NaNoWriMoments...

Day 2... and Feeling Gross

2009-11-03T03:15:07Z

Well, with me fighting off a bout of bronchitis, today's word count was a little hard to reach. But I managed to succeed! This story is becoming so twisted at this point. I'm not even sure where it's going... just that things do not look good for one of my protagonists.

Current Word Count

3497

     Heat at her back caused her hackles to rise, and immediately Xanthe was on her feet, spinning only to find herself face-to-chest with golden feathered masculinity. Right up close like this, she could almost feel the heat embrace her, and relaxation swept over her as she lifted pale blue eyes to the solar hawk's face, the warm smile lifting his nares bringing one straight to her soft, round face.
    “Faulkner!” she cried, throwing her arms around him as she buried her muzzle against the soft golden feathers. “I didn't expect you! How'd you know I'd be up here?!”
    The tall male gave a ch uckle that rumbled through his thick frame, sending a pleasant vibration through her. “You always come to the roof when you need to think, pussycat. You've done it since high school. I figure you went to the fire...?”
    Slowly, Xanthe sighed and nodded. “I did. Lorna and I both. People are already blaming her... you saw the color of the flames.” She frowned, small fingers curling against her old friend's sides. “She was with me down at the diner. She didn't do it. She couldn't have done it!”
    Faulkner sighed, pulling back with his hands on Xanthe's shoulders, staring down into her eyes. “I know that as well as you do, Xanthe, but people are superstitious. No one knows why so many dark ones have been appearing, and with all the unrest people have been experiencing lately, they're the perfect target for hatred.” When Xanthe opened her mouth to retort, he pressed a long finger to her lips. “We bright ones know it's not true, and that the dark ones are just guardians whose powers function a little differently, but we can only do so much.”
    Not the words she wanted to hear, but bless him, Faulkner was trying. She also couldn't deny that erally, he was right. The bright ones really were the last line of defense their opposite breathren had. It didn't really help, though, that it sometimes felt as though even the voices of all those blessed by the elements could not drown out the overpowering scream of fear from those the gods had not touched.
    “You should come in for a while.” It bothered Xanthe, how weak her voice sounded. “Talk to Lorna. She could really use the warmth and support. She trusts you almost more than she trusts me. Maybe you could do... I don't know... something.”
    Faulkner just smiled again, his expression telling Xanthe the answer before he even said it. “You know there's only so much I can do, my little pussycat. I can't help someone who doesn't want help, and I know Lorna will come to me when she's ready.” Gently, he brushed a few loose strands of hair out of her face. “She'll be fine. You'll see.”
    He smiled, nuzzling her ear and giving her whispy hair a quick groom with his beak before he stepped back and took to the sky. Xanthe could only watch in bitter silence as his golden form vanished in the distance, wishing she could share his calm.

Day 1

2009-11-01T21:08:50Z

It starts! My novel spontaneously changed into something else entirely as I started writing, but I don't mind. It's a story I've had in my head for ages anyway.

Current Word Count
1786

    The city of Darlan was alive with activity that night, with natives bustling to and fro in the panic. Normally, at this time of night, things would not have been nearly so hectic. People were in the streets in a flurry of wings, tails, horns, and claws and it as hard to tell which way was up in all of the confusion. One person stood quiet, watching the flame-licked windows of what had once been city hall, as people rushed around her in a mad dash to get away from the blazing inferno.
    How had it been that such a short time ago, this had been a peaceful city? Two years ago, incidents like these were few and far between, if they occurred at all. Now the populace was terrified, jumping to conclusions, blaming the bad luck on the increased number of “dark” souls being born into each of the six bright races. For a long time, they had lived a peaceful existence, and the dark souls had barely been a thought in anyone's mind. The celestial cats, solar hawks, rain wolves, earth badgers, wind , and inferno geckos were protectors and guardians of the other races existing in Nocturna, and with so much going on...
    Xanthe's eyes narrowed. She had one violet-tipped white wing wrapped carefully around her closest friend, who was trembling under the scrutiny of those that passed. Lorna had done nothing to deserve these angry, terrified glances and quiet, muttered insults. The dark fire gecko could not help how she was born. She was a secretary, working to avoid anyone even finding out her secret. She'd even gone as far as to begin to wear a headband to hide the inverted ebony flame on her forehead.
    Not that it mattered much now, Xanthe considered bitterly. Those fearmongering terror-seekers would hound her forever about this, especially now that her place of employment was burning to the ground in eerie dark blue flame right before their eyes. Her free wing spread, then folded again, tail lashing as she tried desperately to find reason in the chaos. Nothing came to her.

It's that time again!

2009-10-01T15:39:26Z

NaNoWriMo is just a month away. It really crept up this year, didn't it?

In any case, I'm ready and raring to go! Throughout October, expect character sketches, character "interviews" and other information, location information, and some background into the London That Might Have Been within which the story of Lady Veradine Martina Bridgeport takes place.

Day 4?! Wtf?!

2008-11-04T15:04:17Z

Man, day 4 just crept up on me! But I'm about a thousand words ahead on my word count and, with any luck, I'll hit my daily and then some while at work. Story's finally starting to barrel right along, and today we have an exert to share! Jason dealing with his fiancée, Iris. This poor boy is just having a bad day all around...

PS, remember to vote today!

Current Word Count
6320

    In all honesty, Jason was not sure why he still felt safe here. Why he felt that here, of all the places in all the world he could choose to stand and think, seemed so much more peaceful… why it seemed it was the only place he could really clear his mind and just concentrate.

   Why was he doing this? What kind of idiot did he have to be to let Darkseid rile him so? Work him up and make him angry enough to walk right into what he knew would be a fight for his very life. He should, he knew, probably tell his father… but no. Kal El would take Darkseid himself and Jason would not allow himself to be humiliated by having his father fight his battles for him… especially against the Lord of Apokolips.

   So now what was he going to do? He couldn’t back out… it could very well mean the end of the world. He wouldn’t run… he was no coward. This was not exactly the sort of situation he’d expected. Rex, he knew,, was furious, and he was sure he would be getting an earful from him later. It was Iris, however, he was the most concerned about. What was he going to tell her? Or, more importantly, when? She would be in Milan until late the next week and he did not want to ruin her trip by worrying her.

   Of course, there was always the possibility that he had completely neglected the direct tenacity of best friends. He felt the distinct thrumming in his chest before anything else… the thick movement of the molecules in the air that heralded the arrival of a speedster. It could have been, he was aware, any of them. It could have even been Jai or Wally. But Jason was no fool, and before the tall, slender figure ever came to a dime perfect stop a bare foot from his side, he knew by instinct alone that it was his fiancée, Iris West.

   “So,” he heard her deadpan as he turned to face her, “were you planning on telling me you planned on going head to head with Darkseid alone or were you just going to surprise me at the funeral?”

Team Profile: New Titans

2008-10-30T15:06:02Z

Members: Red Hood, Nightstar, Little Avia, Stardove, Blackout, Fahrenheit, the Answer

The Teen Titans of the future world, with some college age and others in their teens. They are just starting out, but they've got some good mentors, what with Lian and Kayla's fathers having been members of the original Titans as Speedy and Robin. Even with their roots, however, this team still has a lot to live up to, first and foremost being that they are very young in a world where it is very dangerous for children to grow up, let alone to be heroes. They do their best with what they are given, however.

Lian Harper is the daughter of Roy Harper Jr. (Red Arrow), and is an expert archer and gymnast. Nightstar is the daughter of Dick and Koriand'r Grayson (Robin and Starfire), and she - like her Tamaranean mother - has the ability to create controlled energy blasts from her hands, as well as maintain sustained flight. Avia Free is the daughter of Scott and Barda Free (Mister Miracle and Big Barda) and, aside from her imposing height at 6'7" tall, is possessed of extremely heightened stamina, superhuman strength, and Apokolyptian armor she keeps stored in a subspace pocket by use of her Motherbox and Mega Rod. Danielle Hall is the daughter of Don and Courtney Hall (Dove and Stargirl), and she uses her mother's Cosmic Staff, as well as being a blackbelt in Aikido and Judo. Little is known of Quin Remington, except that he has control over gravity to a certain degree. Deshauna Hawkins is the daughter of Virgil (Static) and Chasity Hawkins and has the metahuman ability to control the temperature in an area of about the radius of a football field, making her immune to extreme heat and extreme cold. Bruce Sage is the son of Vic and Helena Sage (the Question and Huntress) and a bit enigmatic, though it is known that he is a near genius and seems to be able to sense "potential" in other people, aside from the martial arts he learned from his mother.

Things to Know...

2008-10-29T15:15:19Z

"Root of All Evil" is set in the animated universe, and I did have a couple of things mentioned to me that I thought I'd clear up.

First, Iris's name: Iris West II. Notably, the original Iris Allen nee West is never mentioned in the DCAU (save for New Frontier, which isn't part of the series continuity) and for all intents and purposes, no one is even sure if Barry Allen existed in that continuity. While watching the episode "Flash and Substance," I noticed that you can see Jay Garrick's hat in one scene... and in another, Wally's famous Kid Flash uniform. As a result, the DCAU I deal with features Wally having become a speedster while doing work-study with his aunt Iris's husband, Barry Allen, who was the Flash before him. He thus became Kid Flash at 17, and the Flash at roughly 19. Barry did, in fact, run himself to death, and Wally's quotes (whenever he says "Grammy Flash always says...") are actually little parables and phrases Iris passed to him. Wally's profession as a forensic scientist instead of a police mechanic is explained by him trying to follow in Barry's footsteps. Thus, his daughter Iris (Jai, her twin brother, I think may've been named after Jay Garrick, but that's a story for another day) was named after his beloved aunt.

Lady Flash as the first female Flash. In the comics, that was Jessie Quick. In the DCAU, the Quicks didn't exist. Iris, who spent some time working with her father as Kid Flash, thus becomes the first girl in this fan's DCAU continuity to take on the mantle.

Rex's wings. In general, it's assumed he does not have wings. The ones seen in animation are just wing-guards created by Nth Metal. In this continuity, since it's painfully fun to write people with big feathery wings, the Nth Metal armor really is a guard to protect his wings, and his wings - because of his half human heritage - are ink black, unlike his mother's, which are gray.

Villain Profile: Darkseid

2008-10-28T14:57:30Z

Age: unknown
Birthdate: unknown
Ht: 8'9"
Wt: 1815 lb
Hair: n/a
Eyes: red

Cruel, calculating, malicious, and surprisingly intellectual, Darkseid is the ruler of all Apokolips, and he did not come into this position lightly. He came to this by assassinating his own mother, Heggra. And his ambition only grew. From ruling the barren, war-scarred planet, he became a known power in his galaxy, and eventually, set his sights on even loftier goals: the conquering of other worlds outside their galaxy, and on a number of occasions has nearly succeeded.

He is one of few creatures ever to have fought Superman, on numerous occasions, to a standstill, and is best known for brainwashing the Man of Steel and using him in another takeover attempt of Earth. Superman has a distinct hatred for him, and it's even possible his distaste for Darkseid surpasses even his hatred for Lex Luthor. Darkseid himself is a powerhouse, physically and mentally, with a vast array of powers and an entire army loyal only to him at his disposal. He is not above killing family to suit his needs.

Minor Character Profile: Zoe Hu/Robin IV

2008-10-27T06:33:34Z

Age: 11
Birthdate: January 7th, 2034
Ht: 4'9"
Wt: 87 lb
Hair: black
Eyes: brown

Strong-willed and stubborn, Zoe is an energetic girl. After discovering Terry's secret, she went back to the history cubes and discoverd that the original Dark Knight had a young sidekick named Robin, and that was an opportunity too great to pass up. After much convincing to Terry (and much secrecy towards Bruce), the girl began to train as this generation's Robin. Enthusiastic in all she does, she enjoys spending time prowling with Terry, treating him much like one would an older brother. She is an orphan, and spent several years being bounced from failed foster homes, eventually running away from her last one and vanishing into the streets when she was eight. Her parents were killed in a car accident when she was seven. She was recently taken in as Bruce Wayne's most recent ward.

Zoe has all the little toys that come with being a member of the Bat "family." The spikes on her arm gauntlets are hard and can be used as weapons, and they electrify. She can climb walls in her Robin suit, as well as glide with the retractable wings on the arms and back. A number of shurinken shaped like her Robin insignia, grappling hooks, and orbs filled with various gasses fill her arsenal. Zoe is, however, only eleven and, like most little girls, spooked by a great many things. Though she tries her best when in the field with Terry, she's still very young and not particularly comfortable doing things on her own yet. She is somewhat afraid of the dark. Small and, without her armor, relatively easy to hurt if you get ahold of her.

Character Interview: Jason Kent

2008-10-19T15:51:41Z

1.) What is your name and does it mean anything special to you and your family?
My name's Jason Kent. It's nothing particularly special. I'm sort of named after my paternal grandfather, Jonathan Kent. Now, my given name, from my father? That's Van El. My father told me it was the name of the son he never had but promised never to forget, and wanted to pass that same honor to me. I've never been really sure how to take that, but I prefer going by my Earth-given name. Not like I've ever seen or /will/ ever see Krypton.

2.) Who are your parents and how have they treated you?
I'm very well aware of who my parents are. In some cases, were. My mother - Lois - was a strong and intelligent woman before her passing, and everyone tells me I look a lot more like her than my father Clark. Of course, he no longer goes by Clark these days. When my mom died, he "killed off" Clark Kent and has taken on the role of Kal El, Last Son of Krypton, full time. We don't really talk much anymore.

3.) Do you carry any resentments towards those closest to you?
...it's... a little harsh to admit this, but yes. My dad. Ever since Mom died, Dad and I just haven't been able to connect. On /any/ level. He never calls me Jason... only Superboy or Van El. Those are only names the public uses when I'm in costume, and considering most of the world at large thinks Van El is the son of /Wonder Woman/, I'd prefer my father not to call me by those. But he and I have been on shaky ground. I've tried to get things right again... but I don't think that'll ever happen.

4.) Do you like living where you are or would you prefer somewhere else and why?
Metropolis isn't too terrible. I liked it better living on the farm in Smallville, but while it's still in my family's name, it's become run down in recent years. Maybe someday I'll go back and fix it up... yeah. When pigs fly.

5.) Do you possess special training or talents that youʼd like to share?
Heh, well... ah... I suppose a better question is what I can't do? Which is... a lot of the stuff my father can. Anyway... let's see, what can I do... Sustained flight, super-speed, advanced recovery with yellow sun radiation, heat vision, super strength, partial invulnerability... what I'm the most proud of is that I'm one of the top sports writers at the Daily Planet.

6.) What kind of habits do you indulge in on a daily basis?
Wait... do you mean good or bad habits? If you mean good habits, every day I visit my mom's grave, then go and buy something. Something little, always different... for Iris. It's something Dad used to do for Mom. I picked it up from him. Bad habits? I grit my teeth when I'm anxious or irritated. Also a habit I picked up from my dad. Mom used to hate it, especially since we both had a tendency of doing it.

7.) How do you cope with stressful situations?
I shut down. Not completely, but I focus pretty hard. Some of my friends say I "become Superboy" in that case. I'm a leader by nature, I guess, and I try to take control and keep things running smoothly.

8.) Where do you see yourself in five years?
With the League still... married to Iris, maybe with a son of my own? I'll still be at the Daily Planet. I'm shooting for sports editor.

9.) Do you have a secret ambition that you are too embarrassed to tell anyone about?
I... don't think so? *pause* Well, maybe one. To mend things with my dad. Just... end this whole stupid conflict he and I have been going through.

10.) If you had the power to make one wish and it could only effect someone else what would that wish be?
I'd wish for Terry to have a chance to make amends with his father. He never had a chance to before he died... and I know how it feels to have that separation, though I'd wager not nearly as fiercely as him.

Minor Character Profile: Kai Roh/Green Lantern

2008-10-17T20:59:40Z

Age: 14
Birthdate: 2031
Ht: 5'2"
Wt: unknown
Hair: none
Eyes: black

One of the most mysterious members of the new Justice League, Kai Roh is a bit of an enigma to everyone who knows him. He is quiet and distant and does not really talk to anyone a whole terrible lot. When he does speak, it is usually to impart some wisdom on his companions, and that tends to leave everyone a little bit speechless. Where the others were less forgiving of their young compatriot's inaccessibility during the Starro episode, Kai Roh (like Rex) was very accepting.

Like all Green Lanterns, Kai Roh possesses a power ring that is limited only by the power of his imagination.

Minor Character Profile: Merina/Aquagirl

2008-10-17T14:34:26Z

Age: 25
Birthdate: unknown, 2020
Ht: 5'8"
Wt: 119 lb
Hair: seafoam green
Eyes: blue

Merina is one of the children of Arthur, better known as Aquaman. A charming, friendly soul, she is something of an empath and close to all of her friends, as well as incredibly protective over them. Surprisingly enough, she sees Rex Stewart much like an older brother... more than her own older brother ever really was to her. Her time spent on land still serves to confuse her sometimes, but she's managed to hold her own better than most people would probably expect. She's remained on somewhat uneasy grounds with Jason since he returned from the mission in space that kept he and the other young members of the League occupied while Superman was possessed by Starro.

As an Atlantean, Merina possesses a number of unique abilities. She can swim at speeds considerably higher than that of a human, and also breathe underwater. She has the ability to communicate with aquatic life, no matter what world they may come from, via telepathy... and also has some telekinetic control over water. On land she's her most vulnerable, and if anything should severely affect the water she's in - such as making it extremely hot or cold - it can place her in extreme danger.

Minor Character Profile: Allan Hawkins/Micron

2008-10-14T15:16:29Z

Age: 26
Birthdate: July 20, 2019
Ht: 6'2"
Wt: 207 lb
Hair: black
Eyes: brown

Allan Hawkins, known as Micron to the League, is yet another of the group who got his start from a parent who was involved with the League (and still is, though as a mostly retired member). He is the son of Virgil Hawkins, better known as Static, and developed his own latent superhuman abilities when he was about 14 years of age. He is gifted with the ability to change his size and mass, growing to giantesque proportions or shrinking down past the range of unaided human vision. He is extremely open with his friends and is a surprisingly accomplished poet. Currently, he's dating Merina, better known as Aquagirl. He has a younger sister, Deshauna, who is currently a member of the New Titans.

Not surprisingly, Allan's name comes from another famous poet: his father named him for Edgar Allan Poe. His father's penchant toward the poetic, and the inclusion of a name like his, probably led him to what he's doing currently... going to school for a degree in classical literature.

Character Profile: Bruce Wayne/Batman I

2008-10-11T14:51:36Z

Age: 75
Birthdate: unknown, 1971
Ht: 6'1" (slightly slouched these days)
Wt: 201 lb
Hair: gray
Eyes: pale blue

Don't let his advanced age fool you. No matter how tired he is, or how age has affected him physically, Bruce Wayne's mind is as sharp as it has ever been, and he makes this very obvious in his dealings with his two young pupils, protege Terry McGinnis and ward Zoe Hu. He still keeps in touch with the League, and all things considered, he is still running his family's company with all the guile and business savvy he had 40 years ago. He's never forgiven himself for having to use a gun to stop a kidnapper after a heart attack crippled him on a mission, and hopes that he can instill in both the new Batman and Robin that there they must rely on wit and skill, not brute force.

Age has otherwise been cruel to the former Knight of Gotham, with his ailing heart and bad knee relegating him to a sort of Oracle status in the cave. He takes on a more fatherly tone with Zoe than he did with his previous wards, worrying more about her involvement due to her young age and gender. He places a great deal of trust in Terry, expecting a great deal out of him, and though he is quite sparse with compliments, he is proud of how both of the youths have advanced and the skill they've shown.

Even without his physical abilities, Bruce Wayne is still possessed of one of the keenest minds in the world. He is a brilliant detective, capable of figuring out the most difficult of situations from the smallest of leads. As protection, he is usually accompanied by his Doberman, Ace. Physically, he is not as formidable as he once was, and his heart and knee are his greatest weaknesses should he get caught out alone. But then... he doesn't really leave the manor much unless he has to.

Two profiles today because I won't be home tomorrow. This is the last of the major characters. I'll get to posting the minor ones after I'm home and settled.

Character Profile: Kal El/Superman

2008-10-11T14:29:47Z

Age: 69 (doesn't look a day over 50)
Birthdate: unknown, 1976
Ht: 6'5"
Wt: 254 lb (all muscle)
Hair: black with gray at his temples
Eyes: blue

The last son of Krypton is also Earth's single most famous hero. An icon among the superhero community, there are few - if any - in the world who don't know his name. But recent years have not been kind to the Man of Steel, and he has fallen out of touch with both his family and his friends. Though he worries often for the safety of his only son, he barely passes words with him, calling him only by his Kryptonian given name of Van El and not by Jason, the name he goes by among friends, family, and even work relations.

Though he used to take on the human persona of the shy and mild-mannered Clark Kent, Kal El has taken on the Superman mantle full time, "suiciding" his Clark Kent persona after the sudden and untimely death of his wife, Lois Lane. The world at large knows his Kryptonian given name as well as the name he goes by in full costume, and he keeps these two personas as close as possible, with no one but those in the League that knew him best knowing the truth of his name. Since he's done this, Jason has become increasingly distant, and the two spend more time arguing than they do actually behaving as a family.

Easily one of the most powerful heroes in the League, though he has retired from fully active duty, Superman is blessed with probably the most impressive power set this side of Krypton, which includes - but is not limited to - super strength, flight, super speed, heat vision, x-ray vision, ice breath, invulnerability, and recharging via yellow sun radiation. He is still vulnerable to Kryptonite, with that being the only thing able to slow him down. He retired from the League after Starro took control of him and forced him to nearly destroy what he spent years building, leaving Superboy and Warhawk in charge.

Character Profile: Olivia Queen/Black Canary III

2008-10-10T15:12:21Z

Age: 31
Birthdate: March 9, 2014
Ht: 5'5"
Wt: 119 lb
Hair: golden blond
Eyes: green

Part wealthy heiress, part flamboyant social butterfly, part philanthropist, all hero. Olivia Dinah Queen is a near perfect mix of brains and beauty, with a considerable amount of brawn mixed in for spice. The apple of her father's eye, the daughter of Oliver and Dinah Queen is quite a force to be reckoned with, on or off duty. She is sassy and witty, with a razor tongue and a pretty face that quite often serves as a great way to make people think she's not nearly as much of a threat as they may've originally thought.

Aside from working a considerable amount of charity, Olivia is the current CEO of the Queen Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicating to helping the needy and down-on-their-luck the world over... though she spent six years as a professor of Latin at Gotham University. She resigned when she was 27 to take over the running of the organization for her ailing father, and to be closer to home to help her mother around the manor. She is engaged to be married with no date set, and her father claimed for the longest time that her relationship with Rex was just another way to drive him to the nuthouse.

In her role as the Black Canary, Olivia is a formidable martial artist and boxer, as well as possessing a weaker but nonetheless powerful version of her mother's famous Canary Cry. She is swift on her feet and works out regularly, always taking time to practice whenever she can find it, and has been trained by some of the greatest fighters in the League. She is, however, only human, and one of the most at risk in a fight with only a sonic scream to protect her should she get caught off-guard.

Character Profile: Terry McGinnis/Batman II

2008-10-08T15:49:38Z

Age: 22
Birthdate: August 18th, 2023
Ht: 5'10"
Wt: 184 lb
Hair: black
Eyes: blue

Though only a part-time member of the League, Terry is none-the-less respected, and is a trusted ally by all of the full-time members and those of the first generation still maintaining active membership. Trained by the original Batman himself, he is surprisingly sharp, and what he lacks in Bruce Wayne's genius, he more than makes up for in street savvy and a knack to be very in-tune with his surroundings, despite the situation or what may be happening around him.

As well as being the Dark Knight protege, Bruce has been grooming Terry to take over his position at Wayne-Powers industries once he's old enough. Not only that, but aside from his usual duties, Terry also has the rather daunting responsibility of taking care of Bruce's newest ward, a young Chinese girl named Zoe Hu. Incidentally, the precocious eleven year old is also the newest Robin, and he takes his care of her extremely seriously. Often, he treats her much like a little sister. When he can't take her with him on missions, he will sometimes leave her with his mom and brother.

As the Batman, his domain is the night and Gotham is his kingdom. Very little happens of a great enough magnitude to draw him to Metro Tower, though it has happened in the past. He is quick and agile, and his suit provides him with augmented strength, as well as the ability to glide, climb walls, and cloak himself when in combat. Despite all this, he is a normal human beneath the black and red and can be harmed surprisingly easily if one should try hard enough.

Character Profile: Rex Stewart/Warhawk

2008-10-07T15:34:46Z

Age: 35
Birthdate: May 12, 2010
Ht: 6'3"
Wt: 241 lb (mostly muscle)
Hair: black
Eyes: green

One of the co-leaders of the new Justice League, Rex is hardline and blunt... probably a result of having parents who both served military duty, though on entirely separate planets. The son of a former Marine member of the Green Lantern Corps and a fierce Thanagarian warrior, he has always been the straight-forward type, often playing "bad cop" in his and Jason's dealings with more major villains. He tends to come off a bit brusque, and there are very few people who know what he's thinking most of the time, leading a lot of people to think of him as being either extremely antisocial or bitter.

Many people consider Rex to be -too- harsh, avoiding him if at all possible. The only person who doesn't buy into this is his fiance, the beautiful and elegant heiress Olivia Queen. Despite any misgivings, however, he moves forward with ruthless efficiency, letting very little stand in his way. Outside of his duties to the League, he runs a dojo in Star City for kids who have nowhere else to go. He is popular with his students, all of whom have seen the side of Rex he normally had only shown to his closest friends and family.

As co-leader of the Justice League, Warhawk works along-side Superboy to keep things running as soon as possible after Superman's retirement from active duty. He is possessed of superhuman strength and his armor and wings are formed from the impossibly dense and sturdy Nth Metal, which he undertook the rite of passage to receive when he was barely twelve years of age. His temper is his greatest weakness, as is - sometimes - his dedication to the safety of his friends.

Character Profile: Iris West II/Lady Flash

2008-10-06T05:53:30Z

Age: 31
Birthdate: Nov 12, 2014
Ht: 5'8"
Wt: 123 lb
Hair: strawberry blond (dark)
Eyes: brown

There is nothing in this world more certain than the fact that Iris West II, the most recent in a long line of speedsters to carry the Flash mantle, is her father's daughter. Born, much like her twin brother Jai, with the innate ability to run at speeds that easily surpass the speed of sound and even approach the speed of light, she is - without competition - the fastest member of the new Justice League. However, despite the incredible speeds she is capable of attaining, Iris is often plagued with self-doubt. Even being engaged to Superman's heir sometimes doesn't seem to sink in.

In her private life, Iris is a professional model, naturally thin despite her speedster appetite. She has her mother's more Asian appearance and build with her father's strong, defined features, and the attention and demand her unique looks have drawn have done a great deal in recent years to help her failing self-confidence. She has, all too often, faced heavy criticism from the public, who believe her to have an eating disorder, and her peers, who say she is not thin enough.

As Lady Flash, Iris is the first female carrier of the title and acts accordingly, doing her best to do the legacy proud. She can reach speeds that nearly hit the speed of light, though she has nowhere near the same capabilities as her father. Her incredible speed allows her to hit much harder when she's fighting, and it makes her impossibly difficult to strike. The Speed Force protects her from the immense forces the speeds she travels at create. Her own lack of self-confidence in herself is her greatest weakness, and if caught off-guard, she's nowhere near as strong as any of the other Leaguers. She often feels relegated to second-string compared to the heavy hitters.

Character Profile: Jason Kent/Superboy

2008-10-05T04:36:00Z

Age: 33
Birthdate: Aug 7, 2012
Ht: 6'
Wt: 219 lb (mostly muscle)
Hair: dark auburn
Eyes: blue

The only child and son of Clark and Lois Kent, Jason grew up with a very strong sense of justice and morality. With his mother's no-nonsense attitude and his father's farm boy charm, he made friends easily and was always quick to defend anyone in need of it, never afraid to stand up for what he believes in, no matter what people may say about him. He grew up best friends with Rex Stewart and has maintained a close bond with him into adulthood.

After his mother's untimely death sixteen years ago, Jason's father - the person in his life he had always held in the highest respect - seemed to lose part of himself and, as a result, he suicided his Clark Kent persona and withdrew from most contact with the world. Since that happened, he has only called Jason by his given Kryptonian name - Van El - something that has not sat well with Jason the entire time. This rift has never been healed, and the two of them remain distant... something which has severely affected Jason's social life. Despite all this, he maintains a healthy relationship with fellow Leaguer, Iris West II - Lady Flash.

As Superboy, Jason helps lead the League with cool, confident efficiency and the easy charisma Warhawk lacks.Though in no way anywhere near as powerful as his father, he is still one of the League's serious heavy-hitters, and probably the strongest in physical strength; he inherited from his father super-strength, flight, partial invulnerability, advanced healing (if exposed to yellow sun radiation), heat vision, x-ray vision, extended vision and hearing, and accelerated speed.

He is, however, vulnerable to kryptonite, as well as magic and electricity. He can be physically damaged even without the presence of kryptonite or magic (though it takes a great deal to damage him). He cannot survive as long underwater or in a thin atmosphere as his father. Though some of his power is drawn from the yellow sun, he still must sleep and eat like a normal person. Lead hampers his powers.

I'll be posting a profile-a-day until I run out of major characters, and then I'll start posting other things relevant (lists of who's dead and who isn't, etc, etc). We'll hope for the best!

It's That Time Again...

2008-10-04T02:38:31Z

NaNoWriMo is right around the corner, and I'm getting into the groove! I'm doing fanfic this year, with a story premise I'm really hopeful for. I just hope I can think of a better working title than the one I have now...

Jason Kent had a good life. Until his mother died and his father "killed" his Clark Kent persona, anyway. Now, things could be better, but he really can't complain... he's the top sports writer at the Daily Planet, is dating the beautiful and witty Iris West II - Lady Flash, serves Metropolis as the successor to its greatest hero, and in the same capacity as Superboy leads the new Justice League with his best friend Rex Stewart.

But when Darkseid escapes from the dimension he and Lex Luthor were banished to, and discovers the Man of Steel has an heir? He decides he will do anything and everything in his power to make Superman suffer... by killing his only son.

Based in the universe of (my) fancomic "Batman Beyond: Paradigm Ethic," the stage is set... and whether Earth survives is dependent entirely on whether the son of its greatest hero is up to the challenge...

Update Tiem Nao?

2007-11-03T01:24:38Z

Another day, another successful bit of writing. Not as prolific as I was yesterday, but in my defense, my nephew wanted me to watch Transformers with him and my parents. It's such a fun movie. And to my merit, I did a good job of not letting it influence a sort of subconscious want of mine to throw a giant robot into anything I write.

Current Word Count
5023

He let Kris lead him to where a table laden with a rather impressive spread of food was placed, and he could not help but marvel at what strange and wonderful treats lay there.
“From a merchant ship yesterday,” Kris pointed out, piling his plate full of berries, sweet breads, and slices of cured meat. “We eat well here. The cap’n likes a healthy crew. Take whatcha like, Aaron; it’s all fresh.”

Aaron was hesitant at first, now knowing the food had been stolen, but his rumbling stomach soon got the better of him, and he soon found himself piling his own plate full of a variety of things before following Kris to a table and bench. “Kris… I was wondering. Why is it you’ve become so civil towards me?” He frowned as he sat. “You all but hated me last night.”

The other boy shrugged, swallowing a mouthful of bread and jam. “Cap’n reminded me’t with you around, it ain’t my job t’swab th’deck or peel potatoes anymore.” Kris sounded quite smug, even if Aaron was resisting a discontent groan. “S’all better in perspective.” Slowly, he tilted his head to one side, picking up a piece of fruit. “I was rememberin’… y’ran int’ me in town. What was th’rush?”

“Well…” Aaron paused. What could he tell this boy? The truth, naturally, but still… how much of it? He tried to piece together a plausible, reasonable answer in his head, not wanting to tell Kris of his failed attempt to enter the royal navy… and finally, he glanced up. “I was coming to meet my father at the dock. He was coming from Phynia on the passenger skyship that came in.”

This answer seemed to appease Kris for now, as the boy fell silent with a nod to focus on eating his breakfast. Aaron, in turn, did the same. He tried not to remember that this had all been bound for market before it had been stolen, just the day before. Of course, he supposed, it could always be worse. He could be eating hard tack, gruel, and oranges… and that would be even harder to swallow than pilfered pastries.

Here We Go...!

2007-11-01T23:45:53Z

And so it begins. An exciting month of plot twists, colorful characters, completely insane subplots, and things so nonsensical they can't be anything but fun. So begins NaNoWriMo 2007... and this is my first time around. Feel the trepidation in the air, m'friends, and look yonder, 30 days in the future... which is where we all hope to be standing with a 50k word novel!

I've talked to other NaNo'ers, and this makes me very excited. I look forward to this month and hope things keep going as well as they've started.

Current Word Count

3036

    There are nights, right on the delicate precipice between fall and winter, that the soft winds off the Phynnian plains seem to whisper dreams of greatness to the myriad peasant-folk living in the hills and valleys beyond. It was these same winds that blew the first sailors out to sea, charting dangerous and oft times fatal courses through the churning waves. When man and his elven brothers finally tamed the open sea, the very same winds turned hungry eyes skyward and plowed a headstrong course through lofty, billowing clouds, allowing ships to sail across mountain and plain just as swiftly as through water.

   Looking to the sky on such chilly, late autumn nights will often bring a viewer visions of the great merchant ships passing by on their way, silhouetted by a sea of billions of twinkling, glittering stars. It is a place where one youth’s dream of a future better than what he faces may feel closer than circumstance may otherwise allow.

   It was on one such night, many years ago, that the youngest son of a peasant farmer looked upon that very same sky and dreamed. For many years, since he was a very young boy, he had stared at the sky, watching the great skyships sail overhead, their bows breaking cloud banks just as their predecessors split the mighty waves. This, young Aaron had decided long ago, would be his future.