep the fear at bay. While he wasn't looking for trouble, his state was a matter of record. His address was in the phone book. The only way he'd stay in the loop was if he stayed in contact with the other weres. For the past two years, he's been waiting word. Who knows when politics will cause war to break out...
Or when the other big bads decide to come and visit.
PERSONALITY:
When Chika was younger, he was angry, aggressive, and tended to pick fights and taunted whenever he had the chance. Most of what came out of his mouth was merely sarcasm and snide. The only times that he did not come up with insults or words laced with contempt was when he was exhausted, distracted, or high off the various drugs, too zoned out to make a fuss about anything. He was a punk, and he didn't care who knew it.
With the change of his body and various physical outlets for his anger, Chika has mellowed out. True, Chika still tends to be flippant and at times mouthy. This is especially true when he's frightened or nervous. However, the wolf is more good natured in his words and teasing. If nothing else, Chika is calmer with a more laid back attitude in accepting situations as they are. He doesn't get angry so easily anymore, and will not hesitate to poke fun at himself or admit that he was wrong.
However, for all that he is accepting of the world around him...Chika is not so trusting of people. Even with all of his smiles, they're nothing but sweeteners. All show but no substance. After growing up in a place where people are temporary and few even care about you, he tends to return the favor tenfold to the world. Very few tend to get past the smiles he uses to shield himself from people. If they're lucky, he'll even admit that he cares, and that they're his weak spot. These are the people he would show affection to not with words, but with physical touch. Beyond sex, Chika does not tend to get physical with others. He does not want his scent being on those he would not protect if they needed, or wanted, the protection.
Not that he explains that to human strangers; it's difficult enough as it is.
After his backpacking tour, and seeing people around the world, he has seen decency, and cruelty. It wasn't just in talking with the various clans, but with the people he found willing to talk to the local tourist guy. And yet, when it comes to humans, for all he acts kind, his opinion on the matter is...mixed, to say the least. On the one hand, with his childhood, he rather not risk being hurt. Hurt is a multi fold term for Chika: it could mean the recalls to the sneers and insults of his childhood, or exposure of what he truly is. He does not want to be considered a freak, by anyone. So he'll most likely keep his distance, make nice faces and at times, act childish. Unless there's a reason to make that effort, Chika will maintain his polite distance.
He also has long since embraced his wolf side. It may seem that he wanted to be special, to be something that would make him different enough from others that would have him marked. And it might have been correct. Or not. If asked, Chika enjoys having his wolfy nature for a chance to run, and have an outlet in hunting and sometimes fighting. He needs something to let out all of the anger, confusion, and just plain negative emotions. Some people rant, eat ice cream, or go get drunk when this happens. Chika just goes and turns into a wolf.
Though the werewolf is not easy to anger, he does have his triggers. He can be easily annoyed at the bashing of family ties. He can also get annoyed for people not trusting him on the basis of his nature, gender, or race. Call him an ass, and he's fine; that's something he does intentionally. Hate him for being a male...well, sparks might fly. He tends to get snappish and to the point when he's annoyed, physical when he's truly ticked off. Thankfully, his temper is not so short as some of the people he may find to be his companions.
Chika also likes to stay busy, usually with some form of work. Though he doesn't think himself as artistic, he does like to work with his hands. He's best when it comes to maintenance or repair. He works for hours on end, slowly and carefully enjoying the challenge and rushing only in need.
Chika loves to hackle romance movies and comedies. He also has a fondness for boxing, jogging cross country, and other various physical activities. If it's physical and outdoors, likely he has tried it at least once. He can also play a killer set of hand drums when he's drunk.
ABILITIES:
The werewolf is the perfect predator, a savage hybrid of human intelligence and animal cunning. The werewolf is extremely powerful, capable of easily ripping a man apart. The werewolf has incredible hunting and killing capabilities, possessing supernatural levels of strength, speed, agility, and endurance.
The werewolf has supernatural regenerative capabilities, allowing the creature to recover from even the most grievous wounds within minutes (although whether the werewolf is capable of regrowing a severed limb is unknown). Silver inhibits the healing process, but the werewolf will eventually recover. The claws and teeth are designed for shredding flesh and snapping bones. The creatures has enhanced senses of sight, smell, and hearing. It can see extremely well in the dark, and can track its prey for miles by scent alone. The werewolf is able to hear the beating heart of its prey. Basically, when a werewolf attacks, there is almost no chance of survival.
The werewolf cannot be harmed by conventional weapons, as ordinary firearms and blades seem to do little more than annoy the beast. Only a silver bullet or blade in the correct location can kill a werewolf. However, his strength is known to wax and wane with the phases of the moon.
Their trademark ability is of course changing shape into that of a wolf. Chika was born with this ability, though it took until his teens to adjust for the power to come into full. Though he can control when he can change most of the time, phases of the moon can make this more and less difficult.
