Scott Kinney - Evenhet
Basic Information
Birth Name: John Grey of Rotherfield
Aliases: John Grayson, Scott Grayson, Scott Gray, and most recently, Scott Kinney
Place of Birth: Oxfordshire, England
Age: Real - 711. Appearance - 31
Male/Female: Male
Current Occupation: Professor of Romantic Lit at Corcoran School of Art & Design, Washington DC.
Past Occupation: Knight of the Order of the Garter, Spice merchant, Textile merchant, Student, Teacher, Professor.
Appearance
Hair Color: Brown
Length and Style: Semi-short, straight, parted almost down the middle.
Eye Color: Hazel
Skin Color: Lightly tanned
Height: 6' 2�?
Weight: 192 lb.
Nationality: English
Race: Vampire (Evenhet)
Body Type: Athletic
Avatar info: Character Brian Kinney from the show "Queer as Folk", which is no longer on TV anymore. Played by Gale Harold.
Description (if an NPC) or name of your creator:
Scott's creator is named Istavan DeGaulle, and was a French Knight who turned him in 1341.
Scott had had been captured by the French after suffering a grievous back-wound from the battlefield during the Hundred Year's War in France. During his incarceration and healing, he became acquaintances with the Knight who had wounded him, and as two fellow Knights with mutual respect, they became 'friends' of a sort.
During this time, Scott discussed his wife and son in great detail, how he missed them, loved them, etc. Unknown to Scott, Istavan became interest in Scott's family. Envy slowly turned to jealousy, and jealousy into desire.
Scott's wound took a turn for the worse, and Istavan explained that Scott would die - but Istavan, who almost felt like Scott was a brother at this point, offered to turn him. At first Scott refused after Istavan explained what he could do - but, Istavan spent weeks preying on his fears and anguish - telling tales of his wife, Katherine, being a widow, raising their son, John, all alone without their father. How Scott would MISS his wife and son! Scott agreed, allowing himself to be turned.
Istavan, however, had neglected to tell Scott many things. Such as the detriments of being a Vampire.
To Istavan, he had 'gifted' Scott with something - so he was 'due' something in return. While Scott was recovering from the turning, Istavan made his way to England, found Scott's family, raped his wife, and killed both her and his son. Istavan would be the last to see them alive, the last to 'love' Katherine. Though he was heartbroken over the loss of his 'surrogate' family, if he couldn't have them - no one would.
Istavan's whereabouts? Currently unknown. Who truly knows the mind of a madman?
Personal Questions
1. Describe your character's personality
Scott is a friendly, polite, and courteous individual, often to the point of being overly so. He opens doors for ladies, helps little old ladies cross the street, and takes the garbage out for his elderly landlord. If he is treated kindly, he gives it in return readily and without hesitation.
Scott believes in things like 'honor' and such.... to a degree. Centuries of seeing the changes in the world has made him a bit jaded - but not overly much. He still has faith in humanity as a whole.
2. Describe how your character would appear to a stranger (I.E. typical dress, way they carry themselves etc.)
Scott's usual attire is casual and modern. He'll often teach classes in well-cared for blue-jeans, colored t-shirt or plain button-down dress-shirt without a tie, tennis-shoes (black or white, depending on his mood), and a suit jacket. While he doesn't go completely overboard with t-shirts, he does own several dedicated to his favorite band, Rush, or his favorite football team, the Indianapolis Colts, even though this gets him his share of crap from his friends who live in the northern DC suburbs, closer to Baltimore. This attire often garners him a few odd looks from fellow faculty where he teaches, but, he feels he's earned the right to dress how he wants, and he likes to dress as close to the styles that he sees his students wearing in an effort to 'fit in'.
At home, he loses the jacket, but otherwise remains the same. He does not get "dressed-up�? except in rare circumstances, and doesn't feel comfortable in "formal clothing�? of any kind.
He comports himself confidently, but in a quiet manner. Often lost in thought, he sometimes might not even immediately recognize co-workers or students, which gives some the impression of aloofness or arrogance, when in actuality, he is neither. He simply is in a 'zone' with his thoughts sometimes.
3. What does your character like?
Scott likes sports of all kinds, he's a movie-fanatic, loving the cinema ever since it was invented. He loves music of all types, from classical to heavy-metal, though he prefers British and Canadian musicians, and avoids Rap, Country, and anything churned out from the American corporate music-scene.
He also enjoys the occasional video-game, and gets a kick out of playing games that 'claim' to have an authentic middle-ages theme. He enjoys reading sci-fi/fantasy, including authors like George R.R. Martin. One of his prized possessions is a copy of "The Hobbit�? signed by J.R.R. Tolkein, himself.
He likes Ren-fairs, as well - and gets a kick out of the events that take place there, amused by the things that are 'different' from reality, but appreciative of the details that truly are close to authentic.
He likes dogs.
4. Dislikes?
Scott does not like smoking or drugs at all, and he doesn't like anything more than the occasional drink.
Scott dislikes being lied to, and dishonesty in general. He is usually capable of cutting someone a break - until they lie to him or try to deceive him.
He dislikes being disrespected, and dislikes bullying and bigotry. Black, white, red, yellow - humans are all the same underneath the skin - or in the dark.
He dislikes cats.
5. (For humans) Describe what abilities you see your character having if they were turned. N/A
6. What are your fears?
He fears tight/enclosed spaces, or rather, any place where he couldn't stretch his arms and legs. The traditional 'coffin' thing for Vampires? Nope, not him.
He fears meeting his creator. He has a debt to settle with him, but it would require him facing his past - and that's another fear he has. He knows he basically led Istovan directly to his family - even though it was innocently so. He's afraid of having his slain wife and son used against him in memory, or any other way, an old wound centuries old that may never truly heal.
He fears the Vampire political scene. He wants nothing to do with it, but like regular politics, he understands it's a necessary evil. Still, he tries his best not to get involved in it, and even though he is a member of Evenhet, he secretly feels that he joined simply to better help him avoid the politics, further recruitment attempts, etc. While he DOES go along with Evenhet's principles, if he were left to his own devices, he'd not engage in the political side of Vampire life at ALL.
A related, deep-seated fear he has is one day, open warfare between Vampire and Human will break out. It may not be in the immediate future, but he has this fear that one day Vampires will attempt to have more and more control over their surroundings, as their numbers grow, and the superiority of some of the major players reaches untenable levels. He's had nightmares of humans being sold in open "meat markets", much like a grocery store, where a Vampire could 'shop' and choose a bloodbag to their specific desires. He's had nightmares of humans being sold on eBay, raffled off, auctioned off, with taxes for such sales going to fund putting a Vampire president in the White House, etc.
He fears a true commitment, true love, to another woman. He's had his share of flings, where he usually struggles for control, but in the end, he hasn't been able to bring himself to truly commit. Part of him wants to - the other part is afraid to, afraid that she will meet the same fate somehow.
7. What is your character's strengths and weaknesses?
Strengths-
Scott is a fast learner, often able to pick things up the first time he is exposed to them.
He is loyal, and once his trust is gained, he's a loyal, trustworthy friend.
Scott is an excellent specimen. He takes care of his body on a daily basis, sometimes more than he needs to (it helps him think), and keeps in excellent shape.
Scott is empathic and uses this to help deal with people in better ways. It is exceptionally useful in a classroom environment, where he can sense students who need help - and not just in scholarly ways.
Scott has a great sense of humor, and does not mind being the butt of jokes, and is often self-deprecating. However, outright disrespect to him, or ESPECIALLY towards those he cares about will often raise his ire.
Weaknesses-
Scott has a soft-spot for damsels in distress, or children in need. Those infomercials to feed a starving child in Africa for 10 cents a day? Kryptonite.
Scott is also a softie for Humans. He will normally feed on animals - usually rats and rabbits that he buys from a pet-store.
Scott still lives in the past - in some ways. Some of the ways he thinks are 'outdated'. Underestimating a woman's ability to fight, for example, has gotten him a fat-lip more than once in Aikido class.
Commitment. He very badly wants to be loved - and wants to love again. He's waited a very, very long time for that. But the pain of his original loss - however long ago it was - is so fresh that it makes him very, very leery about commitment.
Vampire -
Abilities:
Empathy
Glamour
Suggestion
Flaws (Listed here)
Protective of Humans
Mortal Guilt
Hobbies & Skills (for more information, read here)
Scott is something of a fitness nut, keeping his athletic body in tip-top condition. He is not a body-builder - he's more of a sleek-hunting-cat rather than a bulked-up-rhino. Biking, running, even rowing are some of his various methods of keeping in shape.
Scott is a 5th dan black belt in Aikido, and he practices regularly, and even offers a few select people training in it. For some, it's Tai-Chi. For him, it's Aikido.
Scott is a great cook, and can speak, read, and write fluent Latin and Italian.
Cosmetic Traits
Scott has a long, thin scar on the back of his shoulder, running diagonally down his shoulder blade, stopping just short of his spine. This scar has not faded, not even in 700 years. He 'earned' it on the field of battle during the Hundred Years war, in 1340, just before he was turned.
Quirks and Habits worthy of mention -
Scott has a photographic memory, which began when he was young, but has only grown sharper with age. This can be a blessing, and a curse, as he remembers painful details of his life in vivid clarity, sometimes taking centuries to fade even slightly.
Scott is also very chivalrous, something that was ingrained in him at an early age because of his childhood and upbringing. This has stuck with him through the centuries. He is not only protective of humans, but of children and women, as well.
But, he is a bit of a control-freak, especially when it comes to women. He finds himself often conflicted, as he wants to protect women, but when he is involved with one, he likes to be the one in control - probably a flashback to when his first wife was taken from him - beyond his control - all those centuries ago. Often, this desire for control causes the relationship to collapse, and he finds himself at square one, all too easily.
Personal History
Scott Kinney was born John Grey of Rotherfield in 1300, in Oxfordshire, England. He grew up in a wealthy family, and at a young age was fairly spoiled. He spent most of his boyhood life as a squire to his father, and when he came of age, he became a full-fledged Knight.
He fought for the the monarchy in Scotland and France, with bravery and valor at every turn. It was during the early part of the Hundred Year's War that he had his first run-in with the undead.
Scott had had been captured by the French after suffering a grievous back-wound from the battlefield during late 1340 in France. During his incarceration and healing, he became acquaintances with the Knight who had wounded him, Istavan DeGaulle, and as two fellow Knights with mutual respect, they became 'friends' of a sort.
During this time, Scott discussed his wife and son in great detail, missing them deeply and hoping to see them again one day. Unknown to Scott, Istavan became interest in Scott's family, as well from all the descriptions Scott had shared. Envy slowly turned to jealousy, and jealousy into desire, as Istavan was never able to find love of his own.
Scott's wound took a turn for the worse, and Istavan explained that Scott would die - but Istavan, who almost felt like Scott was a 'brother' at this point, offered to turn him. At first Scott refused after Istavan explained what he could do - but, Istavan spent weeks preying on his fears and anguish - telling tales of his wife, Katherine, being a widow, raising their son, John, all alone without his father. How Scott would MISS his wife and son! Scott agreed, allowing himself to be turned in early 1341.
Istavan, however, had neglected to tell Scott many things. Such as the detriments of being a Vampire.
To Istavan, he had 'gifted' Scott with something incredible - so he was 'due' something in return. While Scott was recovering from the turning, Istavan made his way quickly to England, found Scott's family, raped his wife, and killed both her and his son. Istavan would be the last to see them alive, the last to 'love' Katherine. Though he was heartbroken over the loss of his 'surrogate' family, if he couldn't have them - no one would.
Scott used his new-found powers to escape and flee home, but he was too late. In blood, Istavan had smeared the walls with a message: "They were mine�?.
Scott buried his family, and tried to return to public life. He was treated as a hero upon his return, but he didn't feel like one. Indeed, with the loss of his family, which was blamed on bandits, he felt like he had failed the two most important people in his life.
For distinguishing himself on the field of battle countless times during his life, in 1348 he was one of the founding members of the prestigious Order of the Garter, the highest ranking Knightly Order in England.
Scott, of course, didn't age anymore, and this little detail had started to cause a stir. He also didn't travel "much�? during daylight, which also caused a stir. After many years of this public 'suspicion', he faked his death in 1359, and moved on, taking a large portion of his family fortune with him.
Over the years, he has moved from job to job, place to place, re-establishing himself each time, sometimes taking a new-name. He chose to feed on animals - he refused to let his new hunger control him. But, sometimes, he would lose control, and after choosing his victim carefully, he would feed on the delicacy known as human blood.
When he felt he was running out of places to run in England, he moved to America in the early 1800's just as Napoleon was basking in his march across most of Europe.
He moved to the DC area and has been there ever since. He drifted from job to job, always in such a way as to not draw suspicion or curiosity. He started buying rats and rabbits to feed upon, alternating pet-store locations to purchase such creatures - or hunting them himself.
Not long after coming to America, he had been watched by a member of the Evenhet clan, witnessing Scott avoiding taking human blood as much as possible, hunting, catching, buying small animals for his meals. This 'watcher' followed him for quite some time, and eventually extended an invitation to the clan. Scott had spent his existence trying to avoid clan 'politics', simply wanting to be left alone - but the facts were laid out before him, how the world was changing, how everyone was safer inside a 'family'. He reluctantly agreed.
He eventually became a teacher, and then a professor, bouncing from school to school as American's population skyrocketed. He taught night-classes, which were quite normal and not very suspicion-inducing.
During his time in the States, his English accent has faded, and to most people he sounds like typical American northerner. But, the accent will still rear its head when he speaks to other English men or women, and if he's had one too many to drink (which isn't often).
Not long ago, he met a student in one of his classes who he could tell was infatuated with him. He didn't know why he... felt.. something for her. Maybe she reminded him of Katherine? Or perhaps enough time had gone by (seven centuries!) and now he felt he was ready? He joined her in a 'relationship' and had his first REAL fling with a woman, but, it apparently wasn't meant to be as she graduated and moved away to Nachton.
Now, Scott has taken sabbatical to visit Nachton, to find Miya, and sort out his feelings for her - one way or the other.
OOC Checklist
Player name (online is fine) - Scott Kinney
Other Characters you play - None at the moment
How you came to SA (Other board, friend, etc) - Friend, Miya
Have you read all the Rules? - Yes
Do you understand that this is an adult board with adult content (sometimes graphic and violent in nature)? - Yes indeed.
This board is adult only. Are you over the age of 18? - Yes.