Pines App

[blaiiines]

PLAYER

NAME: Kacey
CONTACT: seraphjewel@gmail or seraphjewel on plurk
OTHER CHARACTERS IN THE PINES: none yet

CHARACTER

NAME: Blaine McDonough, alias Blaine DeBeers, alias John Deaux. He'll be going by Blaine DeBeers
CANON: iZombie (TV)
CANON-POINT: end of 3.03 "Eat, Pray, Liv"

DOSSIER

HISTORY: http://izombie.wikia.com/wiki/Blaine_DeBeers
CR AU: n/a

WHAT ARE YOUR CHARACTER'S STRENGTHS?: Blaine can be very charismatic and charming. He usually displays this with a bit of wit and humor and somehow finds the right words to say to put the other person at ease. One of the notable ways he used this charisma was in getting into bed with Jackie and keeping her on his side. His charm also initially fooled Liv, Clive and Dale when they first interacted with him. This charm likely helped him keep up the front of a respectable business while doing his drug and brain business on the side.

Stemming from that, Blaine is also an incredibly good liar and can manipulate people into doing what he wants. Again, this is shown in how he lies to both the police and the FBI in such a natural, easy way. Every lie is usually self-serving and catered to the situation. For example, he lied to Liv about how he got brains in order to gain her trust; he lied to his zombie clients after he took the first cure so they wouldn't be aware a cure existed and he could keep his business going. He manipulated people in much the same way, gaining their trust by showing them a certain persona. An example of this was when he encountered Jerome at the skate park, manipulating the teen into believing his friend was alive so Blaine could lure him away and kill him.

Blaine is very clever and strategic in his planning. He usually thinks out his moves several steps ahead. This was demonstrated as early as his days as a drug dealer, when he convinced some thugs to pose as Blue Cobra gang members in order to take out Blaine's competition. He also planned ahead by putting zombies under his control in positions of power: at the police station, at the D. A. office and at the newspaper. While Blaine doesn't think through every possible scenario, like running into Stacey Boss at the funeral home, it's clear that when he has an end-goal in mind, he can plan in such a way to make it happen.

Blaine is good at keeping calm under pressure. He acts easygoing and chill most of the time, even able to crack jokes and one-liners. Even when being questioned by the police and the FBI, he never acts concerned. He reacts unflinchingly to threats from his father and Boss, only expressing frustration or anger once they're gone. This shows that he doesn't want to appear intimidated; he likes being in control and if he's not, he won't show it unless in private. He was even calm when Boss's guys were taking him to be murdered. Certainly he tried bargaining his way out of it, but he did so without showing much fear or desperation. This doesn't mean he's fearless, by any means. He simply does not show it when he's around others.

WHAT ARE YOUR CHARACTER'S WEAKNESSES?: Blaine's biggest weakness is that he doesn't seem to have any sort of emotional support or a network of friends. He usually gains loyalty through intimidation, threats or the person having no other options. The people working under him seem morally flexible enough, yet they are quick to turn against him if the opportunity presented itself. The only person that Blaine said for sure loved him was his grandfather, and he was cut off from that love when the man was institutionalized by Blaine's father. Most everyone else Blaine treats as a means to an end.

Blaine is very selfish and self-serving in his actions. For the most part, he doesn't seem to care who gets hurt along the way. He doesn't bat an eye in taking out anyone who threatens his business, whether they are his employees or the woman he's sleeping with. He also shows no discretion when it comes to his kills. After all, he willingly kidnapped and killed teenage runaways in order to grow his brain business. Although Blaine loved his grandfather, he still killed the man in order to keep his father from taking over the business. This action shows that there is nothing Blaine is unwilling to sacrifice in order to achieve his goals.

Blaine is a very confident person and while this isn't necessarily a bad thing, he tends to be overly confident to the point where his actions come to bite him in the ass. Sometimes he only manages to dodge a crisis thanks to a safety net of other factors he put into play. A good example of this is when two of his employees decided to strike out on their own. If Blaine didn't have Jackie on his side, he might not have caught the defection in time to stop it before it even started. His over-confidence led to deadly consequences in the case of him going after Stacey Boss. Blaine is good at planning and setting up safety nets, but he doesn't plan for everything, and when he is caught and slapped down, it's usually due to his over-confidence making him think he's safe from such retaliation.

WHAT EVENTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES IN YOUR CHARACTER'S PAST HAVE IMPACTED THEM THE MOST?: His mother's suicide likely was one of the most defining moments of his childhood. He describes the moments leading up to her death, stating that she would lock herself in her room for weeks at a time saying that she wanted to die. These were clear warning signs and yet his father never sought to get his wife treatment. Blaine still harbors anger and resentment toward his father for this, likely blaming the man for not taking action. While it hasn't been stated yet in canon when Blaine's mother died, the impression was this happened when he was fairly young. It's implied, though not outright stated, that his mother and Kurt Cobain died around the same time and perhaps even committed suicide in similar ways. Blaine states that his childhood ended the day Kurt Cobain died, so it's fair to say the two events have a strong link in his mind.

Blaine's father cutting him off financially had a huge impact on the direction of Blaine's life. While Blaine and his father had a very poor relationship, Angus's influence still allowed his son opportunities and privilege. Once Blaine was cut off from that privilege, he was forced to make his own way. This led him to Stacey Boss, getting him caught up in drug dealing. It's possible that Blaine performed criminal acts in the past, but it's clear losing his father's influence was the tipping point that pushed Blaine into Stacey Boss's world.

The boat party massacre on Lake Washington was a life-changing moment for all the main characters on the show, and Blaine is no exception to this. While losing his father's money was the event that sent Blaine into the world of drug dealing, the boat party massacre was the one that pushed Blaine to the next level. It's unclear whether Blaine actually murdered anyone personally before the boat party massacre, but after he was more than willing to do so. The massacre turned him into a zombie, which allowed him to finally start getting back at his father and start his road to taking over the crime world from Mister Boss. So many things wouldn't have occurred were it not for that fateful night, so naturally it's very important in Blaine's development.

WHAT MOTIVATES YOUR CHARACTER?: I think Blaine phrased this concisely when he said: "Greed, megalomania, daddy issues". Money is a big motivating factor for Blaine. When a business man offered him a lot of money for Alan York's brain, Blaine was glad to take up the offer despite it meaning he would need to kill a well-known figure. All of the people he made into zombies were either rich or people of influence, who could either afford the 25k a month price for his services or who could be bribed with brains. One of his eventual goals was to rule Seattle instead of Stacey Boss, and was well on his way to do so before Boss killed him.

His "daddy issues" stem from all the abuse and neglect he suffered under his father. It's fairly clear Blaine knows his father doesn't love him and there is some underlying hurt because of that. Blaine harbors a lot of anger and resentment toward his father. He gives the impression he blames his father for not preventing his wife's suicide, as well as anger for his father not stopping any of the abuse brought on by the nanny. Blaine knows that his father institutionalized his grandfather in order to take over the company, and has made it one of his goals to take control instead. Blaine has stated that the thought of taking his father down was why he woke up in the morning.

However, since his amnesia, Blaine's motivations have changed. He has a strong desire to change his life and the way others view him. His amnesia is a way for him to remove himself from his criminal past. Blaine doesn't seem to care as much about money or controlling Seattle. So far he has made no moves to fill the hole left by Stacey Boss's absence, and he willingly helps Liv and Major when they ask him. His motivations lately are to change the way he's living, and through that change how people perceive him.

WHAT IMPRESSION DO OTHERS TEND TO HAVE OF YOUR CHARACTER?: The general first impression most people have of Blaine when meeting him is that he's a charming man. They may also perceive him as easygoing and friendly, someone fun they could relax around. It's only after they learn about him or already suspect him of something that this impression changes. Liv's first impression of him was not nearly as flattering, since at the time Blaine was high on his own drugs: she saw him as a sleazy drug dealer, later seeing him as untrustworthy and dangerous once she knew he was the zombie who scratched her. Clive, Major and Dale also likely had the impression that Blaine was hiding something or was untrustworthy, since they already suspected him in wrongdoing. Those who work with him in the drug-dealing and brain business, like Don E and Chief, see someone they can joke around with and treat in a friendly way while still being aware he is in control and dangerous if provoked.

IN WHAT WAYS DOES THAT IMPRESSION DIFFER FROM WHO YOUR CHARACTER REALLY IS?: Certainly Blaine is charming and can crack a few jokes even in the face of adversity, but he is not a person one should feel relaxed around. The impression that he is dangerous and untrustworthy is an accurate one. Blaine has made an effort to change himself after his amnesia, but as he was lying about his condition in order to maintain the relationships he built with Liv and the others, it shows he's still fundamentally a liar and untrustworthy. Also, while it's clear he can control his violent tendencies, he's still more than willing to use violence when necessary.

HOW DOES YOUR CHARACTER HANDLE CRISIS OR ADVERSITY?: Usually Blaine faces adversity in a calm manner. He rarely panics or gets upset. Once he has faced the crisis, he takes the necessary steps to overcome it. Mostly he does this through manipulation, bribes, or even murder if that's what it takes. Sometimes he takes these actions himself and other times he uses others to do it for him. Blaine is decisive when he takes action and rarely second guesses himself.

WHICH 5 THINGS WILL YOUR CHARACTER REMEMBER UPON ARRIVAL, AND WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THEM?: First, Blaine will remember that he is a lounge singer. I choose this memory because, as far as canon has shown, it's the first job Blaine's taken that doesn't act as a front for a more devious business. This is a job he earned through talent alone. I think that achievement is important to him.

Second, Blaine will remember that he supplies zombies with brains that they need to survive. Honestly, I'm mostly wanting him to have this memory so he is already aware of the supernatural. I feel already knowing about it will let him be a step ahead. Plus, it will give him motivation to play an active role in helping other supernatural beings who need to eat odd things to survive.

Third, Blaine will remember his doctor works at a morgue instead of a hospital. He won't remember the doctor's name, simply that Blaine went to the morgue if he wanted to see a doctor. The reason for this memory is mainly for the strangeness of it. Even in canon, Blaine is never shown going to a hospital for anything. Having this memory also gives him a logical leap as to where he gets the brains for the zombies he services.

Fourth, Blaine will have some vague memories about the boat party massacre. He will remember being there as well as knowing it involved partiers going crazy and killing each other, but he won't remember it as a zombie outbreak or the fact that he turned into a zombie during the massacre. As I previously stated, the boat party massacre was a life-changing event for everyone and while Blaine won't remember the exact details, he will have the memory of surviving this traumatic event. And doesn't everyone need one horrifying trauma in their memories?

Finally, Blaine will remember the name "Peyton" and will have the vague feeling she's important somehow. Most of Blaine's moments of better nature have come through after he met Peyton. He used his contact at the paper to be sure Peyton couldn't be fired because of him, he risked his life to save her from Boss's guys when they kidnapped her, and she plays a huge factor in his motivations to change his life and be a better man. It only makes sense to allow him some lingering memories of her because of the impact she had on him.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU FEEL WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER?: He has died twice and was formerly a zombie twice. He has been cured twice, the first being only temporary and the second coming with a side effect of temporary amnesia. I'm not sure if this is relevant to anything, but I feel like pointing it out anyway.


SKILLS, ABILITIES, & PHYSICAL WEAKNESSES: Blaine is a good singer and can play the piano, possibly also the guitar. He was good enough to be hired on as a lounge singer, if that says anything of his skills.

Blaine owns tools that could be use for lock-picking. While he has not been shown on screen using them, he is a criminal and it would certainly be within his skill set to know how to pick locks.

He is a good shot with a pistol as well as knowing the proper use of night-vision goggles. He's also pretty handy with a knife, using it for a variety of purposes from opening confidential files from the FBI to stabbing people.

Blaine knows how to remove a human brain, fully intact, from a corpse. And it's important to note that as far as canon has indicated, he has no medical training.

For physical weaknesses, Blaine is currently a human being. Therefore he has all the weaknesses that come with being human.

INVENTORY: Blaine wouldn't really be carrying anything on him other than the clothes on his back. Possibly his cell phone and his knife. As far as canon shows us, he doesn't have much by way of personal effects.

SAMPLES

PROSE-HEAVY: http://therebemuses.dreamwidth.org/21595.html?thread=1163355#cmt1163355
DIALOGUE-HEAVY: http://myfreakingheart.dreamwidth.org/418.html?thread=418#cmt418