Player Information
Your Nickname: Inari
OOC Journal: wakeupfever 
Under 18? 24, actually!
Email/IM: pay.if.you.wanna.go[at]gmail[dot]com
Characters Played at Singularity: n/a

Character Information
Name: Theodore “Teddy" Altman/Dorrek VIII (Hulkling)
Name of Canon: Young Avengers (Marvel 616)
Canon/AU/Other Game CR: Canon
Reference: Teddy @ the Marvel wiki
Canon Point: Avengers: The Children’s Crusade issue 8, right around the attempt to de-power Doom.

Setting: Imagine Earth. Life first crawling out of the primordial goop nearly four billion years ago, eking out a humble foundation for modern life as we know it. Imagine that growing to the billions of people living on the surface, the rich history behind them, the technological advancements, the modern comforts. Now imagine adding metahumans, mutants, mythological gods, and extraterrestrial expatriates to the mix. That's the basic foundation of Earth-616.

The common man is still the majority, getting through the day to day as best they can. Normal lives, normal jobs, normal aspirations, normal relationships, normal everything. Homo sapiens are as they have been for millenia; though, as evolution is wont to do, they did give rise to homo superior--mutants. A genetic mutation known as the X-gene is the marker for this step up in the evolutionary chain, giving those that carry it what can be most simply described as superpowers. Each mutation is unique, granting a near endless cache of ways to display itself. For some, they can gain elemental or mental powers, and for others it changes the entire composition of their bodies. When it presents itself is different for each individual as well, though for most it seems to manifest in adolescence.

Metahumans are in a similar class to mutants, though separate in the fact that they lack the X-gene. By all rights, they're near biologically identical to homo sapiens because they are homo sapiens. Just, you know, with powers. Most commonly those come from some outside factor that imposes changes on their bodies via radiation, medical experimentation, etc. In some cases, said exposure does change parts of their genetic make-up, though to what extent varies widely on exactly how their powers were introduced in the first place.

The presence of gods is a subject that is as clear-cut as it isn't. Whether or not they actually contributed in any formative ways to the advances of man is bit of a sticky subject, but the fact remains that figures of human mythology do exist--most prominently those of Norse and Greco-Roman origins. Nigh immortal beings with metahuman abilities, many view humans as somewhat of a novelty, mixing in with their society in a sort of multi-cultural exchange. Others choose to stay in their native homes a good majority of the time, with only the occasional mortal dalliance.

Finally, much like the movies tell us, Earth isn't the only home to intelligent life. While not quite an intergalactic El Dorado, many alien species do make their way to the humble blue planet--and not always on a strictly invasionary purpose! Many, in fact, are simply here doing the same mundane thing as everyone else. Well, aside from them also moonlighting as superheroes at times. While there are a multitude of alien races represented throughout 616's history, the most widely recognized are the Kree and the Skrull--who just so happen to be locked in a centuries long war. Earth has had heroes and villains alike from both races (and many more!), peripherally dragging humans into their fray.

Members of each of these groups have taken up various mantles (and costumes) for the sides of both good and evil. Fortunately, those that fight on the side of the good and just usually pull out ahead. Those who take up the role of hero fight tooth and nail to defend their home from the ever-looming threat of invasion, destruction, and good old-fashioned supervillainy. And for a long time, most people were completely satisfied with letting the two groups duke it out, applauding the efforts of their costumed benefactors in keeping their world a safer place for all.

But all good things must come to an end, and in recent years people have become mistrustful of those that hide their identities behind tights and capes. See, there's kind of a large discrepancy between knowing about powers and accepting them. The question of accountability arises, what with costumed vigilantism operating outside the letter of the law. Heroes though they may be, the legality of their actions comes to question. Doubly so when most operate under secret identities. How do you place consequence on someone you don't have identification for aside from costume description?

If you really look at it, those very concerns have been a long time coming. While the mistrust now extends to near about anyone with powers, there has always been discontent from normal humans towards mutants. Homo sapiens view mutants less as the next evolutionary step and more as an evolutionary aberration. Much like the inhabitants of it's real world counterpart, those of 616 are still confused and fearful of that which is different. Especially so in cases where the difference is more than skin deep.

But that's an explanation that would take essays upon essays to completely delve into. Suffice to say, no matter what the intentions of the formerly lauded superheroes, the schism from losing public favor makes the job of defending those that don't want you around incredibly hard.

So where is Teddy in all of this? Well, he just so happens to be one of those alien expatriates--not that he was always aware of it. He was raised on Earth, born there as far as he knew, and raised by his mother (his father assumed deceased). Life was pretty average, with the usual insecurities of youth. Except, of course, for the fact that he was apparently a shapeshifter and possessed a superhuman strength. Unlike some, he didn't immediately begin using his for good, but rather to impersonate others (mostly superheroes) to impress his friends. Not the noblest of beginnings, but that quickly changed when his former best friend overstepped Teddy's moral bounds. Shortly after, he met Iron Lad and the rest of the Young Avengers starter line-up, and joined them in an effort to be their own independent superhero team.

Then, of course, there was a big life altering fiasco to go and complicate things. A super-Skrull paid a visit (which ended with his mother dying), in an attempt to return him to the Skrull throneworld. Return because, as it turns out, he was actually the son of the Skrull Princess Anelle and the Kree warrior Mar-Vell (known on Earth as the hero Captain Marvel). In essence, Prince Dorrek VIII of the Skrulls and a member of the Kree warrior race--the single being that could unite the two warring planets. Being the uniter of worlds was never really in Teddy's set of life goals, though, and he had no intentions of leaving Earth. To his good fortune, the super-Skrull did him a solid and went back to the throneworld posing as him, with the qualifier that the Kree also got visitation rights with the fake-Teddy.

So on Earth he stayed, adding to the number of those that might just be considered its mightiest heroes--junior league, of course.

Personality: Back in the day, Teddy used to be a pretty insecure guy. Just like any other teenager, his highest priority in life was fitting in and being normal. That just meant he had to look like the other guys (no problem for a shapeshifter) and do whatever they wanted. It meant being anyone but himself, and he was fine with that. Up until his best-friend crossed a bit of a line and upset Teddy’s suddenly delicate sensibilities. He had an epiphany then that basically boiled down to “screw you guys, I do what I want.” And then he became a superhero. Everybody’s gotta start somewhere, right?

Which brings us to the Teddy of now. He’s learned pretty early that valuable lesson of it being okay to just be yourself and have fun with life. That in turn let’s him be more open and honest about who he is, superhero identity aside. Not an open book, to be sure, but he won’t hide things if asked or if there’s something that needs to be known. Even so, he still has the habit of standing up for others more easily than himself. He’s perfectly willing to just go with the flow of things, take his knocks, and move on. It’s one of those circumstances where he’s fully aware of his own self-worth on an interpersonal level, but falls in an awkward grey area of not being sure how to get it out there or putting a bit too much levity on the situation.

While he’s perfectly willing to share what he’s thinking or feeling, that doesn’t always translate very well verbally. He tends to over-think the important things, trying to say what he wants to as clearly and concisely as possible. Which, of course, leads to muddled trial and error of at least saying something like what he’d wanted in the first place. Not at all eloquent, but he tries to communicate as effectively as he possibly can. For him, it’s easier just to casually converse than to try to make a big admission all at once.

Like a lot of teenage boys, he can get pretty bull-headed about things. He makes his mind up fast, and tends to stick with it unless there’s a really good case made to change his mind. He also tends to rush head-long into things without stopping to take the time to fully appreciate the situation, though not quite to the extent of some of his teammates. He knows well enough that there are some things that you just shouldn’t do--like haul off on your own to run some recon in Latveria. You know, the big things. All the same, a strategist he isn’t. Appropriate, considering that he’s the big guy on the front line hitting what needs to be hit and letting those better suited to shot-calling do just that.

There’s also that tendency to be easily riled. Depending on the situation, he can go for teasing or zero to mad in no time flat. While not necessarily an angry person, he does have a bit of a problem keeping that anger in check sometimes. In a way, it’s sort of a slow build up--filing away supposed slights until the explosive finish when he puts it all out there on the table. When he does, though, it’s generally a very focused sort of anger--he knows who he’s pissed at, and you’ll know it, too. Not that he nitpicks over little things that might irritate him, just that he’s got a quick filing system for people he will and will not tolerate taking crap from. The system also happens to short-list people that look like they might even harbor a contemplation of getting his friends into some sort of trouble. Overprotective? Very much, yes.

While he is loyal to and protective of all of his friends, he is exceptionally so of his boyfriend, Billy. Need to find him? Check that clearly non-vacant spot next to Billy. They’re both their own people, clearly, but Teddy seems to be at his most comfortable when the other boy is around. Teddy often goes out of the way to make sure nothing bad happens to Billy, and when he can’t, he’s the first in line to try to make it better. It’s more than clear that the boy-wizard is his most important person, and he couldn’t really care less what anyone else has to say on the matter.

He can also bounce back from things pretty quickly. Mom died? Sheds a few tears and then business as usual. Used as a live dissection specimen? That’s cool, no big. He’s not callous by any stretch of the imagination, but he’s either developed some amazing coping skills or has a serious internalization issue. He’s more apt to focus on the here and now, rather than the past or future. He doesn’t give himself time to really process and work through things, instead glossing over them and not worrying unless they rear up in his face again. And that’s really not a good habit to have.

He really looks up to (and fanboys) older superheros, trying his best to be the kind of hero they are. It’s what he did before he was a superhero himself, and that never quite wore off. Though, with recent events in the Marvel-verse, he’s also learned that, sometimes, even the people he admires so much don’t always act the way he expects them to or do things he agrees with. It’s a very big part of him to stand up for what’s right, and now more than ever, he values the importance of doing exactly that, even when it’s not easy or appreciated.

All in all, he’s a good kid that tries his hardest at everything he does. He can be a bit reckless and irresponsible sometimes, sure, but what kid his age isn’t? He’s a normal kid, interested in normal kid things. Being a superhero doesn’t change who he is in the day to day, but when it comes down to it, he’s the kind of guy that you can depend on. And for an up-an-comer in the tights and cape biz, that’s a pretty good way to be.

Abilities, Weaknesses, and Power Limitation Suggestions:

Let’s just list these off, shall we?

1. He’s a half-Skrull, and with that comes the ability to shapeshift. He usually stays with his normal, human-looking self or his Hulkling form; though when the situation calls for it, he can look like anybody he wants to. When fighting, he usually doesn’t alter much beyond the standard big and green; any other changes are relatively minor--such as claws, making some parts of his body bigger, etc. This also extends to being able to move his organs around however is necessary to protect them, which is more of a subconscious thing.

2. Super-strength! He hits like a truck and can handle being hit by a truck in kind. This boy has all the luck doesn’t he? Fortunately, he knows how to keep his strength in check so as not to accidentally destroy everything ever, meaning that he won’t clock you at full power unless absolutely necessary or you really, really deserve it.

3. He can fly! This actually ties into the shapeshifting bit, as he does this by growing a big pair of fleshy wings to cart himself (and occasionally passengers!) about.

4. And the legendary and much sought after healing factor. Much like every other lucky jerk that shares this ability, he can heal himself up right as rain whenever he get his ass handed to him. So while the rest of the world has to sit around nursing injuries, he can sort of shrug it off and keep on going. He’s not invulnerable by any means, though, and can still get knocked out cold or end up seriously injured. You just won’t be able to tell shortly after. It depends on the severity for how long it takes, so there’s that.

On the non-superpowered side of things, he’s got a few of those likable good-guy traits going for him. He’s easy to get along with, and is one of those people that you can’t help but like for the most part. If he weren’t an alien, one might go so far as to say that he’s like the all-American boy next door (not that being an alien really curbs that any).

While he can be sort of a push-over sometimes, he knows when he needs to be serious. If there’s a battle at hand, or things have suddenly taken a turn for the worst, he isn’t the type to back down without giving it his best. He believes in fighting the good fight and standing up for the people that can’t. Loyal through and through, he won’t leave a friend hanging or in danger.

Though he’s usually got his stuff pretty well together, Teddy does have his detractions. He isn’t exactly the “act first, think later” type of guy, but he does sometimes rush right into things without really looking at the bigger picture. Slightly impulsive, perhaps, it’s all on a case by case with him. He tends to jump to conclusions and stick to them until proven otherwise, often with either flimsy reasoning or a preconceived notion he has about something/someone (e.g. My mom can’t be a Skrull! She’s a real estate agent and does pilates!). In the same vein, he can sometimes carry an air of irresponsibility. He prioritizes based on what’s most important to him, rather than what might be best for everyone in the long run (like how he completely blows off the idea that he could be a unifier of the Kree and Skrull worlds and potentially end a long and messy space war).

With those that he cares about, he does have the tendency to be just a bit over-protective (Oh, I see that you’re currently within five feet of an opponent and clearly have the situation under control. Let me just come over there and handle that for you anyway, okay?). It’s not that he doesn’t trust them to do things for themselves or doesn’t think they can handle it, but more that he’s subconsciously trying to protect them. In all honesty, he tends to think of others before himself, which is good up to a point. And running unsolicited (and often unnecessary) interference is generally a little beyond that point.

Like most that bear the Hulk moniker, Teddy’s got a bit of a temper as well. Definitely not the “Hulkling mad, Hulkling smash” kind, though. Much like how he knows when to get serious, he knows how to keep some levity to situations. But sometimes, things just push his buttons in all the wrong ways. If he feels like you’ve threatened or endangered one of his friends or family members, welp. He’s not above casual threats of physical violence in varying degrees, nor making good on them if necessary. You’ll know when he’s mad, and it’d probably be best to stay out of his way and not provoke his ire any more than necessary.

And back to lists for the limitations:

1. Shapeshifting: While he does have the ability to basically assume the identity of whoever he wants, he generally doesn't unless there's some world saving imperative to do so. 99.9% of the time nowadays, this is simply used when needing the Teddy/Hulkling split. As such, it could be largely left uncapped with the caveat that he can only change or augment his physiology/appearance to match that of a normal human or Skrull. So, he can still go green and give himself claws and whatnot, but he wouldn’t be able to suddenly sprout wings.

2. Super-strength: Downgraded somewhat. As a practical example, let's say he could normally smash a car in half (which he can, so). In game, he'd only be able to leave it with a pretty nasty impact dent--think a stationary object getting t-boned at around 40mph. He could still mess things up pretty well, but not enough to do irreparable damage or break anything he really shouldn't be.

3. Flight: With the shapeshifting restriction in places, this is essentially wiped.

4. Healing factor: Still there but a lot slower, with time increasing exponentially according wound severity. Where normally he could get hit straight in the face and have it heal over before there was even time to bruise, he'd have to live with a black eye for a few hours in game. Or where a cracked rib might take a few minutes to patch over, it could take a few days or more to fully heal.

(Note to mods: these can be negotiable if need be, just let me know!)

Inventory: Pretty much just the clothes he's got on--his uniform. A close-fitted, sleeveless, black pseudo-catsuit (which is of course totally manly) with questionably fashionable yellow side accenting and turtleneck; matching fingerless gloves; and boots. All slightly worse for the wear, but largely intact.

Appearance: As Teddy, he's a pretty average looking fellow. Muscular, though not overly so, and fairly standard height for a boy his age (it’s variable, really, but he usually stands around the same height or slightly taller than his other male teammates). Blond hair, blue eyes, way too many earrings. He dresses fairly casually, usually preferring t-shirts and jeans or similar. Nothing to get attached to, seeing as has the tendency to just rip right through them if he needs to quickly go into Hulkling mode while in his civvies.

As Hulkling, he’s big and green. He doesn’t bother much with changing his hair or eye colors, though he definitely bulks up. There’s also a bit of reptile-like plating that crops up around his shoulders. He can change the composition of his body at whim, though, so he can mix things up fairly easily if need be.

Age: 16

OC/AU Justification
If AU, How is Your Version Different From Canon, and How Will That Come Across?
If OC, Did You Run Your Character Through a Mary-Sue Litmus Test?
And What Did You Score?

Samples
Log Sample:

His first conscious thought was that he was falling. In retrospect, that should have been a tip-off that something was seriously wrong, seeing as his second thought was that he had just been on flat ground a few moments before. He could deal with sudden lapses in things making sense, though, it came with the territory of superheroism. Or, at the very least, supertryingism.

But it wasn’t so much the fact that the ground is suddenly not where he remembered it last being that was the real problem. No, it was the fact that he wasn't slowing down. Any other time, he could will himself a sturdy set of wings and slow himself up some, make the transition from air to ground a lot easier than freefalling into an ungraceful pile of limbs and debris. This time, it wasn't working. His body was not cooperating, and all he could do was try not to pitch forward to greet the ground face down. Especially considering that ground consisted mainly of rusty metal. He wasn’t sure if he could actually get tetanus, but he didn’t feel much in the mood to try to find out.

Okay, okay. Time and place for everything, he reminded himself. The debate on what human ailments he could or could not get would probably qualify as something to table for another time. Now was the time to focus on things like bracing for impact, shifting what parts of himself he still could to lessen the chances of getting impaled anywhere particularly important. He'd never really had to test the full limits of his healing ability, but now didn't seem like the best time to do it.

And as long as it felt when it was just him and the company of his thoughts, the seconds caught up quickly with the sudden, jarring collision of rough flesh and twisted metal. An audible crack from the shoulder that absorbed most of the fall, that's what brought the time lapse together, and suddenly there was just him and a dull throbbing pain. At least that part could count for familiarity points. He was used to taking hard hits, that was kind of his job.

He understood pain, but now he couldn't wrap his mind around why it wasn't letting up. He could feel his body trying to repair the damage done, same as any other injury he'd ever had, but it was sluggish. The echoing "watch your step" might have been funny any other day, except now his shoulder was still aching and shit that really hurt.

"Right," he mumbled to himself with an experimental roll of the shoulder to see if he could at least get it to pop back in place properly. Not effective, for the record, outside of sending a sharp shooting down to his fingertips and up his spine at the same time. "Okay, Altman, walk it off. More important things to worry about."

Network Sample:

[as the video kicks in, there’s the face of a rather bemused blond, perhaps a bit closer to the camera than it ought to be. he’s a bit roughed up, but largely still intact. he’d have gotten himself all nice and prettied up for his potential audience, but can you blame him for not particularly caring at the moment?]

Can I just state, for the record, that a sheer drop into a garbage heap is probably the rudest way you could introduce someone to a new place? Just so we’re clear on that.

[okay, backing away some to give a proper sigh.]

Anyway, getting to the point. I’ve got the basics on where I am, and I’m willing to not question you on the why or how. Provided, of course, that someone could explain to me how to get back where I’m supposed to be. The people? People I met when I first got here weren’t exactly helpful on that front.

So I guess this is me asking if that’s something possible in the immediate future. Because that would be great.