BASICS
Harold Gregory Burnes
{ AGE }
25
{ GIFT OR MUTATION }
Metal Manipulation or as he terms it, "metal singing". He considers himself a talented "metal singer", able to bend most metals by touch, excellent at repairs, able to sense weakness in machines
WHAT DO YOU LOOK LIKE?
5'11 and 154 lbs
{ APPEARANCE }
He's tall and lanky with messy black curls that fall just short of his shoulders. He ties it up in a bun when at work. His clothes are usually second hand or whatever he found lying around. Fashion is one of those things he never quite learned. His eyes are dark, deep-set and always searching for something.
WHO ARE YOU?
Heterosexual
{ FAMILY }
Parents unknown
Mr. Cole - Guardian/Imprisoned (20 year sentence)
{ PERSONALITY }
He doesn't consider himself a rebel in any form however he rarely does anything in the conventional way. He bores easy and likes to experiment. He can often be found tinkering, taking things apart, playing with something and generally being distracted. However he's intelligent, if a little off. He can think abstractly, piecing problems together until he finds an unseen solution. His education, while self-directed, was extensive. Much of his knowledge was stolen. As for crime, he has loose definitions of what it means to be a criminal. For him, crime is a moral matter. It's right to steal bread if one is starving. It's wrong to steal wealth from those who have little to nothing. He often forgets that others do not share is idealism.
As for personal relationships, he is often clueless. He can name all the constellations in the sky, knows feng shui, can distill opium, has learned a few languages on the fly but does not understand subtext. He believes everyone is a friend or a potential friend but rarely considers deeper relationships. He has dated but often stumbles into a relationship without really trying.
WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL WHAT?
|| Tinkering || Doing many things at once || Singing old Irish tunes while manipulating metal (it helps him concentrate) ||
{ DISLIKES }
|| Rains (it makes him feel "rusty") || Tradition for tradition's sake || Someone disliking him || Electric shock (sensitive to electricity) || Being left alone too long ||
{ FEARS }
|| Being imprisoned || Discussing his feelings ||
{ GOOD HABITS }
|| He considers everyone to be a friend || Compassionate to those injured, different, looked down upon || Incredibly honest especially in his dealings with others || Can detect a storm before it happens (sensitive to electricity) || Loyal ||
{ BAD HABITS }
|| Has to touch everything || Smokes habitually despite his weak lungs || Overthinks || Unpredictable i.e. can become obsessed with a project, only to drop it for no discernable reason || Easily bored || Can be too detached in intimate relationships ||
History
H. G. was three years old when he was found on Burnes Street, sleeping on the sidewalk. At least, that's what the man who took him in told him. His "father" Mr. Cole, was more hats. He was going to get rich someday. And every scheme, deal and con was just another step closer to his dream. He took a shine to H. G. and involved him in several plots. The boy learned how to cry on demand, leap rooftops and distract the police by the time he was five. And when a scheme was too hot for the little boy, he'd spend his hours among Mr. Cole's "acquaintances". From prostitutes, gamblers, politicians, impoverished aristocrats, Mr Cole had many "acquaintances". H. G. had an extensive education among them all. Unwittingly, his exposure to them instilled a sense of compassion for those weaker themselves. Instead of making him cold, Mr. Cole had made him kind.
It was only when he reached twelve, that he noticed his abilities. He was in a store, palming goods into his pocket. That day he was unlucky and before he knew it, the owner had him by the wrist, boxing his ears. Infuriated, the owner was not content beating the boy. He tossed him into a large safe until the police could arrive. The safe was thick and as it sealed him in, the air grew hot and heavy. Fearing he would suffocate, he banged his fists uselessly against the walls. Perhaps it was the panic but as he pounded against the metal, it began to give. Soon he escaped and after telling Mr. Cole what happened, his life changed.
H. G. was no longer a little mascot or sidekick. Now he was a real player. Mr. Cole took him on several jobs, breaking into safes in wealthy homes. Without the need of outside contractors and faulty equipment, Mr. Cole thought he found his golden goose. And as Mr. Cole reaped much of the profits, H. G. was content to lend his last penny. He liked the role of benefactor. A number of people began to depend on him. For a time, they lived high on the hog until a job went bad. H. G. escaped but not the man who was a father to him. Mr. Cole was arrested and sent far away. Without riches, H. G. was alone for the first time in his life at sixteen. Without the guile to live a life of crime on his own, he found work at an Opium Den. One of Mr. Cole's acquaintances was a Mr. Cheong. He spent much of his time sweeping floors, cleaning pipes and keeping secrets. It was fine for a steady income and he even had a closet to sleep in. However, he missed working with metal. He started building little toys and machines and sang the old songs that Mr. Cole taught him. He developed his powers in secret, knowing what can happen if someone says a wrong word.
As waits for his mentor to be released, he also waits for a purpose in his life. Living for the day no longer holds its appeal. He longs for something better, greater. He sees the trials and tribulations to those less lucky than he is. From the girls with bruises, the men with track marks and the children with empty bellies, he sees that it isn't enough to survive by own's wits. Someday he will understand the reason for his power and how he can make the world a little better because of it.
OTHER
{ FACE CLAIM }
Aiden Turner
{ COLOR }
#b36d41
{ THEME SONGS }
Dust Bowl Dance – Mumford and Sons
