jaciio-blog

[jaciio-blog]

30 Days of Character Development:  Resources & Abilities

Why do they have their resources? How long have they had them, and how have they served the character over time? (Ex. Contacts, money, political power, fame, etc.)

Contacts:  Some of the contacts he has were found on his own, but a good majority of them came from their relationship to either his mother or father, as both have connections all around the city.  This has actually contributed a bit to keeping him safe when hunters come to town.  Mark, like his siblings, is rather well-known by the community, and to that community, he’s nothing more than the youngest son of Broderick Turati.  Nothing suspicious about that, right?

Other contacts:  Humans around the city aren’t the only connections he has going on.  Mark also has a few friends like himself; not just shifters, but others of the supernatural variety.  That keeps him relatively in the loop with the goings-on around the city.

Money:  Mark makes his own, as he has since graduating college.  

[jaciio-blog]

30 Days of Character Development:  Resources & Abilities

Where did they learn their abilities?

If we’re talking about his capability to successfully do his job, then that came from his father and eldest sister, both of whom served as mentors to show him the ins and outs of the business world.  As far as his supernatural abilities go, that was the combined effort of his own self-discovery and another shapeshifter named Nathan Byers.

If they have an income, where does it come from?

Work.

Do they have a job? Do they like it? How do they feel about their co-workers?

Markus works for his father’s company as a director of business development, helping to manage and grow his father’s (or…”father’s”, rather) territory and keeping tabs on revenue growth, and he absolutely loves it.  He works from home, makes good money, deals with people on only an occasional basis; it’s the perfect position for him.

[jaciio-blog]

30 Days of Character Development:  Favorites & Habits

What are some of your character’s hobbies? What do they do with their time:  Mark is an avid reader; his apartment is littered with books of every shape and size, most of which he’s read four or five times already.

Favorite color:  Cobalt blue

Favorite music artists? Movies or TV shows? Books or authors:  Where music is concerned, his taste is rather wide, encompassing everything from oldies to death metal, and in each genre he has a particular favorite artist, so the list is super long.  Same goes for books; Mark will read anything and everything he can get his hands on, with maybe a slight preference for historical fiction and fantasy, and his favorite authors depend on the genre he’s reading.  Now, TV shows/movies?  Give him the crime stuff.  Criminal Minds, Law & Order (especially SVU), NSCIS, those kinds of shows.   He absolutely loves them.

Political stance? Are they active in politics or do they not care:  Middle of the road.  Some conservative views he agrees with, some liberal views he agrees with--though, he does tend to lean further left, if he’s entirely honest.  Rarely does he engage in the topic of politics, though, because all in all, he really doesn’t care.

What are some of their pet peeves:  Oh, the list is a long one, as people in general are pretty damn annoying, in his eyes:  adults intentionally swearing in front of children, snoopers, large groups that take up a sidewalk and walk as slow as humanly possible, parents letting their children shriek and scream in public while they just ignore it, failure to use turn signals, willful ignorance, duck face, overly frequent status updates, people who are chronically late, hearing other guys talk down to women or refer to ‘babysitting’ their own damn kids, red light creepers, obnoxious doorbell ringers--yeah, the list is definitely a long one.

What sort of gifts do they like:  Mark is a practical man.  Give him gifts that he can use in some way, and he’ll be happy as a clam.

What is their favorite time of day? Favorite weather? Season:  Mark loves the last hour of the day before the sun finally sets, when fewer people are milling about and there’s a certain peace beginning to set in; if the weather is nice, he’ll spend that last hour just chilling on his balcony.  As far as weather goes, he prefers cooler temperatures (not cold, but cool), and his absolute favorite days are those with rain and thunderstorms.  Perfect days to relax, right there.  Spring is his season of choice because, hey, all that weather-stuff he likes?  It’s a frequent occurrence in springtime.

Where do they like to spend their time:  His apartment is at the top of the list, followed by his sister Evelyn’s place (Evie’s his best friend, and he adores his niece and nephew, so any time with them is time well spent).  Outside of that, his friend Liarin tends to drag him around to different places; coffeehouses, clubs, the pier, etc., and it always varies where they’ll end up.  So, let’s just say he likes spending time in her company.  

Favorite food? Favorite drink? Hot drinks, soft drinks, or alcohol:  Food, it’s definitely his mother’s Chicken Marsala, followed closely by Kung yang/kung phao, which is grilled shrimp with spicy dipping sauce.  Drinks, he’s not much of a hot drink sort of guy.  Every once in a while, coffee sounds damn good, but for the most part, he’ll stick to water, the occasional soft drink, and alcohol.   Of the latter, his absolute favorite drink is Maker’s Mark, straight (or neat, depending who you ask).

Favorite animal:  Penguins!

Do they have any pets? Do they want any:  Currently, no.  His family had two dogs while he was growing up, and his mother had a cat at that time, but right now, he has no pets.  And, as much as he does love animals, they...generally don’t love him back, so he really doesn’t want a pet.  The closest thing he has to one is a little stray orange cat that he’s found outside behind his apartment building, which he feeds and leaves water for, so the poor little thing keeps coming around.

What relaxes them:  Generally, unwinding after a long day consists of retreating to his apartment, a long hot shower, slipping into some comfortable clothing and curling up on the couch with a book in hand.  Sometimes, he’ll throw out a phone call to a friend or home to his family, or watch some mindless television for a while, or go to a gym and relieve a little tension that way.

Do they have any bad habits:  He’s a smoker.  It’s not a frequent thing; like, he’s not a pack-a-day sort of guy.  But, on particularly stressful days, chances are Mark will be standing on his balcony with a cigarette in hand.

[jaciio-blog]

30 Days of Character Development:  Basics & Cosmetics

How do they usually dress? What do they wear to sleep? Do they wear jewelry?

Mark dresses to impress.  Generally, he’ll don a button-down shirt (usually in some sort of dark color), a pair of black or dark grey slacks--every now and then, he’ll change it up and throw on jeans, but for the most part he’ll shoot for the nicer look--and nice shoes.  If he’s meeting a client, a sport coat will be thrown into the mix, as well.  To sleep, it’s usually just a pair of pajama pants.  Jewelry is a no-go, though; he’s not the type for all that.

Is there anything about their appearance they wish they could change?

No.  He’s actually rather content with himself.  And, if there was something specific he wanted to change, he would.  That’s one of the benefits to being a shapeshifter.

What do they smell like? Why (do they wear the scent or does it occur naturally)?

Sandalwood, with vague notes of mandarin orange.  If he could generate that scent naturally, then man, he’d be set for life.  Alas, it’s a cologne he favors

[jaciio-blog]

30 Days of Character Development: Basics & Cosmetics

Age: 29 years

Date of Birth: October 23rd

Hair color:  Black

Eye color: Blue

Skin color:  Olive

Height: 5ft10

Weight: 170lbs, give or take

Tattoos: None

Piercings: None

Birthmarks:  Oval mark on the back of his neck, about the size of a pencil eraser

Disfigurements: N/A

Scars:  Various all overh is body.

Do they have any nicknames? Where did they come from:  Beyond the shortened version of his name (’Mark’ instead of ‘Markus’), there aren’t any nicknames, and he would like to keep it that way.

[jaciio-blog]

friendly reminder that I’m comfortable with MINOR godmodding if:

it’s genuinely in the interests of advancing plot (e.g. ‘Pass the screwdriver?’ and you can assume my muse passes the screwdriver over, or even just that your muse ended up with the screwdriver one way or another, without having to stop the reply altogether for my interjection)

it’s NOT my muse’s dialogue, inner or outer

it’s REASONABLE for my muse (e.g. if they’ve already made it quite clear the screwdriver is a sentimentally precious family heirloom or something, then the screwdriver might not reasonably change hands)

the reply isn’t solely about my muse’s actions, thoughts or feelings, but rather is about your muse, with reference to mine

you are willing to accept criticism & critique and change the reply if I can’t reasonably see my muse doing that

roleplaying, for me, is about exploring characters and worlds through story. Interaction with both the muse and the world, then, is vital, and I do not mind sacrificing a small thing from one to significantly advance the other. It’s always a good idea to talk to me if you’re uncertain and it will be easier once we know each other better, but I just wanted to put this out there so you lot know what I’m comfortable with. There’s a lot of ‘no godmodding whatsoever!!’ going around in this community and obviously, with big things, it’s a no-go – but I’m still more interested in the story.

[jaciio-blog]

Oh, my, my, no one’s on my side Too paranoid to listen to me You can cast me out, you can tape my mouth But you can’t get a stone to bleed And it all adds up

[jaciio-blog]

Favorites

Favorite foods: Strawberries, potato cakes

Least favorite food:  Roast lamb, white leeks

Favorite colors:  Blue, grey, brown

Least favorite color:  Yellow, peach

Music:  His musical interest is rather varied, and actually changes by day.  Sometimes his absolute favorite music will be aggrotech, and he’ll be blasting Combichrist from the speakers in his car.  The next, he’ll claim his favorite is something softer; Royal Bliss, for instance.

Literature: True Crime, Mystery, Horror, General Fiction

Smell:  Freshly made soft pretzels

Feeling: Silk sheets on bare skin

Season: Fall

Animal(s):  Parakeets, snakes

Place: Santa Monica Pier, Chicago was nice

Favorite Sayings: The world is indeed comic, but the joke is on mankind. -- H. P. Lovecraft

Possession this character values most: His phone (and, to a lesser extent, a little blue USB flash drive)

Why is it so important to them:  Save for the occasional stupid picture with a friend (or meme from one of aforementioned friends), most of the photos saved on his phone are family related.  Sometimes he thinks he should print off the four he calls his favorites and place them around his apartment instead of leaving them on the phone, but it seems...safer, that he keeps them there.  His phone is always on him, therefore it’s less likely that a hunter, another shifter, another monster, or what have you can get a hold of those pictures, and use the subtle information provided by them against him. 

Physical Characteristics

Height:  5ft10

Weight: 160-170lbs, give or take

Body build:  Mesomorph, athletic

Eye Color:  Bright blue

Glasses or contact lenses:  No

Hair Color: Black

Type of hair:  Thick and straight

Hairstyle:  He always keeps it cut in a short, tapered style, usually with it swept back away from his face.

Complexion and skin tone:  Clear complexion, olive skin tone

Any particular blemishes:  A few scars here and there

Shape of Face:  Squared

Scent:  Vanilla and Sandalwood

Health: An illness pops up from time to time, but for the most part, he's pretty healthy.

Style:  Presentably comfortable.  He will never allow himself to look like a slob, but he's not one to overdo it with elegant fashions.  In general, a button-down shirt and jeans is his go-to for casual occasions; every now and then, a t-shirt is in order, but for the most part, that’s his default.

Usual Body Posture:  When he's standing, he does stand up straight; head high, shoulders back.  However, when seated in a chair for too long, he does have a slight slouch in his shoulders.

[jaciio-blog]

Family

Parents: Broderick and Mariella Turati.  These two are the reason he has everything he does, both material and not, and for that he’s eternally grateful.  He admires them both more than he could ever put to word, and their involvement in his life contributed to his purpose today:  protecting people from the troublesome monsters that happen along from time to time -- shifters, in particular.

Are they still together:  Yes

Birth order:  Fourth of four

Siblings:  Annette, Darren, Evelyn.  Mark was never particularly close with his elder two (half)siblings.  Evelyn, on the other hand, remains one of his closest friends.

Nieces/Nephews:  Landen, Tori, & Tomas  (Annette), Bennett  (Darren), Asher & Marissa (Evelyn)

Children: None

Grandchildren:  None

Have they ever had any pets:  Two dogs (Millie, a purebred fawn cane corso, and Scout, a black giant schnauzer) and his mother’s obnoxious Persian cat, Rumba -- none of which ever liked Mark all that much.  He did manage to make friends with Scout, but Millie always showed him this sort of strained civility, like she tolerated him because the rest of the family did.  Rumba, on the other hand, hated him -- but, to be fair, she hated everyone, save for Mariella, so he didn’t feel too bad about it.

Relationships

Are they a virgin:  No

How did they lose it:  Fooling around with a kid in school.  After hours, he snuck into her room, and -- well, use your imagination.

Have they ever cheated on a partner:  He's never been in a serious relationship with anyone before.  A few (and I do mean few) flings here and there, but nothing serious.  However, Mark is not the cheating type, so it’s safe to say he has not and would never.

Has a partner ever cheated on them:  No

Who was their first crush:  Liarin Duchene, who gradually became his best friend.  The crush stemmed more from her sharp wit and how bloody friendly she was to him.  As time went on and the two grew closer, that crush faded away, and Liarin became more of a sister to him.

Have they ever been married:  No

Are they in any kind of romantic relationship:  Currently, no

Who is your characters closest friend:  Liarin Duchene

How did they meet:  Markus went to school with a guy named Shaun, who would eventually become her long-term boyfriend.  Shaun knew Liarin through his sister, and one day while hanging out at Shaun’s house, Liarin was there.  She and Mark started chatting a little, and now...here they are.

Why do they get along so well:  While they share a number of values and interests, it is more so the way they balance one another that lends to their friendship.  Liarin is outgoing and friendly, whereas Markus tends to keep to himself.  He can be rather reckless, while she tends to take the safer route -- things like that.  Not everything about their relationship is a balancing act, though.  The two share a sarcastic, often dark sense of humor that does tend to offend people when thrown into conversation.

[jaciio-blog]

                       Basic Statistics

Full Name: Markus Cade Turati

Nickname:  If anything, he’ll go by the shortened version of his name, Mark.  

Age:  29 years

Date of Birth:  October 23rd

Zodiac: Scorpio

Species: Shapeshifter

Gender:  Male

Sexual Orientation:  Bisexual

When did they realize this:  Shortly after hitting his teenage years

Nationality:  American

Hometown:  Santa Monica, California, USA

Current Residence:  Varies by verse

                          Abilities

If they had an element, what would it be:  Ice

Can they use it:  No

What animal best represents them:  Mongoose.

Hand-to-Hand capability:  Mark has had quite a bit of training in hand-to-hand combat (martial arts have always been a major interest of his, for a number of reasons), and he’s had the chance to put those skills to the test against legit opponents.  Hunters, shifters and other monsters, etc.  While he may not be top of the line, he can hold his own, and has ended more hand-to-hand brawls than he has started.

Weapons training:  If he’s going to be at close range, a hunting knife is his go-to.  Otherwise, he’ll rely on a handgun.

Physical strength:  He has always been strong, especially compared to his human peers, and keeps himself in damn good shape; a strike from him is going to hurt like a bitch, no matter what species you are.

Speed:  Shapeshifters are notoriously quick, and Mark is certainly no different.  While he may not be as fast as some of his kin, his reflexes are sharp and he’s rather quick on his feet; without some sort of enhancement to one’s own abilities (be they a supernatural creature with such enhancements inborn, or a simple human using whatever means available to them), one is not likely to catch him.

Planning:  Here is where he excels.  Markus has a brilliant mind, and he prides himself on (almost) always being two steps ahead of whoever it is he’s dealing with at the time, be it a client, a partner, an opponent, a threat -- whatever.  He’s a strategist, capable of forming new plans on the fly as necessary.

[jaciio-blog]

Had they been a bit more...well-versed, in the supernatural, Mariella and Broderick would have known their youngest boy was not human; they also might have put two and two together, and realized that he was not Broderick’s, either.  Instead, they dismissed the odd occurrences surrounding Mark as simple ‘oddities’.  Sometimes, kids are just weird, or so they believed.  When they noticed the bizarre flare that appeared in Mark’s eyes in literally every family picture, they wrote it off as nothing, merely a strange reaction from the camera in response to his vivid blue eyes.  Though it was a rather poor explanation, they stuck with it, as -- well, what else could it be?  Mark’s eyes did not bother him on a regular basis, and he could see just fine, so they left it alone.  Those were the only parts that mattered, after all.  Compared to his peers, he was also ungodly strong.  Again, it was written off as merely a boon, and that was that. 

All in all, those two went out of their way to ensure that he (and his siblings) had a happy childhood.  He wanted for nothing, and though the boarding school thing rubbed him the wrong way, it truly was for the best; it nurtured his independence, gave him an excellent education, made him a few friends and connections -- what more could he ask for?  And then, on the occasions when he was at home, it was...everything he could want.  After he’d found out what he was, what he could do, all of that, he’d felt like an outsider, even among the friends he’d found at school, but at home, that feeling vanished.  The moment he stepped through the front door, he became one of them, a part of the family, just as loved and cherished as the other three.  It had been that way since he could remember, and it continues to this day.

And it’s because of this that he does not completely detest the human race all together.  Humans are cruel, twisted, vengeful, stupid, panicky, and so goddamn hypocritical that they’re even more unpredictable than most of the monsters cohabiting their world.  However, he has seen the softer side, the kind hearts capable of loving another no matter what.  The ones who, despite occasionally falling in with the lot mentioned previously (human nature, and all that), are genuinely good.  Those are the humans worth protecting, and if that protection means sacrificing a few of his kin -- the troublemakers, specifically, then so be it.  Out of respect for his parents and family, and in the interest of paying their kindness forward, he’ll gladly do it, by whatever means necessary.

[jaciio-blog]

.

[jaciio-blog]

Headcanon:  Cash Flow

Markus was raised by two highly successful people.  Mariella was, in her younger years, a supervisory attorney, working from home more often than not (unless it was to meet a client in court) to provide legal counsel and representation to a variety of clients.  It was rather demanding at times, but the six-figure salary that went along with the job was a welcome perk, so she kept at it for while, well into her forties.  However, eventually she decided that a) she didn’t need to take on such a demanding position, as her family was still rather well off, and b) she didn’t want that kind of high-price pressure anymore.  So, she switched careers, continuing to work at home as a major gifts officer for a few nonprofit organizations within her home city.  It still paid rather well; not quite what she’d been making before, but the salary was certainly nothing to sneeze at, and she still does it to this day.

Broderick, on the other hand, came from money, as the heir to his family’s investment banking company.  Ten years ago, he took over completely, and all four of his children are (or were, at some point) employed by him -- and that is where a majority of Mark’s money comes from.  He works at home more often than not, as a director of business development, helping to manage and grow his father’s (or...”father’s”, rather) territory and keeping tabs on revenue growth.  That sort of thing.

He’ll tell anyone who asks that it’s not the most exhilarating job in the world, but it does have its perks.  The pay is nice, of course, but the biggest benefit is his ability to work at home.  Sometimes he does have to make some field sales visits here and there, but they’re few and far between, as he prefers them.  A lot of those visits happen in places of business, which are loaded with security cameras, which can give him away in no time flat, and -- well, that’s about all there is to that.  It’s a safety thing; he’d rather not expose himself anymore than absolutely necessary, else he’d be right out in front with his brother and eldest sister.  But no, he likes his position, (mostly) hidden away from potentially prying eyes, and most of all, he enjoys the cash it rolls in.

[jaciio-blog]

                  IF YOU HAVE TO FIGHT,               PUNCH FIRST AND PUNCH HARD.               

[jaciio-blog]

Guidelines

Hey there, and thank you for taking a second to read through these!  It might seem kind of long at a glance, and I do apologize for that, but I just want to make sure I cover all my bases, so my partners (and potential partners) know what they can expect on and from this blog.

As it states in my description, this is a non-selective blog, meaning anyone and everyone is welcome here!  I do no care what fandom your muse is in, whether or not I’m familiar with said fandom, if you’re not in a fandom at all, if you’ve been writing for a while or just starting out -- doesn’t matter.  You’ll be welcomed with open arms.  The only time I will ever be selective about who I write with is when I start feeling overwhelmed by replies I owe (which happens super easily; it’s kind of embarrassing), and even then, I’m still open to plotting, chatting, and all that good stuff. 

Given the nature of Supernatural, it’s safe to assume that there will be some dark and, frankly, NSFW stuff appearing on this blog.  First, know that I am of age and perfectly comfortable writing those kinds of things, provided my partners are of age as well.  While I will happily write with anybody, venturing into that territory with folks who aren’t yet of age can mean trouble, and that’s just...not worth it.  At all.  So, please be honest about that.  And second, everything on this blog will be tagged, especially this kind of material.  I’m an obsessive tagger, honestly, but if I do happen to miss something, do no hesitate to let me know!  I will be more than happy to take a whopping 30 seconds out of my day to go back and tag it.  No problem.

Also, on the subject of tagging:  if there’s anything specific you need tagged, outside of the no-brainer stuff (ie. sex, blood, gore, etc.), shoot me a message and let me know!  I actually keep a little sticky note on my desk for this reason, so I can make notes and remember what folks want me to tag or, as has happened on a few occasions, how they want me to tag it.  If you have your ‘please tag’ stuff listed in your rules, then disregard this.  I’ll know already.

I read the rule and about pages of every RP blog I follow.  No exceptions.  I generally don’t send in passwords, phrases, or whatever people are using now, as it makes me super uncomfortable for some reason, but know that if my URL starts following you, your pages have been read.  And probably read again, if/when we start writing together.

Style-wise, I’m pretty adaptable.  I do like small text with an icon or two thrown in, but I do not expect my partners to use the same, nor will I say this is set in stone.  If you prefer or need me to use normal text for our interactions, just let me know!  I’ll be glad to do so.  Also, while I generally try to match the length of my partners’ replies, I do not expect the same in return.  Sometimes muses have a lot to say, sometimes only a little, and that’s a-okay!  So long as I have something to work with, we’re good.

I love ask memes.  Rarely will a day go by that I don’t reblog some kind of prompt, as they’re good icebreakers, they get the muse flowing, and sometimes it’s just nice to take a break from drafts for a while.  Everyone is, of course, welcome to send a thing if the desire strikes.  On a relatively similar note, I don’t do the ‘reblog karma’ thing; if you wanna reblog the meme from me and send a thing, cool.  If you wanna reblog it and not send a thing, cool.  As much as I love getting stuff, I’m not going to hold it against anyone if they don’t send one; sometimes you’re not feeling it, or the prompt doesn’t work for the muses, or -- whatever.  Really, the reason doesn’t matter.  I’m still not going to try and guilt anyone into sending me stuff. 

Constructive criticism is encouraged.  I may even ask for it on occasion, ‘cause I thrive on feedback and am always looking to improve.  Hate, on the other hand, will not be tolerated, whether it is sent to me or anyone on my dash.  In my time roleplaying on Tumblr, I have seen so much hate thrown around that it is absolutely ridiculous, and I have absolutely no tolerance for it.  Any sent to me will be laughed at, deleted, and if I find out who sent it, that person will be blocked.  Simple as that.  If someone cannot conduct themselves like a decent human being, they’re not worth my (or anyone else’s) time or attention.  So -- yeah, just don’t.

Minor godmodding is fine with me.  If you’re setting the scene in a starter or ask and need my muse doing something specific, that’s perfectly okay, so long as you do not control them beyond that point.  Or if, say, in a thread yours asks mine to pass something, it’s okay to assume that something was handed over.  Delving much further than that is highly frowned upon.

Shipping:  I love to ship as much as the next person, but I am not one to just jump into it.  I like to build a relationship between our muses (and, in turn, the mun behind the muse; seriously, I met some of my best friends this way.  Love it, love it, love it).  Now, if you’re interested in giving a ship a shot, then by all means, let me know!  Chances are, I’ll be 110% down to trying it out, but please do not force it.  Nothing kills a thread (or muse) faster than that, at least in my opinion, as I’ve had issues with this in the past.

If you’re ever looking to plot, or just chat and kill some time, you’re welcome to hit me up!  The askbox and Tumblr’s IM system are always options, but you’re also welcome to my Skype, Discord, Steam -- whatever platform you prefer to use, really.  I’m not particularly shy about giving out my handle, so if you’d like them, let me know!  I do ask that you let me know who you are, though, if you add me; playing creep or not creep is only fun so many times, y’ know?

And that should cover...most of the important bits.  If you have any questions, or I need to clarify something (I ramble sometimes, sorry about that), don’t hesitate to shoot me a message!  Otherwise, lemme just say, thank you again for reading this, and I look forward to writing with you! :D

[jaciio-blog]

As the thundering footfalls at his back began to fade, the escapee heaves a sigh of relief, yet he dare not move quite yet.  No, he is smarter than that.  For all he knew, it may be a trap, some crudely-crafted plan by his pursuers to lure him into a false net of security before taking their opportunity to pounce.  It is hardly a far stretch.  Hunters were good at that sort of thing, as he'd learned over the years, and -- truth be told, were he in their position, that is precisely what he would do, so it is undoubtedly in his better interests to stay put, relatively safe and sound in the shadowed alcove off the main tunnel line.  Not the best location.  He hates it down there, but for his own sake, there is little choice.  To craft his lair elsewhere -- a haven true to the name, not the apartment he now owns, which serves only to further the 'human' masquerade he plays -- would be foolish endeavor, for anyone might stumble upon it, on the discarded skin and flesh, stained clothing, and possessions left behind by those unfortunate enough to garner his interest.  Such things do not bode well for one like himself, thus a little discomfort is well-worth it; at least, until that uncomfortable sanctuary is breached by a pair of hunters dead set on destroying him. They shared the same goal, he and them.  One of his own was stirring up trouble, killing humans one-by-one, night after night, for no other purpose than its own sadistic pleasure.  Two separate news stations reported the incidents, and each one shared one similarity:  the alleged culprit was elsewhere that evening, with a rock-solid alibi to back him/her up, and yet their face appeared on security footage, or their unmistakable DNA was found at the scene.  In theory, no one is capable of being two places at once, or so it's said.  Suppose that the ones enforcing that thought were unaware of the creatures sharing the streets, creatures who could indeed make such things possible -- so, of course it caught his attention, for one reason and one reason alone.  A few murdered humans are hardly a concern; where six die, fifteen more take their places, so it is isn't like they're a dying breed.  No, instead, it is the baggage that comes along with six dead humans.  The police, the media, and most importantly, the hunters.  Hearing a story like that one on the news is bound to attract attention and send the bastards flooding into the city.  They know what they're searching for -- a shapeshifter, but that is generally the extent of their concerns.  Kill a shapeshifter, kill a couple of them, and maybe luck will eliminate the problematic one.  Or, maybe it will send a message to said one, and the killings will stop.  At the very least, it's a reason to needlessly slaughter his kin, and Markus will have none of that.  Most of those he's met are benign, or civil if nothing else, entirely undeserving of such a fate.  What a shame it is that one bad apple can spoil the bunch. So, that's where he steps in.  While a majority of the hunters he has found are hell-bent on destroying any and all monsters they find, a few can be reasoned with.  A few are able to see that eliminating a problem at its heart is time and effort better spent, and if they're willing to strike a deal -- usually involving their immediate and peaceful departure after the troublesome shifter falls -- then he is willing to lend a hand in the job, dropping leads where he can, standing at their side as back-up during the final confrontation, things of that nature.  It has happened a few times, which in turn spared numerous others like himself their untimely demise.  All it took was a little cooperation, and that is the one thing the hunters previously on his tail were unwilling to offer.  They seemed to take  his mimicry of the local traffic cop as reason to fire at will and pursue when the shifter turned tail to flee; no potential deal with worth the trouble, he realized, as a bullet grazed his shoulder and burned like hell .  Silver, he assumed, and it was unlikely that many shots to follow would miss like that one had, so he took off with two of the four in hot pursuit.  He'd lost them now, apparently, but that was a close call.  Now, it's in his best interests to lay low. They had gotten a good view of this form which, unfortunately, meant he shouldn't keep it.  If they saw him on the street, it would lead to this same scenario all over again, and Mark isn't entirely sure he can lose them so easily a second time, so it leaves one valid choice.  His preferred form is one relatively well-known to the general populace of this area, which would make it ten times easier to blend in and pass unnoticed when one is 'just another guy' among his peers.  And, if that failed, numerous friends, family, family friends, and the like lived nearby, if his bearings were correct, so he'd have some shelter and someone to vouch for him, if push came to shove.  So, that settled it; he'd shift, as quickly and as quietly as possible.   Bearing that in mind, he works quickly, all but tearing at the buttons of the uniform shirt until he's able to drop it to the ground.  Next comes the white shirt beneath it and all the rest, kicked aside for use later when he made the final leg of his escape.  Both hands come to rest on the grimy brick beside him, fingertips curling against the rugged surface.  Blunt nails began to break from his flesh, scraped away by the friction, with trails of blood in their wake.  The hing of his jaw cracks as his mouth opens wide, teeth popping from their sockets with a wet, sickening click and dropping to the dingy puddle beneath his feet.  His body shudders, bones twisting and morphing beneath layers of muscle and skin, stretching from the lean frame of the officer to his own broader physique; it nearly wrenches a cry from his throat, but self-preservation is a hell of a motivator.  Any sound to leave his lips could draw the very attention he's looking to lose, so it surfaces as nothing but a pitched growl under his breath, audible only just over the crack of joints.  Almost done, almost… It's the final piece he dreads, the last few moments of agony drawn out as skin stretches and cracks, tears in places and falls off where it is stretched the tightest.  Bloodied fingers reach to touch a slit above his ear, grazing the torn edge before sinking deep and pulling hard so the flesh gives way.  Breaks off at the start of his shoulder and is thrown to the ground.  The next patch tears off his chest, then the opposite side of his reborn face, and down, down, down…By the end of it, he trembles from the combination of pain, exertion, and effort required to keep his agonized cries to a himself.  Naked and cold, blue eyes find the puddle he'd stood in, its waters tinged red  and littered with disintegrating teeth, but he finds what he sought nonetheless; his reflection.  The short black hair, square jaw, and broad shoulders he wore with confidence.  It is a face familiar not only to him but to others who would, in a few minutes, surround him, thus it would be his safest bet.  The man in the reflection is just that -- a man.  Not a monster, not a creature capable of peeling skin and changing bones, but a mere man, the youngest son of a businessman, as well-known as the rest of his family to neighbors and citizens sharing their grand city.    And that's his best chance at safety. So, once nerves have calmed and his tremors ceased, Markus gathers the discarded clothing; pants and shoes, and only the undershirt, as those can pass as casual clothing when worn alone.  If he opted to keep the uniform as is, it'd give him away in a heartbeat.  Any fool could see that, so he leaves the over-shirt beside the pile of gore left behind by his transformation.  That, the hunters would undoubtedly stumble across in time, but he would be long, long gone, if he had any say in the matter.  Dressing as quickly as he can, he slips from the alcove, keeping to the ledge right beside the dirty walls to avoid the countless puddles of water littering the center of the sewer tunnels (at least, he thinks -- hopes it's just water).  With a few minutes of wandering, he stumbles upon a ladder attached to the brick, leading to a manhole cover which would then bring him to the the streets above.  Precisely where, he's not sure, but anything is better than this.  A quick check around him for movement or the flash of lights, and he's up the rungs, carefully easing the cover aside with one hand to peer out the gap created. Clear.  Or, rather, clear enough that he's willing to shove the cast iron entirely out of the way and haul himself up with haste.  Before any passersby can happen to notice the scene, he has everything back in place, and is out on the street, integrating with the flow of foot traffic to pass as the average citizen.  No sign of his pursuers as of yet, so he just might have lost them completely.  Even so, he best head home.  The less he's on in public eye, the less likely it is that they'll track him down.  Besides, he could use a little R&R.  The night had gone to hell so quickly, it seemed the perfect time to pop that bottle of Scotch, and plan his next move.

[jaciio-blog]

Mariella Turati was always a stunning woman. She carried herself with such poise, such power and grace; no matter where she went, she was always turning heads – and that is, perhaps, what landed her in trouble, as the attention garnered was not always of the favorable sort. Unbeknownst to her at the time, a simple trip to the park with her husband caught the eye of a stranger, who proceeded to follow and study the family for the week to follow. Biding his time, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. And that he found, for Mariella’s husband was a traveling man, often away on trips for work and mandatory social events. This, the stranger learned, and this he used against them. The next time Broderick left town, leaving a wife and three children behind for a few days, he waited a mere day longer, and struck, twisting and morphing his form until his reflection mimicked that of the businessman to the last crease in his wide forehead. A stint to the florist before closing hours, a simple pick of the lock on the front door, and the stranger made his way inside, welcomed under the guise of a surprise, albeit temporary visit home for the night. Not an uncommon occurrence, according to the coveted memories he now saw, so no one in the family thought twice. In fact, the effort was appreciated, as Mariella took her husband upstairs after the kids went to bed, and…and, this is where Markus has his beginning.

Now? Now, he loves what he is.

He embraces it with every fiber of his being. The potential it presents is a tantalizing thought. It’s gone to his head; knowing one has the ability to create and destroy is a hell of a thing, and all it takes is an inborn ability. In the mere two minutes it takes to shift, he can make or break someone, confuse and torment if he wished, by adapting the appearance of another. Someone near and dear for the latter, someone of great authority for everything else. He can do it, but he has yet to act on such potential. Thus far, his antics have been rather harmless, used solely for his personal benefit. Peeking at test answers in school, accessing (and tweaking) work schedules as needed, things of that nature. Nothing worthy of note from those who make a sport out of stalking his kind, and he’d much prefer to keep it that way. One tangle with those bastards was more than enough for one lifetime.

However, every now and then, a particularly ballsy shifter will stir up havoc in the city and not only draw the attention to itself, but unwittingly throw all others like it under the bus until the culprit was caught. Now, don’t get him wrong; Markus looks out for his own, first and foremost; he’ll defend and shelter them without second thought, but anything of that nature serves only as liability, and no one has time for that, least of all creatures who are already on the shit-list with mankind. So, it’s best to take care of it as soon as possible, preferably before it attracts too much trouble. ’The squeaky wheel gets greased’ – or, something to that extent, and he will gladly strike a deal with the people looking to do just that.

                                          —————-

Basic Info: Shapeshifters ( or just called shifters for short ), are a race of supernatural creatures who can take the form of any human being. They start out human, but later learn how to change their form to look like anyone they want. When exactly they learn is not consistent, some can learn from infancy, while others do not learn until much later in their lives. Due to starting off as humans, shapeshifters can have human urges and vices, such as greed, lust, etc. They are also arguably the most human monsters there are. When a shapeshifter takes the shape of the person they choose to change into, they literally shed their skin, teeth and nails, which is very painful. When they change into the person’s physical appearance, they access the thoughts of the person they are mimicking. Some shapeshifters are known to change their shape in a matter of seconds while others are known to take up to several hours (With Mark, it’s an average of a minute, give or take). They can also take the forms of fictional characters or inhuman characteristics, such as vampire fangs or werewolf claws. Along with the ability to change their form comes enhanced strength, speed, and agility; regeneration and telepathy (via a telepathic link with the people they mimic).

Ever-Important Weaknesses: Silver, Iridium, “Vamptonite ”, Decapitation, and the Colt. Dogs (and certain other animals) are able to sense shifters, regardless of what form they take, and they can be identified by a retinal flare that shows when they’re filmed or light rays cross their eyes.