by Guest 6th May 2019, 1:11 pmName: Zhāng Faustein
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Titles: none yet
Aliases:
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Gender: male
Age:
Birthday: August 2nd
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Orientation:
Sexuality:
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Romance:
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Special Characteristics:
Zhāng:
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Zhāng & Stein:
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Faustein/Stein:
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Background:
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Affiliation/Rank:
Profession: alchemist, physician (medical & surgical), & scientist
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Personality:
Zhāng’s body is actually controlled by two distinct but still connected personalities which are similar to each other in some regards but in others, are quite different from each other as well. The first of these is the host personality which is called “Zhāng” and the second is the alter ego that is referred to either as “Faustein” or simply, “Stein". Of course, the various traits which each of these two personalities possess are equally applicable both in battle and outside it as well. Furthermore, since they have a subconscious connection with each other, each can end up displaying certain traits which are largely the province of the other in some rare instances. Naturally, neither is aware they are doing so.
Zhāng:
Positives:
The most notable of Zhāng’s strengths is his curiosity about the world around him which is virtually limitless in extent. One of his two major life goals is to acquire and eventually master all the knowledge available about everything in the world (whether they are mundane or magical). Of course, this is only if this knowledge happens to be the type he is seeking in the first place, aka that which is totally unfamiliar or otherwise intriguing to him. To this end, he is usually preoccupied with training his powers of observation, analysis, inference, and deduction by directing them at the data his senses are constantly gathering about world all around him and at everything in it (whether they are mundane or magical) and this, in turn, usually affords him the ability to pierce through to visualize the most crucial element(s) of any problem. His curiosity also leads him to always try to do things which usually work to move ever closer to achieving the two biggest of his life’s main ambitions, the two main ones among these being the almost continual attempts to acquire study subjects for his research as well as the various batteries of tests and studies that constitute said research. He has set himself such a seemingly Sisyphean task is so that he may eventually accomplish his other major life goal which is to eventually discover and explore the primordial, chaotic abyss which is the purported origin of all the nature and magic in the present day world. He would do just about anything to achieve this end and spares almost no type of effort in his attempts to facilitate the achievement of these two main, greatest objectives of his life, but the majority of the unacceptable actions he may be tempted to consider are usually forestalled by his heritage and social status.
Zhāng has certain positive qualities that usually serve him well, not only in aiding in him in his efforts to achieve his two main objectives in life someday, but also help keep him more or less safe in most common situations and challenges. First, there is his logical and temperate side which affords him the ability to resist being too affected by what’s going on around him, whether good or bad, while also letting him view and assess the situation from a purely factual standpoint. This, in turn, lets him see most of the angles that comprise his present situation, all the moves he can make in it, and most importantly, the vast majority of the common ramifications that could result in the immediate future from his actions in the present, at least to some extent after which he can proceed to pick the most optimal method to handle said situation. Then there is also his cautious and practical nature which serve to guard him at least a little by sealing any gaps in his defenses. This is because it not only causes him to do his homework on the situation and have at least some contingency plans if his main one should fail him before even going in to resolve the issue. It is also helpful since it usually keeps him ready-minded and alert for anything strange or potentially problematic after he enters he scene of the problem. Meanwhile his practical nature keeps him from going too deep into a situation which has proven to either be completely without hope of salvation or to not be worth salvaging even if a way to do so happens to be in existence.
If none of these positives are enough to stop Zhāng’s urges from going too far, then there is always his status as the sole heir to his family, clan, and alliance and general heritage as well. His family, clan, and the associated alliance is old enough to be steeped in ancient traditions and has enough fame, wealth, and social clout that it is usually enough to give him pause before going down a drastic course of action. This is especially true since he has been taught from a young age to always keep his background in mind whenever considering options for action in any situation, regardless of its nature and so, makes sure to do so as far as humanly possible. In this manner, it allows him to keep himself in check and perhaps more importantly, it lets him avoid the unpleasantness that is inherent to the prospect of his body being taken over and used by his alter ego, Stein. The other benefit to this privileged background of his is the training that he has undergone in preparation to enter high society. As a result of this, he always at least tries to be polite to others, especially if he knows they are stronger or more capable than him. This training has also inculcated in him from a young age certain other qualities in addition to his temperance which are also commonly considered among the seven heavenly virtues and these are: gratitude, charity, and patience.
These are beneficial to him in the following ways: his tendency toward gratitude ensures that he pays back his debts before they pile up too high. Due to this, he usually has a clear conscience which of course means that he can move ahead with the pursuit of his life goals without too much hesitation. His charity causes him to freely give out alms or aid to any who have proven to need it because of which they are usually amenable to helping him. Furthermore, since he also is just as free with his mercy to those who haven’t committed too many or too egregious transgressions against him (no more than 3), he can continue maintaining strong connections with them. Finally, his patience not only creates capable students out of those whom he instructs due to his slow and steady approach, but it also amplifies his chances of success in his many and varied ventures. This is because it allows him to know when to bide his time which is very useful especially when he is in the process of gathering strategic intelligence regarding any situation that needs his attention. These along with his high self-confidence which he has as a result of his many accomplishments and skills make him generally well liked and maybe even admired to some degree in most social circles that include him as a member.
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Positive & Negative:
Among his qualities that aid Zhāng in his quest is his concentration which gives him a laser-like focus on his main objectives in whatever situation he is in, whether it be related to his research or otherwise. This kind of high focus is good because it lets him stave off most common distracting factors that attempt to get in his way at least until he has cleared all his objectives in the situation at hand. However, it can also be a significant downside because by tuning out everything and everyone around him to allow himself to concentrate on his immediate objectives, aka the target/enemy, he forgets about many of the more common sense stuff anybody else would actually keep in mind. Consequently, despite his usually observant nature, he can never really grasp the bigger picture and this could become quite the stumbling block for him since it could hamper his ability to solve whatever issue is at the root of the problem he happens to be facing at any given time. This is even more applicable in those situations which are usually riddled with finer nuances that are not immediately apparent, even to him. There is also the irreverent side of him which could be an advantage since it usually keeps him from baulking at the prospect of studying or experimenting on some specimen due to something about it such as its nature, social status, or rarity/value from the perspective of the rest of the world. However, this could be also be problematic for him in the long run because his disregard for such things about the specimen could come back to haunt him especially if the specimen happens to be the type that’s put on a pedestal, either by others of its kind or perhaps even the rest of the world.
Then, there is his steadfast nature which gives him the mental fortitude to stick with the situation at hand until he has reached the end, even if the initial data happens to be insufficient or otherwise disappointing to him. Of course, the above only applies until the situation becomes so impractical that he is forced to abandon it in favor of something more feasible. On the other hand, his methodical manner of doing anything usually keeps his progress toward his ultimate objective steady and orderly regardless of most common obstacles in his path. Thus, both of these traits can be a godsend to him since they aid him in achieving success in most of his ventures. That said, his steadfast nature can also be quite the curse since it makes him so inflexible that he cannot easily adapt to any unforeseen difficulties which might crop up suddenly to impede his progress. This resolute nature of his can also be quite troublesome because the inflexibility it afflicts him with means he would be quite recalcitrant and unwilling to listen to most common attempts by others to get him to change his mind about his decisions in a particular situation. Meanwhile, his methodical approach to anything is also a curse because it makes him fairly easy to predict in most situations, given that there has been enough exposure to his methods and personality.
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Negatives:
Even though Zhāng has all of these positives, he still has his fair share of defects as does everyone/everything else in the world. The most prominent among these is his obliviousness that extends across all types of social mores, emotional ties, and other normal unspoken traditions which the rest of society tries to keep in mind in their daily lives. As a result of this, despite his training in proper etiquette and so on due to his family’s high social status and apart from those times he can actually remember to be well mannered to those around him, he can often end up ignoring most if not all the usually observed social graces because of which he is often led to do things that could unnerve others, however unintentional this may be in reality. The other somewhat annoying thing it afflicts him with is a total inability to comprehend and compute the details of the situation when it happens to involve any form of love and affection, especially the romantic kind as a result of which he not only becomes very uncomfortable when someone is trying to show him such attention, but may also try to push them away, though this is never because of any malicious intent on his part. This extreme obliviousness of his is only rivalled and compounded by his equally blatant tactlessness which sadly causes him to address the proverbial “elephant in the room” without any hesitation in quite a few situations whereas the rest of those involved in those situations would try to avoid the topic like the plague. Sadly, this occurs despite all the lessons he has had in proper linguistics and the effort he puts into trying to speak kindly and sensitively to others because of his inability to comprehend the emotional milieu of his surroundings in most if not all cases. These two are annoying enough on their own, but since they work in a synergistic manner in most common circumstances and since their consequences usually feed off each other in a continuous, self propagating vicious cycle, the combined result of these two defects acting simultaneously leads many of those whom he interacts with not only get annoyed with him, but also outright infuriated should he end up pushing things too far, which he does more often than he would like or care to admit to anyone.
The third and final part of this unholy trinity of weaknesses is his restlessness which manifests itself as a severe penchant for boredom as well as off and on manic energy. Zhāng is one of those types who usually really crave mental exaltation, aka a good, thorough workout for their “little grey cells”. Naturally, because of this, he is usually most in his element and at home in situations which provide him with such stimuli. Should he be fortunate enough to encounter such an instance, he is often overtaken by a surprising level of energy that it frequently might astound the people whom he happens to be working with in that case when they see the results he can achieve by using his faculties, especially if they have very little prior experience in dealing with him. Of course, what makes this trait a weakness is what happens when he doesn’t have enough of such stimuli since if he is unfortunate enough to not have anything mentally challenging to keep him busy, this penchant for boredom causes him to experience black moods where his hidden pessimism will rear it ugly head in most cases, making him quite the headache to deal with for those in his acquaintance since he becomes a total mood-killer. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg as his lack of mental workout can, at times, affect him so much that he actually will go into full on depression although the length of these periods often varies in proportion to the exact level of his boredom. If this happens, then he will actually try things like procuring and using the more radical of the artificial stimuli in his efforts to escape from such boredom and depression as best he can even though he is fully aware of how pernicious these would be to him and despite all the safeguards of his usually cautious nature, but the consideration he is usually made to give to family background and status could perhaps curb this urge depending on the situation.
In addition to this, due to the many repeatedly tested strengths he has been blessed with due to heritage and the intensive training he has had to undergo since childhood, he has acquired a great deal of faith in his own abilities. However, what had initially started out as extreme faith in his own abilities eventually turned into arrogance which is why he doesn’t hesitate to be so irreverent in many cases. This faith in his abilities ultimately also gave rise to his fairly noticeable narcissism which, when paired with his arrogance can result in a great many people becoming irritated with him. As if that were not bad enough, this narcissism and arrogance can also manifest themselves in the form of condescension towards any he happens to be interacting with at any time. Of course, the last of these three mostly only show itself when he knows the other person is weaker or less intelligent than him. As a result, if he were to face someone or something weaker than him, he usually makes the really stupid mistake of underestimating them and that causes him to dumb things down to their level or otherwise go easy on them. Due to this, if he is ever face to face with any who he knows are weaker than him, he can make most of them really angry at him or even worse, maybe even end up losing to them if the situation should lead to combat.
Then there are Zhāng’s tendency toward detached behavior, his eccentricity, and his introverted nature. While these may not be so outrageous as the rest of his foibles, they are still significant enough to be counted among his many limitations because they can make him somewhat irritating to deal with for most people. First, there is his predilection for detached behavior towards the research specimens and clients which he may encounter over the course of his research. This aspect of his is a problem because he usually views and even treats his study subjects as he would any common lab rat instead of the individuals they are in reality which can make them quite put off with him. He is even rude enough to forget the personal details about his clients after he has finished handling their case since he commonly thinks of them as mere factors in their problem, and not as the actually 3D entities they are in truth which can make them hesitant or even completely unwilling to hire him again. Meanwhile, his eccentricity makes him act in ways that are quite unconventional in the eyes of those around him, and because this behavior of his usually stands in such stark contrast to their standard common sense, it could rub them the wrong way. Finally, there is his introverted nature which makes him reserved enough that he tends to bottle everything up inside him and tries to take all but the worst of his problems on alone instead of asking for a helping hand and so, this can aggravate those few who care enough about him to try to help him and make them want to give up on him.
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Stein
Positives:
Since he was born out of the subconscious mind of the host personality, Zhāng, the alter ego known as Stein shares with him the two greatest of his strengths. These are, of course, his near boundless curiosity about the world and everything in it (whether that be phenomena or entities) and his high perceptiveness as well. Just like Zhāng, Stein is also driven relentlessly by the same ultimate life goal of acquiring and eventually trying to master all the knowledge about the world and its contents. Stein is also similar to Zhāng in that he too would do just about anything if it means the achievement of his goals, and in his case even the thought of bringing shame to the family and clan would not be enough to stop him from immersing himself completely in his pursuits, and this is another thing that sets him apart from Zhāng who would actually be prevented from doing the same due to the respect he has been taught to give to his heritage and social status. Stein’s above average perspicacity helps since, just like in Zhāng’s case, it also helps him have an easier time approaching the heart of any situation and register all the pertinent details. However, he is also different from Zhāng who is a scientist at heart and who wants the knowledge for the sake of analysing it in order to unlock the primordial abyss that is the source of both magic and nature so he can explore it thoroughly. This difference lies in the fact that, unlike Zhāng, Stein chases this goal almost tirelessly simply because he thinks of the process of achieving the goal as a series of giant lifelong adventures, each of which is more thrilling and challenging than its predecessor.
Even though Stein is just as curious and perceptive as Zhāng, the way he approaches any situation is almost polar opposite to Zhāng’s method of operation. Therefore, for the most part, each would be most effective in the type of situation which would require the particular mindset that each possesses, while the other would not be so effective and would maybe even have a hard time dealing with the same situation properly. Unlike Zhāng who would be better in those cases where there is plenty of at least decent if not actually top tier resources and a favorable situation to go along with them, Stein’s creative bent of mind lets him at least survive if not actually excel in those situations where the circumstances may be unfavorable and the resources available, low grade. As a result, he would be more suited to dealing with occasions that demand resourcefulness from the participants. Zhāng is temperate in his responses and decisions in most situations, but Stein immerses himself in the emotional ups and downs of any situation he happens to be in, making him far more aware of the general mood of everyone around him and of his current situation as well. This means that when the situation requires the ability to read the emotional milieu and respond accordingly, Stein would be more effective. Meanwhile, Zhāng would be most at home when the situations which call for the one dealing with them to be keep a cool head and show restraint.
While Zhāng is a man of reason who lets logic be his guide in anything he does, Stein is more a creature of instinct who acts based on his “gut feeling”. Therefore, if/when the situation calls for those involved to gather the necessary data of appropriate quality as well as quantity and process it into viable strategic intelligence upon which they can then act since they have had ample time to process it properly, then Zhāng is the man for the job. However, sometimes, the circumstances are such that there is not enough workable data and/or not enough time to transform it into usable intelligence on which any participants can act appropriately. In these cases, Stein is the one who needs to go out into the field to handle the problem since he won’t be paralysed by a lack of ample, good quality data unlike Zhāng who would be somewhat more helpless. In addition to being a creature of instinct, Stein is brave and will not hesitate to take risks as and when needed whereas Zhāng usually tries to err on the side of caution and solve at least the main problems in any given situation before even entering it. So, if/when the occasion calls for the undertakers to always keep their wits about them and plan before they enter the scene, then it would be best to deploy Zhāng to take care of the issues. On the other hand, if/when the affair requires those who can bite the bullet and leap headlong into the fray despite the danger present, then the smartest course of action would be to call for Stein.
Zhāng has had to undergo a lot of intensive training in the social graces from a very young age due to the nature and status of his family, clan, and the associated alliance and has had a fair few people betray him or try to trick him and manipulate him for their own ends in his past as well. Thus, over the many years he has been alive , he has slowly but surely developed into someone who is quite solitary and secretive even if he may be polite and virtuous in nature. However, deep down, some part of him had always wanted to cut loose to just have fun while interacting with others while also having a decent level of freedom of speech which is exactly what Stein is like when dealing with social situations. So, if the task and the objectives therein would be better served by one who can operate in a clandestine manner and is able to keep whatever secrets have been divulged to him by the client, then Zhāng would be the go to choice. On the contrary, if the state of things require the handlers to be one who is better at being the life of the party and/or a morale booster/entertainer, then Stein is the appropriate agent to be tasked with the supervision. The next thing about Stein that is different from Zhāng is that the former has both high self confidence and the ability to emanate it from him to attract others to his cause and even convince them by hook or crook to follow him while the latter only has high self confidence and lacks the animal magnetism and the silver tongued smooth talking capacity of the former. As a result, if/when the case is such that a demagogue is required, Stein be the one chosen whereas if/when the targets can be won over with mere logic alone or when it’s not necessary to win the target over at all since the operative and their own skills are more than enough due to the mission being the solo kind, then Zhāng can be used for clean up.
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Positive&Negative:
Stein is just as irreverent as Zhāng, but still there are certain other traits which set them apart as well such as Stein’s flexibility mindset, holistic perspective, and quixotic tendencies versus Zhāng’s focused mindset, steadfast nature, as well as his methodical modus operandi. However, as with Zhāng, all of these qualities that Stein has could be good or bad depending on the circumstances. First, there is Stein’s irreverence could be an advantage since it usually keeps him from baulking at the prospect of studying/experimenting on some specimen or exploring some place due to something about it such as its nature, social status, or rarity/value from the perspective of the rest of the world like it would in Zhāng’s case. However, this could be also be problematic for Stein in the long run because his disregard for such things about the specimen could come back to haunt him especially if the specimen happens to be the type that’s put on a pedestal, either by others of its kind or perhaps even the rest of the world. Then, Stein knows how to take in information about not only the target, but also everything else that may be important to solving the case while Zhāng tends to get so wrapped up in dealing with the target and their problems that he can’t usually see and/or comprehend the bigger picture. This could be good because it means Stein usually never forgets those around him while also handling the target’s problems, it could also be bad because it means it is somewhat easy to distract him from his goals. So, if the occasion needs someone who never loses their concentration, then Zhāng should be the one to go for the goal whereas if the affair calls for an operative who will keep the bigger picture in mind while also achieving their objective, then Stein is the better man.
After that comes Stein’s flexible albeit quixotic tendencies which are the yin to the yang of Zhāng’s steadfast and methodical predilections and this leads to Stein having the ability to improvise as and when necessary. In contrast, Zhāng’s way only causes him to be rigid which then causes him o run the risk of not being able to adjust his tactics according to the changing tides of his situation. This aspect of Stein’s personality could be a plus since it means he can adapt himself to the evolution of the circumstances. Due to this, he can continue to stay relevant and useful to his side throughout whatever encounter he happens to be handling at present. This is especially true since it lets him also be able to distract the other party with his flair for the dramatic as well as his tendency to keep his audience in suspense. Of course, it could just as easily be a minus because it also makes him quite problematic since he has great difficulty when his task may be to adhere to a rigid script and also because his incurable love for theatrics may annoy those around him if they are the “all work and no play” types who don’t tolerate such nonsensical attitudes. Therefore, if the objectives require one who is not afraid to improvise and adapt their initial strategy according to the constantly changing needs of the situation or perhaps someone to act as a decoy to mess up the enemy’s plans with their show-boating, then Stein is the optimal choice, but if the situational goals are such that they need someone who can follow a rigidly choreographed script to the letter and someone who isn’t melodramatic, then Zhāng should be the one hired to take on the challenge.
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Negatives:
Even though he may be as eccentric as Zhāng, Stein is also different from him because his greatest weakness is his incorrigibly mercurial nature. In comparison, for Zhāng, the problem lies in his methodical nature making him somewhat easily predictable to those who have enough experience with him, though this is technically not his biggest flaw. This unpredictable nature that Stein has is a big weakness since it makes him very tough to work with as those in his company can never know what he will do at any given moment or when he will suddenly change his mind. This in turn makes him quite unreliable as a comrade in arms for whomever is unlucky enough to be in his company. So, they can never really be sure about their future plans and probably will have difficulty trusting him with sensitive information which if leaked may cause them great losses. Due to this, if the issue needs someone who can change their spots at the drop of a hat and be unpredictable enough to throw off the other side’s game to some significant degree, then Stein needs to be the one directing his side. However, if as mentioned earlier, the job in question requires someone who can adhere to a predetermined, predictable plan instead of doing his own thing and being unpredictable, then Zhāng is the better candidate.
Then, there is Stein’s indolent attitude, devious nature, and vulgar mannerisms towards the world in general. In contrast, Zhāng does usually have polite mannerisms, although these are sometimes marred by his patronizing mentality. In addition to this, unlike Stein who is usually slothful or at least is able to kick back and relax when he is not occupied with some important task, Zhāng is quite often overtaken by his manic energy which can make him seem almost demonic in his relentless pursuit of his target, provided of course that said target happens to be something or some entity that sparks his interest. Stein’s usually easygoing attitude to life which can border on laziness especially when he is truly unoccupied is a major drawback since if anyone or anything comes to him for help or with some job while he is under the influence of this aspect of his personality, he will be very inertial and won’t put forth the necessary effort to complete it properly. If this happens during a time of conflict, then he can even end up making his side losing to their opposition simply because he cannot be bothered to lift a finger. His devious nature and vulgar mannerisms are also a big limitation since they make him be intentionally rude or obscene to those around him and even try to trick and manipulate them at every turn or at least as often as he can which in turn may offend some if no all of his victims to resent him and due to that resentment, they may punish him or otherwise wreak vengeance on him later on. Thus, if the situation calls for the one handling it to be well versed in fair play, politeness, and/or one who is energetic in his ways, then Zhāng should be deployed by whomever is seeking aid whereas if the issue needs someone who knows how to take it easy or someone who can manipulate people easily, then Stein is the ideal agent instead.
The next several negative traits are merely weaknesses and would not be useful in any regard, either to Stein or to anything or anyone that may come to him for help in some matter or another. In fact, many of these are actually bad enough that they would be considered as part of the seven deadly sins by the rest of society. Of course, Stein cannot be bothered to rectify these parts of himself since he doesn’t really care what others think of him.The first set of these is comprised of his vanity, envy, and gluttony and the only one among these three that he has in common with Zhāng is his vanity, although Zhāng has this sin to a somewhat lesser degree than does Stein. Stein’s vainglorious attitude is a giant chink in his armor for very much the same reason as it is for Zhāng, that is because it leads him to underestimate his opposition if they happen to be weaker than him and subsequently cause him to run the risk of losing to them which could, in the worst case scenario, may cost him as well as his side a potentially crucial victory over their enemies. His envy, which stands in stark contrast to Zhāng’s continual observance of grateful behavior, is almost as big a gap in his security system since it causes him to become jealous of anything and/or anyone that he notices to have more material possessions than himself or perhaps have more skills in their repertoire than him, which in turn causes him to eventually desire and try to take these possessions and/or skills from those he is envious of, and this could then lead them to at least be angry with him if not actually punish him or take their revenge on him in some manner for having the gall to commit such an atrocity. The last of these, namely his gluttonous cravings are perhaps less egregious a drawback than would be his vanity and envy, but even these can get to be troublesome for him since they afflict him with a tendency to gorge himself on lots of food, rare wines or more potent alcoholic beverages, and even indulge in more sensual pleasures of the flesh and all of this would not only end up alienating those around him who may be disgusted by such boorish behavior, but also land him in a heap of health problems sooner or later, unlike Zhāng who would not have these problems since he is usually careful to follow the maxims set by the heavenly virtue of temperance as far as possible.
The second set of these negative traits consists of Stein’s susceptibility to avarice, wrath, sadism, and even outright psychotic behavior when the current situation causes him to become truly unhinged for one reason or another. His avarice is a major weakness again for practically the same reason as would be his envy, and this is the fact that it would cause his tendency to procure and hoard the best things in life in his own resource stores to rub others the wrong way which would then lead to resentment and that would eventually make them want to punish him for such selfishness. Meanwhile, Zhāng would be more or less in the clear due to his predilection towards charity. Stein’s wrathful behavior when provoked far enough would be a significant weakness too since it would cause others to be reluctant to team up with him. Here again, Zhāng would be different or perhaps be better off because he is usually patient with all that deserve it in his eyes and so would reap the rewards therein unlike Stein who poses the risk of becoming unnecessarily violent especially when those around him least expect it. Finally, there is Stein’s sadistic and psychotic tendencies which are a limitation because they may even cause him to rebel against his own side and try to vent his frustration out on them rather than on the enemy/target which could lead others to be afraid of partnering with him for anything. However, Zhāng would have the upper hand over Stein once more here since he is actually reliable and usually very stable unlike Stein who tends to swim in such deep and dark waters as those mentioned above.
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Likes:
Zhāng:
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Stein:
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Dislikes:
(The following information is applicable to both sides of his personality in addition to being valid both in and out of battle)
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Motivations:
(The following information is applicable to both sides of his personality in addition to being valid both in and out of battle)
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Fears:
Zhāng:
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Zhāng & Stein:
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Stein:
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General Appearance:
Height: 5’ 7”
Weight: 140 lb.
Hair:
Zhāng:
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Stein:
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Eyes:
Zhāng:
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Stein:
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Skin:
Zhāng:
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Stein:
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Appearance Image:
Regular Appearance (Zhāng):
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Alternate Appearance (Stein):
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Guild: guildless
Tattoo: none for now, if he ever joins one and gets the associated emblem, it will look like this:
- First Name: Zhāng
- Last Name: Faustein
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Titles: none yet
Aliases:
- Zhāng/Stein (his family, allies, employees, & acquaintances use this form)
- Dr. Zhāng/ Dr. Stein (his patients and study subjects prefer this form)
- Mr. Kuroyakushi/Mr. Faustein (his business associates like this form)
- ”Z”/ “S” (his clients, enemies, & targets know this form)
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Gender: male
Age:
- Real: 135 years old
- Apparent: 28 years old (he is always at this age in both functionality and appearance)
Birthday: August 2nd
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Orientation:
Sexuality:
- Zhāng: asexual
- Faustein: heterosexual
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Romance:
- Zhāng: aromantic
- Faustein: heteroromantic
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Special Characteristics:
Zhāng:
- Zhāng’s most notable characteristics are his potent eidetic memory and his keen intellect signified by his IQ which is rated at 180 points. Equally notable is his superior ambidexterity which, when combined with his eidetic memory and intellect, puts him well above the level of most average mages and this trait remains the same in all respects regardless of which of the two personalities is commanding the shared body.
- The second most distinctive of Zhāng’s aspects are the large, rather prominent dark circles which are always present under his eyes. These are the result of years upon years of long periods of sleep deprivation due to him being busy with his work as an alchemist/surgeon, his quest to fulfil his one major life goal of acquiring all the knowledge in the world for himself, the long hours he has spent in poring over the various inventions and specimens he has been studying and creating in his lab till date, and so on.
- The third most remarkable thing about Zhāng are his dark colored lips and the marks of strangulation still present around his neck. The dark colored lips are due to the fact his blood cells are always somewhat deficient in their ability to bind and carry enough oxygen to give the usual color seen on the lips of most other more normal individuals due to the small amount of damage his body continually takes as a side effect of his peculiar brand of magic while the strangulation marks are from one of his past jobs where he had been gravely injured by a rope type artifact spirit which he had encountered and wanted to study, but had the hardest time capturing for his collection.
- The fourth most unique of Zhāng’s features is the patch of mismatched skin bounded by two black suture lines, one on top and and one at the bottom, respectively. This patch of skin lies diagonally across his torso, stretching from the top left to the bottom right and is a souvenir from the time he had faced a particularly troublesome fire spirit which he had tried to catch for his study subject collection but which had successfully given him a rather nasty burning slash wound on that part of his torso just before he managed to subdue and acquire it for his research.
- The last most noticeable of Zhāng's attributes is his eccentric attire which consists of the following articles that are worn over his undergarments:
- a pale yellow scarf which rests around his neck
- a custom order white lab coat with pockets in strategic spots which seems to be stained with residue from his research experiments on an almost perpetual basis (usually blood, some red potion, or some other red colored fluid) that covers his torso
- a pair of light blue surgical gloves (of which he own multiple pairs since they are disposal)
- his dark colored, custom order, form fitting pants which have some light armor affixed over the thigh region and which are cut off just below the knee and at the end of which lies a pair of equipment pouches, one on each leg
- his dark colored, custom order, form fitting long boots with special all terrain soles as well as heel and arch support and a few other tricks.
He wears this ensemble almost all the time regardless of the demands of the occasion with the only few exceptions to this being when he is at home relaxing or just out and about in more casual settings in which case he would wear what most ordinary people do or when he is travelling at which time, he makes just two additions to his usual garb, these being a white colored, wide brimmed top hat with a silk band above the brim, and a long white trench coat which is also custom made to have pockets in strategic spots.
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Zhāng & Stein:
- One of the only three things that both Zhāng & Stein share in terms of special characteristics is a certain magical item which has been implanted in the exact center of their chest by Zhāng via a secret method known only to him in order to try to limit Stein’s ability to take over control of the body as far as possible and thus, it cannot be removed from his body by any means regardless of its nature or extent of power. This item takes the form of an ultra-compact mana reactor and is the source of all the magic that exists in their arsenal. It looks like this:
- The second of these things that both Zhāng & Stein share in terms of special characteristics is the pair of portal-like holes, one on each hand and they can open and close them at will as well as use these for various purposes while executing their magical arts. Like the mana reactor in the center of their chest, these palm portals cannot be destroyed or sealed in any way and look like this:
- The third and last of these things that both Zhāng & Stein share in terms of special characteristics is the special eyes they gain from their lineage that differ from their normal eyes since these have light blue irides and pupils with a glowing, white lotus pattern around them in each eye. However, everything else about their eyes like size and general shape still remains the same and these special eyes look like this:
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Faustein/Stein:
- Stein’s most notable characteristics are his potent eidetic memory and his razor sharp intellect signified by his IQ which is rated at 180 points. Equally notable is his superlative ambidexterity which, when combined with his eidetic memory and keen intellect, puts him well above the level of most average mages and this trait remains the same in all respects regardless of which of the two personalities is commanding their shared body.
- The second most distinctive of Stein’s aspects is the long, narrow, jet black, triangle shape that appears on his face stretching from his forehead onto the bridge of his nose. When this alter ego, Stein, takes control of their shared body, this mark always appears in the exact same spot every time and cannot be seen as long as the host personality, Zhāng, is in charge.
- The third most remarkable thing about Stein is his mid back length, very voluminous, extremely coarse, fiery orange hair and far darker skin color. When this alter ego, Stein, takes control of their shared body, the usual platinum blonde hair that is present as long as the host personality, Zhāng, is in control will always transform into this much more unkempt and feral mane and takes on the aforementioned hue as well while his skin turns from its usual pale complexion to the dark skin tone which is unique to him.
- The fourth most unique of Stein’s features is his pale yellow eyes with their jet black sclerae. When this alter ego, Stein, takes control of their shared body, the usual inscrutable blue eyes that are present as long as the host personality, Zhāng, is dominant will always change into these more ominous looking, feral eyes with their pale yellow irides and their jet black sclerae.
- The last most noticeable of Stein's attributes is that all the scars and suture lines that are normally present all over the body he shares with his host personality, Zhāng, when that one is in effect are nowhere to be seen when this alter ego, Stein, takes control. This is because when Stein takes over, there is an additional, far thicker layer of dermal armor that conceals these from view since it covers their entire body.
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Background:
- Ethnicity: part Midi/ part Iceberg
- Nationality: Fiore
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Affiliation/Rank:
- Kuroyakushi clan & Faustein family: heir apparent
- Fausyakushi Alliance: next in line leader
- Fausyakushi Inc.:
- future CEO of the group
- practicing magical physician (medical & surgical)/scientist at one of the associated healing centers & one of the affiliated research labs as well
Profession: alchemist, physician (medical & surgical), & scientist
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Personality:
Zhāng’s body is actually controlled by two distinct but still connected personalities which are similar to each other in some regards but in others, are quite different from each other as well. The first of these is the host personality which is called “Zhāng” and the second is the alter ego that is referred to either as “Faustein” or simply, “Stein". Of course, the various traits which each of these two personalities possess are equally applicable both in battle and outside it as well. Furthermore, since they have a subconscious connection with each other, each can end up displaying certain traits which are largely the province of the other in some rare instances. Naturally, neither is aware they are doing so.
Zhāng:
Positives:
The most notable of Zhāng’s strengths is his curiosity about the world around him which is virtually limitless in extent. One of his two major life goals is to acquire and eventually master all the knowledge available about everything in the world (whether they are mundane or magical). Of course, this is only if this knowledge happens to be the type he is seeking in the first place, aka that which is totally unfamiliar or otherwise intriguing to him. To this end, he is usually preoccupied with training his powers of observation, analysis, inference, and deduction by directing them at the data his senses are constantly gathering about world all around him and at everything in it (whether they are mundane or magical) and this, in turn, usually affords him the ability to pierce through to visualize the most crucial element(s) of any problem. His curiosity also leads him to always try to do things which usually work to move ever closer to achieving the two biggest of his life’s main ambitions, the two main ones among these being the almost continual attempts to acquire study subjects for his research as well as the various batteries of tests and studies that constitute said research. He has set himself such a seemingly Sisyphean task is so that he may eventually accomplish his other major life goal which is to eventually discover and explore the primordial, chaotic abyss which is the purported origin of all the nature and magic in the present day world. He would do just about anything to achieve this end and spares almost no type of effort in his attempts to facilitate the achievement of these two main, greatest objectives of his life, but the majority of the unacceptable actions he may be tempted to consider are usually forestalled by his heritage and social status.
Zhāng has certain positive qualities that usually serve him well, not only in aiding in him in his efforts to achieve his two main objectives in life someday, but also help keep him more or less safe in most common situations and challenges. First, there is his logical and temperate side which affords him the ability to resist being too affected by what’s going on around him, whether good or bad, while also letting him view and assess the situation from a purely factual standpoint. This, in turn, lets him see most of the angles that comprise his present situation, all the moves he can make in it, and most importantly, the vast majority of the common ramifications that could result in the immediate future from his actions in the present, at least to some extent after which he can proceed to pick the most optimal method to handle said situation. Then there is also his cautious and practical nature which serve to guard him at least a little by sealing any gaps in his defenses. This is because it not only causes him to do his homework on the situation and have at least some contingency plans if his main one should fail him before even going in to resolve the issue. It is also helpful since it usually keeps him ready-minded and alert for anything strange or potentially problematic after he enters he scene of the problem. Meanwhile his practical nature keeps him from going too deep into a situation which has proven to either be completely without hope of salvation or to not be worth salvaging even if a way to do so happens to be in existence.
If none of these positives are enough to stop Zhāng’s urges from going too far, then there is always his status as the sole heir to his family, clan, and alliance and general heritage as well. His family, clan, and the associated alliance is old enough to be steeped in ancient traditions and has enough fame, wealth, and social clout that it is usually enough to give him pause before going down a drastic course of action. This is especially true since he has been taught from a young age to always keep his background in mind whenever considering options for action in any situation, regardless of its nature and so, makes sure to do so as far as humanly possible. In this manner, it allows him to keep himself in check and perhaps more importantly, it lets him avoid the unpleasantness that is inherent to the prospect of his body being taken over and used by his alter ego, Stein. The other benefit to this privileged background of his is the training that he has undergone in preparation to enter high society. As a result of this, he always at least tries to be polite to others, especially if he knows they are stronger or more capable than him. This training has also inculcated in him from a young age certain other qualities in addition to his temperance which are also commonly considered among the seven heavenly virtues and these are: gratitude, charity, and patience.
These are beneficial to him in the following ways: his tendency toward gratitude ensures that he pays back his debts before they pile up too high. Due to this, he usually has a clear conscience which of course means that he can move ahead with the pursuit of his life goals without too much hesitation. His charity causes him to freely give out alms or aid to any who have proven to need it because of which they are usually amenable to helping him. Furthermore, since he also is just as free with his mercy to those who haven’t committed too many or too egregious transgressions against him (no more than 3), he can continue maintaining strong connections with them. Finally, his patience not only creates capable students out of those whom he instructs due to his slow and steady approach, but it also amplifies his chances of success in his many and varied ventures. This is because it allows him to know when to bide his time which is very useful especially when he is in the process of gathering strategic intelligence regarding any situation that needs his attention. These along with his high self-confidence which he has as a result of his many accomplishments and skills make him generally well liked and maybe even admired to some degree in most social circles that include him as a member.
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Positive & Negative:
Among his qualities that aid Zhāng in his quest is his concentration which gives him a laser-like focus on his main objectives in whatever situation he is in, whether it be related to his research or otherwise. This kind of high focus is good because it lets him stave off most common distracting factors that attempt to get in his way at least until he has cleared all his objectives in the situation at hand. However, it can also be a significant downside because by tuning out everything and everyone around him to allow himself to concentrate on his immediate objectives, aka the target/enemy, he forgets about many of the more common sense stuff anybody else would actually keep in mind. Consequently, despite his usually observant nature, he can never really grasp the bigger picture and this could become quite the stumbling block for him since it could hamper his ability to solve whatever issue is at the root of the problem he happens to be facing at any given time. This is even more applicable in those situations which are usually riddled with finer nuances that are not immediately apparent, even to him. There is also the irreverent side of him which could be an advantage since it usually keeps him from baulking at the prospect of studying or experimenting on some specimen due to something about it such as its nature, social status, or rarity/value from the perspective of the rest of the world. However, this could be also be problematic for him in the long run because his disregard for such things about the specimen could come back to haunt him especially if the specimen happens to be the type that’s put on a pedestal, either by others of its kind or perhaps even the rest of the world.
Then, there is his steadfast nature which gives him the mental fortitude to stick with the situation at hand until he has reached the end, even if the initial data happens to be insufficient or otherwise disappointing to him. Of course, the above only applies until the situation becomes so impractical that he is forced to abandon it in favor of something more feasible. On the other hand, his methodical manner of doing anything usually keeps his progress toward his ultimate objective steady and orderly regardless of most common obstacles in his path. Thus, both of these traits can be a godsend to him since they aid him in achieving success in most of his ventures. That said, his steadfast nature can also be quite the curse since it makes him so inflexible that he cannot easily adapt to any unforeseen difficulties which might crop up suddenly to impede his progress. This resolute nature of his can also be quite troublesome because the inflexibility it afflicts him with means he would be quite recalcitrant and unwilling to listen to most common attempts by others to get him to change his mind about his decisions in a particular situation. Meanwhile, his methodical approach to anything is also a curse because it makes him fairly easy to predict in most situations, given that there has been enough exposure to his methods and personality.
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Negatives:
Even though Zhāng has all of these positives, he still has his fair share of defects as does everyone/everything else in the world. The most prominent among these is his obliviousness that extends across all types of social mores, emotional ties, and other normal unspoken traditions which the rest of society tries to keep in mind in their daily lives. As a result of this, despite his training in proper etiquette and so on due to his family’s high social status and apart from those times he can actually remember to be well mannered to those around him, he can often end up ignoring most if not all the usually observed social graces because of which he is often led to do things that could unnerve others, however unintentional this may be in reality. The other somewhat annoying thing it afflicts him with is a total inability to comprehend and compute the details of the situation when it happens to involve any form of love and affection, especially the romantic kind as a result of which he not only becomes very uncomfortable when someone is trying to show him such attention, but may also try to push them away, though this is never because of any malicious intent on his part. This extreme obliviousness of his is only rivalled and compounded by his equally blatant tactlessness which sadly causes him to address the proverbial “elephant in the room” without any hesitation in quite a few situations whereas the rest of those involved in those situations would try to avoid the topic like the plague. Sadly, this occurs despite all the lessons he has had in proper linguistics and the effort he puts into trying to speak kindly and sensitively to others because of his inability to comprehend the emotional milieu of his surroundings in most if not all cases. These two are annoying enough on their own, but since they work in a synergistic manner in most common circumstances and since their consequences usually feed off each other in a continuous, self propagating vicious cycle, the combined result of these two defects acting simultaneously leads many of those whom he interacts with not only get annoyed with him, but also outright infuriated should he end up pushing things too far, which he does more often than he would like or care to admit to anyone.
The third and final part of this unholy trinity of weaknesses is his restlessness which manifests itself as a severe penchant for boredom as well as off and on manic energy. Zhāng is one of those types who usually really crave mental exaltation, aka a good, thorough workout for their “little grey cells”. Naturally, because of this, he is usually most in his element and at home in situations which provide him with such stimuli. Should he be fortunate enough to encounter such an instance, he is often overtaken by a surprising level of energy that it frequently might astound the people whom he happens to be working with in that case when they see the results he can achieve by using his faculties, especially if they have very little prior experience in dealing with him. Of course, what makes this trait a weakness is what happens when he doesn’t have enough of such stimuli since if he is unfortunate enough to not have anything mentally challenging to keep him busy, this penchant for boredom causes him to experience black moods where his hidden pessimism will rear it ugly head in most cases, making him quite the headache to deal with for those in his acquaintance since he becomes a total mood-killer. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg as his lack of mental workout can, at times, affect him so much that he actually will go into full on depression although the length of these periods often varies in proportion to the exact level of his boredom. If this happens, then he will actually try things like procuring and using the more radical of the artificial stimuli in his efforts to escape from such boredom and depression as best he can even though he is fully aware of how pernicious these would be to him and despite all the safeguards of his usually cautious nature, but the consideration he is usually made to give to family background and status could perhaps curb this urge depending on the situation.
In addition to this, due to the many repeatedly tested strengths he has been blessed with due to heritage and the intensive training he has had to undergo since childhood, he has acquired a great deal of faith in his own abilities. However, what had initially started out as extreme faith in his own abilities eventually turned into arrogance which is why he doesn’t hesitate to be so irreverent in many cases. This faith in his abilities ultimately also gave rise to his fairly noticeable narcissism which, when paired with his arrogance can result in a great many people becoming irritated with him. As if that were not bad enough, this narcissism and arrogance can also manifest themselves in the form of condescension towards any he happens to be interacting with at any time. Of course, the last of these three mostly only show itself when he knows the other person is weaker or less intelligent than him. As a result, if he were to face someone or something weaker than him, he usually makes the really stupid mistake of underestimating them and that causes him to dumb things down to their level or otherwise go easy on them. Due to this, if he is ever face to face with any who he knows are weaker than him, he can make most of them really angry at him or even worse, maybe even end up losing to them if the situation should lead to combat.
Then there are Zhāng’s tendency toward detached behavior, his eccentricity, and his introverted nature. While these may not be so outrageous as the rest of his foibles, they are still significant enough to be counted among his many limitations because they can make him somewhat irritating to deal with for most people. First, there is his predilection for detached behavior towards the research specimens and clients which he may encounter over the course of his research. This aspect of his is a problem because he usually views and even treats his study subjects as he would any common lab rat instead of the individuals they are in reality which can make them quite put off with him. He is even rude enough to forget the personal details about his clients after he has finished handling their case since he commonly thinks of them as mere factors in their problem, and not as the actually 3D entities they are in truth which can make them hesitant or even completely unwilling to hire him again. Meanwhile, his eccentricity makes him act in ways that are quite unconventional in the eyes of those around him, and because this behavior of his usually stands in such stark contrast to their standard common sense, it could rub them the wrong way. Finally, there is his introverted nature which makes him reserved enough that he tends to bottle everything up inside him and tries to take all but the worst of his problems on alone instead of asking for a helping hand and so, this can aggravate those few who care enough about him to try to help him and make them want to give up on him.
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Stein
Positives:
Since he was born out of the subconscious mind of the host personality, Zhāng, the alter ego known as Stein shares with him the two greatest of his strengths. These are, of course, his near boundless curiosity about the world and everything in it (whether that be phenomena or entities) and his high perceptiveness as well. Just like Zhāng, Stein is also driven relentlessly by the same ultimate life goal of acquiring and eventually trying to master all the knowledge about the world and its contents. Stein is also similar to Zhāng in that he too would do just about anything if it means the achievement of his goals, and in his case even the thought of bringing shame to the family and clan would not be enough to stop him from immersing himself completely in his pursuits, and this is another thing that sets him apart from Zhāng who would actually be prevented from doing the same due to the respect he has been taught to give to his heritage and social status. Stein’s above average perspicacity helps since, just like in Zhāng’s case, it also helps him have an easier time approaching the heart of any situation and register all the pertinent details. However, he is also different from Zhāng who is a scientist at heart and who wants the knowledge for the sake of analysing it in order to unlock the primordial abyss that is the source of both magic and nature so he can explore it thoroughly. This difference lies in the fact that, unlike Zhāng, Stein chases this goal almost tirelessly simply because he thinks of the process of achieving the goal as a series of giant lifelong adventures, each of which is more thrilling and challenging than its predecessor.
Even though Stein is just as curious and perceptive as Zhāng, the way he approaches any situation is almost polar opposite to Zhāng’s method of operation. Therefore, for the most part, each would be most effective in the type of situation which would require the particular mindset that each possesses, while the other would not be so effective and would maybe even have a hard time dealing with the same situation properly. Unlike Zhāng who would be better in those cases where there is plenty of at least decent if not actually top tier resources and a favorable situation to go along with them, Stein’s creative bent of mind lets him at least survive if not actually excel in those situations where the circumstances may be unfavorable and the resources available, low grade. As a result, he would be more suited to dealing with occasions that demand resourcefulness from the participants. Zhāng is temperate in his responses and decisions in most situations, but Stein immerses himself in the emotional ups and downs of any situation he happens to be in, making him far more aware of the general mood of everyone around him and of his current situation as well. This means that when the situation requires the ability to read the emotional milieu and respond accordingly, Stein would be more effective. Meanwhile, Zhāng would be most at home when the situations which call for the one dealing with them to be keep a cool head and show restraint.
While Zhāng is a man of reason who lets logic be his guide in anything he does, Stein is more a creature of instinct who acts based on his “gut feeling”. Therefore, if/when the situation calls for those involved to gather the necessary data of appropriate quality as well as quantity and process it into viable strategic intelligence upon which they can then act since they have had ample time to process it properly, then Zhāng is the man for the job. However, sometimes, the circumstances are such that there is not enough workable data and/or not enough time to transform it into usable intelligence on which any participants can act appropriately. In these cases, Stein is the one who needs to go out into the field to handle the problem since he won’t be paralysed by a lack of ample, good quality data unlike Zhāng who would be somewhat more helpless. In addition to being a creature of instinct, Stein is brave and will not hesitate to take risks as and when needed whereas Zhāng usually tries to err on the side of caution and solve at least the main problems in any given situation before even entering it. So, if/when the occasion calls for the undertakers to always keep their wits about them and plan before they enter the scene, then it would be best to deploy Zhāng to take care of the issues. On the other hand, if/when the affair requires those who can bite the bullet and leap headlong into the fray despite the danger present, then the smartest course of action would be to call for Stein.
Zhāng has had to undergo a lot of intensive training in the social graces from a very young age due to the nature and status of his family, clan, and the associated alliance and has had a fair few people betray him or try to trick him and manipulate him for their own ends in his past as well. Thus, over the many years he has been alive , he has slowly but surely developed into someone who is quite solitary and secretive even if he may be polite and virtuous in nature. However, deep down, some part of him had always wanted to cut loose to just have fun while interacting with others while also having a decent level of freedom of speech which is exactly what Stein is like when dealing with social situations. So, if the task and the objectives therein would be better served by one who can operate in a clandestine manner and is able to keep whatever secrets have been divulged to him by the client, then Zhāng would be the go to choice. On the contrary, if the state of things require the handlers to be one who is better at being the life of the party and/or a morale booster/entertainer, then Stein is the appropriate agent to be tasked with the supervision. The next thing about Stein that is different from Zhāng is that the former has both high self confidence and the ability to emanate it from him to attract others to his cause and even convince them by hook or crook to follow him while the latter only has high self confidence and lacks the animal magnetism and the silver tongued smooth talking capacity of the former. As a result, if/when the case is such that a demagogue is required, Stein be the one chosen whereas if/when the targets can be won over with mere logic alone or when it’s not necessary to win the target over at all since the operative and their own skills are more than enough due to the mission being the solo kind, then Zhāng can be used for clean up.
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Positive&Negative:
Stein is just as irreverent as Zhāng, but still there are certain other traits which set them apart as well such as Stein’s flexibility mindset, holistic perspective, and quixotic tendencies versus Zhāng’s focused mindset, steadfast nature, as well as his methodical modus operandi. However, as with Zhāng, all of these qualities that Stein has could be good or bad depending on the circumstances. First, there is Stein’s irreverence could be an advantage since it usually keeps him from baulking at the prospect of studying/experimenting on some specimen or exploring some place due to something about it such as its nature, social status, or rarity/value from the perspective of the rest of the world like it would in Zhāng’s case. However, this could be also be problematic for Stein in the long run because his disregard for such things about the specimen could come back to haunt him especially if the specimen happens to be the type that’s put on a pedestal, either by others of its kind or perhaps even the rest of the world. Then, Stein knows how to take in information about not only the target, but also everything else that may be important to solving the case while Zhāng tends to get so wrapped up in dealing with the target and their problems that he can’t usually see and/or comprehend the bigger picture. This could be good because it means Stein usually never forgets those around him while also handling the target’s problems, it could also be bad because it means it is somewhat easy to distract him from his goals. So, if the occasion needs someone who never loses their concentration, then Zhāng should be the one to go for the goal whereas if the affair calls for an operative who will keep the bigger picture in mind while also achieving their objective, then Stein is the better man.
After that comes Stein’s flexible albeit quixotic tendencies which are the yin to the yang of Zhāng’s steadfast and methodical predilections and this leads to Stein having the ability to improvise as and when necessary. In contrast, Zhāng’s way only causes him to be rigid which then causes him o run the risk of not being able to adjust his tactics according to the changing tides of his situation. This aspect of Stein’s personality could be a plus since it means he can adapt himself to the evolution of the circumstances. Due to this, he can continue to stay relevant and useful to his side throughout whatever encounter he happens to be handling at present. This is especially true since it lets him also be able to distract the other party with his flair for the dramatic as well as his tendency to keep his audience in suspense. Of course, it could just as easily be a minus because it also makes him quite problematic since he has great difficulty when his task may be to adhere to a rigid script and also because his incurable love for theatrics may annoy those around him if they are the “all work and no play” types who don’t tolerate such nonsensical attitudes. Therefore, if the objectives require one who is not afraid to improvise and adapt their initial strategy according to the constantly changing needs of the situation or perhaps someone to act as a decoy to mess up the enemy’s plans with their show-boating, then Stein is the optimal choice, but if the situational goals are such that they need someone who can follow a rigidly choreographed script to the letter and someone who isn’t melodramatic, then Zhāng should be the one hired to take on the challenge.
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Negatives:
Even though he may be as eccentric as Zhāng, Stein is also different from him because his greatest weakness is his incorrigibly mercurial nature. In comparison, for Zhāng, the problem lies in his methodical nature making him somewhat easily predictable to those who have enough experience with him, though this is technically not his biggest flaw. This unpredictable nature that Stein has is a big weakness since it makes him very tough to work with as those in his company can never know what he will do at any given moment or when he will suddenly change his mind. This in turn makes him quite unreliable as a comrade in arms for whomever is unlucky enough to be in his company. So, they can never really be sure about their future plans and probably will have difficulty trusting him with sensitive information which if leaked may cause them great losses. Due to this, if the issue needs someone who can change their spots at the drop of a hat and be unpredictable enough to throw off the other side’s game to some significant degree, then Stein needs to be the one directing his side. However, if as mentioned earlier, the job in question requires someone who can adhere to a predetermined, predictable plan instead of doing his own thing and being unpredictable, then Zhāng is the better candidate.
Then, there is Stein’s indolent attitude, devious nature, and vulgar mannerisms towards the world in general. In contrast, Zhāng does usually have polite mannerisms, although these are sometimes marred by his patronizing mentality. In addition to this, unlike Stein who is usually slothful or at least is able to kick back and relax when he is not occupied with some important task, Zhāng is quite often overtaken by his manic energy which can make him seem almost demonic in his relentless pursuit of his target, provided of course that said target happens to be something or some entity that sparks his interest. Stein’s usually easygoing attitude to life which can border on laziness especially when he is truly unoccupied is a major drawback since if anyone or anything comes to him for help or with some job while he is under the influence of this aspect of his personality, he will be very inertial and won’t put forth the necessary effort to complete it properly. If this happens during a time of conflict, then he can even end up making his side losing to their opposition simply because he cannot be bothered to lift a finger. His devious nature and vulgar mannerisms are also a big limitation since they make him be intentionally rude or obscene to those around him and even try to trick and manipulate them at every turn or at least as often as he can which in turn may offend some if no all of his victims to resent him and due to that resentment, they may punish him or otherwise wreak vengeance on him later on. Thus, if the situation calls for the one handling it to be well versed in fair play, politeness, and/or one who is energetic in his ways, then Zhāng should be deployed by whomever is seeking aid whereas if the issue needs someone who knows how to take it easy or someone who can manipulate people easily, then Stein is the ideal agent instead.
The next several negative traits are merely weaknesses and would not be useful in any regard, either to Stein or to anything or anyone that may come to him for help in some matter or another. In fact, many of these are actually bad enough that they would be considered as part of the seven deadly sins by the rest of society. Of course, Stein cannot be bothered to rectify these parts of himself since he doesn’t really care what others think of him.The first set of these is comprised of his vanity, envy, and gluttony and the only one among these three that he has in common with Zhāng is his vanity, although Zhāng has this sin to a somewhat lesser degree than does Stein. Stein’s vainglorious attitude is a giant chink in his armor for very much the same reason as it is for Zhāng, that is because it leads him to underestimate his opposition if they happen to be weaker than him and subsequently cause him to run the risk of losing to them which could, in the worst case scenario, may cost him as well as his side a potentially crucial victory over their enemies. His envy, which stands in stark contrast to Zhāng’s continual observance of grateful behavior, is almost as big a gap in his security system since it causes him to become jealous of anything and/or anyone that he notices to have more material possessions than himself or perhaps have more skills in their repertoire than him, which in turn causes him to eventually desire and try to take these possessions and/or skills from those he is envious of, and this could then lead them to at least be angry with him if not actually punish him or take their revenge on him in some manner for having the gall to commit such an atrocity. The last of these, namely his gluttonous cravings are perhaps less egregious a drawback than would be his vanity and envy, but even these can get to be troublesome for him since they afflict him with a tendency to gorge himself on lots of food, rare wines or more potent alcoholic beverages, and even indulge in more sensual pleasures of the flesh and all of this would not only end up alienating those around him who may be disgusted by such boorish behavior, but also land him in a heap of health problems sooner or later, unlike Zhāng who would not have these problems since he is usually careful to follow the maxims set by the heavenly virtue of temperance as far as possible.
The second set of these negative traits consists of Stein’s susceptibility to avarice, wrath, sadism, and even outright psychotic behavior when the current situation causes him to become truly unhinged for one reason or another. His avarice is a major weakness again for practically the same reason as would be his envy, and this is the fact that it would cause his tendency to procure and hoard the best things in life in his own resource stores to rub others the wrong way which would then lead to resentment and that would eventually make them want to punish him for such selfishness. Meanwhile, Zhāng would be more or less in the clear due to his predilection towards charity. Stein’s wrathful behavior when provoked far enough would be a significant weakness too since it would cause others to be reluctant to team up with him. Here again, Zhāng would be different or perhaps be better off because he is usually patient with all that deserve it in his eyes and so would reap the rewards therein unlike Stein who poses the risk of becoming unnecessarily violent especially when those around him least expect it. Finally, there is Stein’s sadistic and psychotic tendencies which are a limitation because they may even cause him to rebel against his own side and try to vent his frustration out on them rather than on the enemy/target which could lead others to be afraid of partnering with him for anything. However, Zhāng would have the upper hand over Stein once more here since he is actually reliable and usually very stable unlike Stein who tends to swim in such deep and dark waters as those mentioned above.
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Likes:
Zhāng:
- Magical R&D:
He likes this because he expects that it will help him move ever closer to his life’s main goal of acquiring all the knowledge about everything (both magical and mundane) that piques his curiosity in the world and also since doing so could help with clearing more short term objectives that are part of the daily routine. - Exotic/Unfamiliar Research Topics:
He likes this because delving into the study of such things helps sate his near boundless curiosity and almost irresistible craving for mental exertion and also since the pursuit of such things gives his mind the thorough workout that he has been addicted to all his life. - Collecting Good Quality Research Specimens:
He likes doing this because they provide a good testing ground for anything new he develops over the course of his research and also due to the fact that they may contain valuable information which he can use to reach his one true life goal. - MMA:
He likes these because after a long period of mental exertion, moving his body vigorously helps clear his head for he next round of mental exertion and also due to the fact that these may give him some modicum of power and self defense ability. - Feline Species & Associated Anthropomorphic Beings:
He likes these because they are especially mysterious and aloof creatures for the most part and also since, despite his dislike of succumbing to emotions, he finds them adorable and cuddly enough spending time with them after a long, especially difficult research project relaxes him by relieving most if not all his pent up stress. - Miscellaneous:
He likes these since they help him relax on those rare occasions when he doesn’t feel like doing anything related to his life goal and also because he is only human and being human makes him like other things besides just his life’s main goal.
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Stein:
- Thrilling Adventures:
He likes experiencing these not only because it helps quench his thirst for knowledge but also because it’s just fun overall. - Brawls:
He loves having these since it not only helps clear his head after a particularly gruelling adventure(s) and helps keep his instincts sharp, but also because he is an adrenaline junkie and this helps kick his adrenaline rush into overdrive, especially when the opposing side is a particularly powerful one. - Torturing Others:
He likes performing such activities on others not only since it could get him valuable intelligence from his victims in certain situations, but also because it is one of the few things that can truly satisfy his craving for an adrenaline rush, but normally this side of him only comes out when he has been exposed to the triggers that awaken him for really prolonged periods of time and continuously on top of that. - Hedonism:
He loves indulging this craving because it helps him relax after a long period of hard work, and also since it is the third element of the trio of hobbies that sate his need for adrenaline. - Manipulating Others:
He likes doing this not only because it could potentially let him acquire pawns to use in his attempts to fulfil his various objectives or even in his hobbies, but also since doing so gives him a thrill that is only rivalled by his other three main guilty pleasures described above. - Miscellaneous:
He likes these types of hobbies since they help him relax on those rare occasions when he doesn’t feel like doing anything related to his life goal also because he is only human and being human makes him like other things besides just his life’s main goal.
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Dislikes:
(The following information is applicable to both sides of his personality in addition to being valid both in and out of battle)
- Being Manipulated/Tricked:
Both Zhāng and Stein hate being tricked and manipulated by others even though they have no qualms doing it to others because falling prey to this makes them feel inferior to the ones who were able to catch them off guard like that and more importantly, since if they were to succumb to that, then they wouldn’t be free to pursue their life’s main goals on their own terms. - Anything/Anyone Unbearable:
Both Zhāng and Stein loathe anything and anyone too much for them to bear in certain regards because these types would just end up causing them undue stress by bringing unnecessary trouble and melodrama into their life and also since these types are just plain annoying to deal with, especially if it were on a daily basis. - Prejudice & Persecution:
Both Zhāng and Stein despise anything and anyone who would simply give in to their fear of anything and anyone different from them/anything unknown to them because that would lead these people into unjustly persecuting those who are different from them and destroying that which they don’t understand out of their ignorance since both of them had actually suffered this in the past at the hands of some of those around them and also because these types of entities could end up depriving them of what they need to achieve their goals. - Betrayal:
Both Zhāng and Stein abhor those who bail on them after having hired them or signed up with them because usually once they start something, they tend to devote their all to the task at hand and if their clients or workmates cancel on them, it would be wasting their time, energy, and other resources all of which are precious to them and also due to the fact that such types could become loose tongues that could leak valuable intelligence to any opposition. - Inadequacy:
Both Zhāng and Stein absolutely cannot stand to experience inadequacy whether this be in themselves or in others and in any form because they know from past experience that when something or someone is inadequate, they will not be able to withstand the stress brought on by various factors and also since they will not be interesting any more. - Miscellaneous:
Since both Zhāng and Stein are eccentric in their own right, there are several other elements which absolutely disgust each of them and while these may be less significant than the rest of what has been described above, they are still adequate to make both Zhāng and Stein try to avoid these like the plague, the worst of these being each other.
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Motivations:
(The following information is applicable to both sides of his personality in addition to being valid both in and out of battle)
- Knowledge of Everything & Everyone Interesting:
Both Zhāng and Stein want to acquire knowledge of everything and everyone interesting not only because it sates their nearly limitless curiosity (mostly Zhāng), but also because it could be useful to them in some form well into the future and is a grand adventure as well (mostly Stein[/b]). - Resources:
Both Zhāng and Stein want to acquire adequate resources because having these at their disposal helps them to get the power they need to move ever closer to their life goal which is the ultimate acquisition of all the knowledge available about anyone and anything that piques their curiosity, and also since it gives them the freedom from any potential interference that could crop up in their path to this goal. - Power:
Both Zhāng and Stein want to acquire adequate power since having this at their disposal helps them to acquire more of the resources they need to achieve their one true life goal which is the ultimate acquisition of all the knowledge available about anyone and anything that piques their curiosity, and also due to the fact that it lets them maintain their hold over the resources they have in their possession and helps them to resist attempts by others to subjugate, hurt, or otherwise interfere with them. - Miscellaneous:
Though the aforementioned items are the most important of their motivations, since both Zhāng and Stein are still only human in the end, they do have other smaller things they want to acquire either sooner or later because they may help with their daily lives, and also since such things may just be amusing to them in some way.
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Fears:
Zhāng:
- Lack/Loss of New/Potential Research Subjects:
He fears this since it would not only deprive him of the resources which would ultimately help him achieve his life’s one major goal, but also because such a loss could potentially lessen the level of power he has achieved till date. - Stein’s Unexpectedly Taking Control:
He fears this since such an unforeseen loss of control over his body could not only become a major impediment to the achievement of his life’s one biggest goal, but also because during this time Stein could end up doing something that could potentially hurt him in some other way. - Stein’s Awakening Triggers:
He fears being exposed to and succumbing to these since he knows from the accounts he has heard from others that they let Stein awaken from his slumber and take over his body, and also because certain ones among these, such as the urge to sleep, put him in a bind due to the fact that no matter how much he doesn’t want to succumb to them, they are actually bodily functions which are vital to its proper maintenance (and sleep is the one he fears the most since it can’t be avoided or neutralized completely as can the others and his attempts to do so are part of the cause of the constantly present dark bags/circles under his eyes).
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Zhāng & Stein:
- Poverty:
Both Zhāng and Stein fear this because this could hamper the progress they are making towards their life’s ultimate ambition by not only causing them to lack the resources they need to achieve this goal, but also because it could potentially make them too dependent on others. - Weakness:
Both Zhāng and Stein fear this because this could hamper the progress they are making towards their life’s ultimate ambition by not only causing them to lack the freedom they need to achieve this goal, but also because it could potentially make them incapable of maintaining a secure hold on the resources they have at their disposal. - Dogs & Wolves and/or Related Anthropomorphic Beings:
Both Zhāng and Stein fear them because they are not only unbearable in many ways, but also because they were viciously attacked by some when they were very young and for some strange reason have kept getting accosted by them ever since, despite all the effort they have made to avoid such creatures. - Boredom:
Although they like to relax every now and then, especially after doing something especially gruelling, this is what both Zhāng and Stein fear the most since it would deprive them of the mental workout they crave so much, and also due to the fact that it may leave them vulnerable to outside influence since their guard would not be up as high.
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Stein:
- Permanent Integration/Separation:
He fears this not only because he would lose the freedom to do whatever he wishes or craves but also because it would this would deprive him of all the skills (both mundane and magical) possessed by the body he shares with Zhāng, and both to a permanent degree. - Enclosed, Tight Spaces:
He fears this since it could potentially leave him too much in the opposition’s reach but also since he was accidentally left trapped in one such space during his childhood and so had great difficulty in extricating himself from that mess. - Anything/Anyone Stronger than Him:
He fears them since they could not only get in the way of him accomplishing his life’s single most important goal, but also because the superiority they have over him could tempt them into subjugating him or harassing him.
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General Appearance:
Height: 5’ 7”
Weight: 140 lb.
Hair:
Zhāng:
- Color: blonde
- Length: falls till a little past the base of his neck
- Texture: smooth, slick
- Style: no particular preference
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Stein:
- Color: fiery orange
- Length: falls till the middle of his back
- Texture: coarse, dry
- Style: no particular preference
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Eyes:
Zhāng:
- Color: dark blue-grey with regular white sclerae (unless he is using his special ocular power, in which case they turn completely light blue, but still keep their white sclerae)
- Size: thin, small
- Shape: almond
- Pupils: round w/ no pattern around them (unless he is using his special ocular power, in which case they gain a glowing, white lotus pattern around the pupils)
- Expression: bored/languid (unless someone unfamiliar or exotic catches his eye, in which case his expression then changes to a keen, piercing one with a laser like focus to it).
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Stein:
- Color: pale yellow eyes with jet black sclerae (unless he is using his special ocular power, in which case they turn completely light blue, but still with jet black sclerae)
- Size: large
- Shape: almond
- Pupils: slits w/ no pattern around them (unless he is using his special ocular power in which case they go from slits to being round and also have a glowing, white lotus pattern around them)
- Expression: feral and unnerving (unless someone unfamiliar or exotic catches his eye, in which case his expression then changes to a keen, piercing one with a laser like focus to it).
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Skin:
Zhāng:
- Complexion: fair, albeit more sallow than most others who have the same type and also noticeably darker in the parts around his eyes
- Texture: mostly smooth, though the exposed parts of his skin are actually somewhat weather-beaten
- Thickness: same as that any average, more or less healthy human being
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Stein:
- Complexion: dark grey all over, not just around his eyes
- Texture: coarse and weather-beaten on all the exposed parts with some parts even sticking up to form projections of various shapes and sizes (this is because they have had too much keratin manipulation done to them over the years)
- Thickness: 3x thicker than that of any average, more or less healthy human being
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Appearance Image:
Regular Appearance (Zhāng):
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Alternate Appearance (Stein):
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Guild: guildless
Tattoo: none for now, if he ever joins one and gets the associated emblem, it will look like this:
- Location: on his chest above his heart just above the upper boundary of the mismatched patch of skin on his upper torso
- Shape: same as the emblem of whatever guild he may join later on
- Color: same as guild’s dominant colors if they have any but with a metallic silver border (if they don’t any specific colors, then it will be half-black/half-white with the aforementioned metallic silver border)
- Design: same as guild emblem but w/ black incision lines and black suture lines running across its surface
Last edited by Stein66 on 28th July 2019, 11:15 am; edited 14 times in total
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