Personality: Hope makes an impact wherever he goes, whether or not he means it. It can be his looks (inherited from his momma) that brings all the people to the yard, his intelligence or calm, professional demeanor. Maybe even a mix of two, or all of the above said traits, which, believe me, is a far cry from when he was a cynical teenager.
And oh, was he cynical. He was a petty brat back then, spoilt and sheltered with no friends thanks to his easy lifestyle and over-reliance on his mother. All that changed because of painful experiences in his past, and he realized that he needed to grow up. He grew up, and managed to straighten himself out, emotionally and mentally.
Enter the adult Hope, the polite, well-educated young man with a good deal of charisma on him. He's smart, confident and hardly indecisive, making him that kind of guy you look to if you're trapped in a burning building and you need to get out. By the time the words leave your mouth, he'd have an escape route planned out in his head. If you have a problem with bullies or general douchebags, he'd try find a way to negotiate or talk it out with them instead of resorting to blows to scare them off, not only because he sucks at physical combat, but because he doesn't believe fighting or violence is a good way to go about something.
He's also the first person you'd see crawling all over a new device (or ruins, really) and poking at it with a pen, because he's naturally curious-- he wants to know all the things (oh yes, I went there). How does it work? Does it still work? Can it be fixed? Can I fix it? These are the first things that come to his mind in this kind of situation, and there's no way anyone can keep him from getting to work. Might as well leave him alone for the day to let him get acquainted with his new friend.
Hope is by no means arrogant though, as some geniuses were wont to be. He knows he's intelligent, but attributes that instead to his studies and hard work, and doesn't know at all that he's actually good-looking, which makes for some awkward times when he catches girls (and some guys) staring at him. He's humble about all of his abilities and accomplishments-- it's not false humility, which is self-depreciation whenever praise is given, but true modesty. In all honesty, Hope doesn't think much about himself, and prefers to put others before him, showing that he has quite a lot of compassion and bravery in him.
He's also grown a sense of humor over the years. Not something as tasteless as making offensive jokes, or drastic as thinking up of pranks to pull on people every other day, but Hope's subtle when showing off his funny side. For example, he pulled a tiny prank on Vanille, making her think that he liked her (as in like like) before she realized he was just fooling around. Lately, he hasn't had much of a chance to do so, but he used to play little pranks on others when they least expect it, especially if it's a pun of his own name. You never know when he's going to make a smart comment, which really blind-sides you when he does take the opportunity to have fun.
However, he can still be a little melancholic, especially where his mother, Lightning, Fang or Vanille are concerned. When he gets attached, he really gets attached, and his driving force throughout XIII-2 is to save them by researching paradoxes, the past, and even create a whole new world for the people. Heck, he keeps his old boomerang around as a memento even if it's not needed anymore. He's still a bit sensitive when it comes to his past, and should it arise in conversation, this kind of vulnerability really shows.
But there's one big thing that hardly comes up, and that's his awkwardness in social situations-- stick him in a big room full of people he doesn't know in an event like a party or convention, and he starts to fidget (makes you wonder how he did during prom if they even had that in Gran Pulse). If it's something professional, sure, he can do it, but casual stuff? Not at all. From this, you can gather that he hardly ever makes the first move when making-- or attempting to make new friends. But when he makes friends, he stays loyal to them forever, and that's more important, isn't it?
Strengths/Weaknesses: Strengths: He's smart. Freakishly smart. He jumped several levels while in school, which most likely led to early graduation in both high school and college. He has an affinity for science and machines and was able to get a few of them up and running even as a child, so it's not surprising that he was the one who made Serah and Noel's lives easier (and harder, in a way) with inventions and findings. Not to mention he became director of the best research unit of the Academy at about 24 (possibly even younger with the way he commands everything), and is regarded as the de facto boss of the whole institute.
Hope is very clearly an academic who works with his hands only when machines and robotics are involved. Yes, yes, it's pretty weird that magic and science would come together, but their link is Hope's mind.
In another side of strength, he's not the scrawny, squishy kid he used to be. He can throw a boomerang and have it pack a wallop, and even leap from an airship onto the back of another one that's below it while they're both flying. It's clear that he's learned quite a lot while growing up, and he can stand a bit of hurt now.
Weaknesses: He's not as powerful as he used to be in terms of magic and superpowers. He may have learned a lot and has enough swag to hop airships and build whole cities, but he's nowhere on par with the likes of Snow, Lightning or Noel in terms of physical strength. Hit him hard enough and he'll fall.
Other weaknesses are already present in his personality section, so it's a bit redundant to place them here.
Pokémon Information Affiliation: Breeder Starter: Squirtle Password: Raspberry... lemonade. That sounds mildly gross ._.
Samples First Person Sample: Note: Pretend he's been around for a week.
... Good morning everyone. [Well, it doesn't quite look like a good morning for him-- his Squirtle can be heard in the background whinging and complaining, and he's got some Pokéfood in his hair. Whoops.]
I've mentioned it earlier, but I've been here before. It's just that it seems my role has changed-- it seems instead of just the Trainer Handbook, I also have a guide to breeding and a notebook which definitely makes me a Breeder now.
You see, the last time I've been here, I was a Trainer instead, so most of my time was dedicated to training so I could challenge Gym Leaders. Obviously, my role's been changed now, so I'm looking for a foothold in this by addressing fellow Breeders.
To start: How did you start off? How are you doing now?
Secondly, I'm looking for a female Pokémon I can raise alongside Alexander-- my Squirtle-- so that when the time comes I can try and... well, breed them. [Looks sheepish, especially when the Squirtle kind of notices that he's being talked about and starts staring at him from offscreen.] ... Don't look at me like that, Alexander.
... In any case, I've never had any of my Pokémon deliver eggs to me, so I'm trying to take small steps here. If anyone has an extra egg that needs a home, I'll be happy to take it.
Third Person Sample: It was like riding a hoverbike all over again, nevermind the fact that Hope had crashed the very first hoverbike he used back when he was just a teenager. But it was the meaning behind the quote-- he still knew how to navigate the streets, forests and plains of Johto.
... Well, he just needed to get used to it again. He did know how to survive in Gran Pulse's wilderness, and he was extremely glad for the experience his non-stop traveling gave him but other aspects? Pokémon battles? The local currency? Pokémon themselves? Hope needed to relearn.
Especially when he was being accompanied by a Squirtle. This was familiar, yet not, because this one was not quite like his first-- this new Squirtle was far more active than his predecessor, and it showed with how it took in its surroundings. Right now, it was exploring every bush, rock, nook and cranny of their makeshift camp by Route 29, whereas the first Squirtle named Alexander would have been lying on its shell and generally being lazy. Honestly, it reminded Hope of himself as a young teen wandering about Gran Pulse, curious about everything and anything, and he smiled a little at the memory.
"If you find something interesting, bring it back here. I would like to study it," he called out to his small companion, making sure it remembered that he was still there. Predictably, it grunted in its own language and kept on snooping around. "Be careful."
He sighed, tapping a finger against his turned-off Gear. Hope would be lying if he said he didn't miss the old Alexander (or even the actual summon, the basis for the Squirtles' name, but he'd gotten over the loss of his magic years ago). He really, really did, as his old Pokémon was good company way back then. But now, Hope knew, it couldn't be helped, and he needed to do what he could to survive. It was a good thing he already had experience.
Hope Estheim | FFXIII-2 | reserved | 2/2
Hope makes an impact wherever he goes, whether or not he means it. It can be his looks (inherited from his momma) that brings all the people to the yard, his intelligence or calm, professional demeanor. Maybe even a mix of two, or all of the above said traits, which, believe me, is a far cry from when he was a cynical teenager.
And oh, was he cynical. He was a petty brat back then, spoilt and sheltered with no friends thanks to his easy lifestyle and over-reliance on his mother. All that changed because of painful experiences in his past, and he realized that he needed to grow up. He grew up, and managed to straighten himself out, emotionally and mentally.
Enter the adult Hope, the polite, well-educated young man with a good deal of charisma on him. He's smart, confident and hardly indecisive, making him that kind of guy you look to if you're trapped in a burning building and you need to get out. By the time the words leave your mouth, he'd have an escape route planned out in his head. If you have a problem with bullies or general douchebags, he'd try find a way to negotiate or talk it out with them instead of resorting to blows to scare them off, not only because he sucks at physical combat, but because he doesn't believe fighting or violence is a good way to go about something.
He's also the first person you'd see crawling all over a new device (or ruins, really) and poking at it with a pen, because he's naturally curious-- he wants to know all the things (oh yes, I went there). How does it work? Does it still work? Can it be fixed? Can I fix it? These are the first things that come to his mind in this kind of situation, and there's no way anyone can keep him from getting to work. Might as well leave him alone for the day to let him get acquainted with his new friend.
Hope is by no means arrogant though, as some geniuses were wont to be. He knows he's intelligent, but attributes that instead to his studies and hard work, and doesn't know at all that he's actually good-looking, which makes for some awkward times when he catches girls (and some guys) staring at him. He's humble about all of his abilities and accomplishments-- it's not false humility, which is self-depreciation whenever praise is given, but true modesty. In all honesty, Hope doesn't think much about himself, and prefers to put others before him, showing that he has quite a lot of compassion and bravery in him.
He's also grown a sense of humor over the years. Not something as tasteless as making offensive jokes, or drastic as thinking up of pranks to pull on people every other day, but Hope's subtle when showing off his funny side. For example, he pulled a tiny prank on Vanille, making her think that he liked her (as in like like) before she realized he was just fooling around. Lately, he hasn't had much of a chance to do so, but he used to play little pranks on others when they least expect it, especially if it's a pun of his own name. You never know when he's going to make a smart comment, which really blind-sides you when he does take the opportunity to have fun.
However, he can still be a little melancholic, especially where his mother, Lightning, Fang or Vanille are concerned. When he gets attached, he really gets attached, and his driving force throughout XIII-2 is to save them by researching paradoxes, the past, and even create a whole new world for the people. Heck, he keeps his old boomerang around as a memento even if it's not needed anymore. He's still a bit sensitive when it comes to his past, and should it arise in conversation, this kind of vulnerability really shows.
But there's one big thing that hardly comes up, and that's his awkwardness in social situations-- stick him in a big room full of people he doesn't know in an event like a party or convention, and he starts to fidget (makes you wonder how he did during prom if they even had that in Gran Pulse). If it's something professional, sure, he can do it, but casual stuff? Not at all. From this, you can gather that he hardly ever makes the first move when making-- or attempting to make new friends. But when he makes friends, he stays loyal to them forever, and that's more important, isn't it?
Strengths/Weaknesses:
Strengths:
He's smart. Freakishly smart. He jumped several levels while in school, which most likely led to early graduation in both high school and college. He has an affinity for science and machines and was able to get a few of them up and running even as a child, so it's not surprising that he was the one who made Serah and Noel's lives easier (and harder, in a way) with inventions and findings. Not to mention he became director of the best research unit of the Academy at about 24 (possibly even younger with the way he commands everything), and is regarded as the de facto boss of the whole institute.
Hope is very clearly an academic who works with his hands only when machines and robotics are involved. Yes, yes, it's pretty weird that magic and science would come together, but their link is Hope's mind.
In another side of strength, he's not the scrawny, squishy kid he used to be. He can throw a boomerang and have it pack a wallop, and even leap from an airship onto the back of another one that's below it while they're both flying. It's clear that he's learned quite a lot while growing up, and he can stand a bit of hurt now.
Weaknesses:
He's not as powerful as he used to be in terms of magic and superpowers. He may have learned a lot and has enough swag to hop airships and build whole cities, but he's nowhere on par with the likes of Snow, Lightning or Noel in terms of physical strength. Hit him hard enough and he'll fall.
Other weaknesses are already present in his personality section, so it's a bit redundant to place them here.
Pokémon Information
Affiliation: Breeder
Starter: Squirtle
Password: Raspberry... lemonade. That sounds mildly gross ._.
Samples
First Person Sample: Note: Pretend he's been around for a week.
... Good morning everyone. [Well, it doesn't quite look like a good morning for him-- his Squirtle can be heard in the background whinging and complaining, and he's got some Pokéfood in his hair. Whoops.]
I've mentioned it earlier, but I've been here before. It's just that it seems my role has changed-- it seems instead of just the Trainer Handbook, I also have a guide to breeding and a notebook which definitely makes me a Breeder now.
You see, the last time I've been here, I was a Trainer instead, so most of my time was dedicated to training so I could challenge Gym Leaders. Obviously, my role's been changed now, so I'm looking for a foothold in this by addressing fellow Breeders.
To start: How did you start off? How are you doing now?
Secondly, I'm looking for a female Pokémon I can raise alongside Alexander-- my Squirtle-- so that when the time comes I can try and... well, breed them. [Looks sheepish, especially when the Squirtle kind of notices that he's being talked about and starts staring at him from offscreen.] ... Don't look at me like that, Alexander.
... In any case, I've never had any of my Pokémon deliver eggs to me, so I'm trying to take small steps here. If anyone has an extra egg that needs a home, I'll be happy to take it.
Third Person Sample:
It was like riding a hoverbike all over again, nevermind the fact that Hope had crashed the very first hoverbike he used back when he was just a teenager. But it was the meaning behind the quote-- he still knew how to navigate the streets, forests and plains of Johto.
... Well, he just needed to get used to it again. He did know how to survive in Gran Pulse's wilderness, and he was extremely glad for the experience his non-stop traveling gave him but other aspects? Pokémon battles? The local currency? Pokémon themselves? Hope needed to relearn.
Especially when he was being accompanied by a Squirtle. This was familiar, yet not, because this one was not quite like his first-- this new Squirtle was far more active than his predecessor, and it showed with how it took in its surroundings. Right now, it was exploring every bush, rock, nook and cranny of their makeshift camp by Route 29, whereas the first Squirtle named Alexander would have been lying on its shell and generally being lazy. Honestly, it reminded Hope of himself as a young teen wandering about Gran Pulse, curious about everything and anything, and he smiled a little at the memory.
"If you find something interesting, bring it back here. I would like to study it," he called out to his small companion, making sure it remembered that he was still there. Predictably, it grunted in its own language and kept on snooping around. "Be careful."
He sighed, tapping a finger against his turned-off Gear. Hope would be lying if he said he didn't miss the old Alexander (or even the actual summon, the basis for the Squirtles' name, but he'd gotten over the loss of his magic years ago). He really, really did, as his old Pokémon was good company way back then. But now, Hope knew, it couldn't be helped, and he needed to do what he could to survive. It was a good thing he already had experience.