Eyes peered into the distance as his index finger tapped away on the page in front of him, a half filled in crossword puzzle on his lap as he watched the world around him. Despite what had happened during the holiday, it seemed most people had continued with their lives, either pretending as if nothing had happened or just not caring. Meanwhile Rhettâs mind was running at a fast pace, dozens of thoughts buzzing through like a printing press printing one word after the other, simply trying to see if there was something that stood out. It was however not by hearing but by seeing that he recognised someone familiar, standing up to face them. âDidnât think Iâd see you here. Care to join me for a refill?âÂ
"What's up, dude? I'm actually about to hit the road myself. Just on coffee run duty." JC offered a nod of greeting, picking up a tray containing multiple drink orders for the staff at the ice rink. "We do have a machine in the breakroom, you know. And one behind the concession stand. But I guess it's not the same." JC was not much more adventurous in this realm than standard black coffee himself, but he supposed he could understand folks wanting different things. He held up the tray. "Most of this is just caramel and sugar, though. I don't know why don't just do candy store runs. It'd be more honest."
âIâm just saying, as far as the name goes âThe Catalystâ is really creative. I mean what are they big Muse fans or something?â Calypso uttered, the french fry she held between her fingertips already cold by now. She was just annoyed for not knowing, and Calypso hated not knowing. âAnyway, sorry. Didnât mean to go there and⊠well.. Howâre you? Aside from having to listen to my thoughts. And you didnât even give me a penny for it.âÂ
Craning his head upward, JC furrowed his eyebrows, features locked in a vague state of displeasure. He snorted out a laugh, a scoffing noise. "Yeah, 'The Catalyst' is pretty teenager if you ask me. I got a thirteen-year-old at the rink trying to get everyone to call him Blades." He himself was largely unimpressed with the spectacle of Valentine's Day; he found the mastermind's cheeky showmanship cowardly at best, as if smoke and mirrors and puzzles could spare them an actual fight. "Me? I'm less all right than everyone's trying to pretend to be. I've never been this ticked off. And you?"
âA man learns to skate by staggering about and making a fool of himself. Indeed he progresses in all things by resolutely making a fool of himself.â
Below the cut is some quick background on JC. His full biography goes into a little more detail, but please feel free to hit me up any time with ideas or plots!
Height: 5âČ9âł
Eyes:Â Brown
Hair:Â Brown with specks of Grey
MBTI:Â ESFJ
Alignment:Â Lawful NeutralÂ
Affiliations:Â Second-in-command, Lunar Cove pack
III. Background
An only child, JC was born and raised in Lunar Cove. His mother was a witch with an affinity for water manipulation, and his father was a werewolf, who owned a swimming pool and garden store in-town. Because JC himself inherited his paternal werewolf gene, he grew up effectively human.
The Gustavo family was once well-regarded in the local community and even enjoyed some celebrity in the 1970s, when JCâs grandmother won several episodes of a game show, only to lose purposefully to avoid having to shift under the Hollywood full moon.
JCâs father sullied this reputation with public fights, unsavory business practices, and a land dispute with another wolf that compelled him to turn completely from the pack.
By the time he was a teenager, JC was competing at a junior level and working several odd jobs to fund his sport, since his father eventually refused to support his endeavors. The young man eventually attended community college and fostered Olympic dreams.
A small sports scandal followed, and JC went home both to prepare for his imminent change and to lay low while the uproar passed. He approached the pack humbly in search of guidance and was welcomed into the fold with open arms (or paws). He shifted into a full Beta later that month.
When JC returned to the ice, he was suddenly stronger and faster, able to jump higher and farther. The former mid-ranked athlete was now dominating, becoming a fan favorite for his high-energy, albeit risky, style. He grew reckless, however, feeling now indestructible.
His haphazard safety standards caused him a small injury during a competition, and JC begrudgingly took a hiatus to ârecover,â to avoid healing too quickly in the public eye and throw his nature into question.
Approaching 30 now, the man, however, fearing his professional expiration, switched to pairs and partnered with Choi Seo-Yeon, a young skater from his hometown, with the hope of reaching the international stage together.
And while they were finding a groove, JC unknowingly consumed sports drink powder laced with wolfsbane. He landed hard on his leg in-practice and was seriously wounded, now unable to heal himself. These circumstances, combined with a poorly set breakage from unaware human medics, ended his career. Some part of him still believes he may have been exposed to the plant multiple times.
After a period of grieving, then, JC centered himself and made the best life he could in Lunar Cove. He worked at the rink, started programs for students at the local school, commented on sports on the local radio, and became a hometown hero for his frequent volunteer work. He was a natural selection for the former Alphaâs second-in-command.
With her death, however, JC contacted her son, Nico, knowing that he himself would only be able to keep peace temporarily, his lingering injury making him uncertain how heâd fair against serious challengers. He continues to support the new Alpha in this role, loyal first to the pack and to the town-at-large second.
IV: Possible Connections
JC is open to any and all plots and connections, but below are some potential ideas to kick off brainstorming.
The Neighbor:Â JC lives downtown. He knows this person from the neighborhood and may or may not get along with them.
Old Friends:Â JC grew up in Lunar Cove and has ties to the pack and to the coven. Maybe your character knew him or his family growing up.
Skating Lessons:Â JC teaches figure skating and is willing to help your character learn the ropes or perfect the skill. He still skates himself, although he performs fewer stunts these days.
Creative Partners:Â Back in the day, JC needed costumes, music, and choreography of his own, but he now helps source them for his students. Is your character an artist he works with?
