Jack Golding

Name: Jack Golding
Gender: Male
Age: 25
Birthday: Sometime in December
Sexuality: Nope.
Special Characteristics: Jack's hands, forearms, and legs, from the knees down, are littered with small scars, most of which appear to be from lacerations.

Personality: There are two portions to Jack's psyche.  While it's not exactly a split personality, it is, perhaps, a bit more severe than Bi-Polar Disorder.  Fortunately for most who meet him, the dominant half is the more personable of the two.

The vast majority of the time, Golding is a very calm man.  The way he sees it, getting stressed out over things you can't control, simply isn't worth it.  That doesn't mean he is emotionless, or annoyingly apathetic.  He just doesn't let the small things get under his skin.  Life is too short to spend it worrying, or angry.  Be healthy, have friends, and make sure you leave your mark on the world.  Those are the three pillars to Jack's outlook.

Contrary to this, however, he tends to be reclusive, minding his own business, and often only speaking when addressed directly.  However, if one can get past the shell, and open him up, he'll gladly talk until there are no words left to say.  When this happens, people have noted that he is one of the most loyal and honest people out there.  They've also made the mistake of thinking that they were the ones who had to gain his trust first.  It's not his trust in them, that needs to be gained, but his trust in himself, with the person in question.

This is most likely because of the second portion of himself:  The thing that he calls "The Machine."

The Machine is a dark, ruthless part of himself, that Jack fights daily to keep at bay.  Perhaps it's his true self trying to push to the surface.  Or maybe it's just the darkness that looms in the heart of all men.  Whatever it is, it seems to have a vendetta against the very universe itself, and seeks to destroy.

However, this side of him is not completely without reason.  After all, it is still Jack Golding.  His manner of speaking becomes slightly more crass, assuming he speaks at all.  This subversive personality is often silent, trusting no one, quick to attack, and lacking mercy.  There are few things that set The Machine in motion, and even fewer that can stop it.

The difference between the two mindsets is even noticeable in a fight.  Jack will usually do what he can do avoid conflict, for one.  But he realizes, and accepts, that as long as there are people, there will always be fighting.

When engaged in combat, Jack makes quick strikes, aiming to disable, not to harm directly.  While he doesn't have a defined code of honor, he generally fights respectfully, and avoids unethical methods.  He is confident in himself, and moves as such.  The more dire the circumstance, the more resolved his actions become.  When one's life is on the line, there is no time for second guessing.  If he ends up failing, he understands that it was his own fault, an error in his calculations, or simply a lack of experience and skill.  Were it not for his darker side, he would probably make a decent leader, or at least a good addition to a team.

However, when The Machine assumes control, all bets are off.  It fights as dirty as necessary, and aims to kill as quickly and efficiently as possible.  He becomes silent and cold, often changing his physical mannerisms.  His attacks grow more fierce, and he often moves without regards to his own safety, much less that of those nearby.  Any fight with The Machine is sure to be short lived, one way or another.

Likes:

• Companionship:  While he doesn't actively seek out others, he does enjoy company as much as the next person.  Jack strives to be depended on, and wants to have people that he knows he can count on, himself.
  
• Being Alive:  One can never tell when one day will be their last.  As fragile as a human life is, another day is not something that should be taken for granted.
  
• Math:  More specifically, math applied in physics.  Jack is always interested in learning how everything in the world interacts, and such studies have become integral and necessary in his work.
  

Dislikes:

• Stress:  There probably isn't a person alive, who actually enjoys being stressed out.  It makes one hostile, and is even detrimental to health.  Stress is best avoided at all costs.
  
• Petty People:  Life is too short to get all worked up about small things like money, or appearances.  Those who nag and complain are often left behind and forgotten.
  
• Dredging Up the Past:  What has happened, has happened.  You can't change it, and there's no point in reopening old wounds.  More specifically, Jack hates talking about his own history.  If another willingly divulges such information about themselves, he'll listen.
  

Motivations:

• Getting Another Day:  Life isn't easy, and many are lost every day.  So, by way of maintaining an income, staying fed, and preserving health, it's usually in one's best interest to try to make sure that they're around for tomorrow.
  
• Redemption:  There are reasons that Jack doesn't talk about his past.  There are things that he's done, that he is not proud of.  Maybe, one day, he'll find a way to right at least a few of his wrongs.
  
• Having a Legacy:  Perhaps, there is just one thing, that both halves of Jack can agree on.  He wants to leave his mark on the world.  Hopefully, it's Jack who leaves the mark, and not The Machine.
  

Fears:

• Death:  It's a simple fear, and one that's shared by every living thing.  A mage, while powerful, is no different.  They still bleed, get sick, and inevitably pass, whether they're ready to or not.  Jack fears that death will come for him, before he is ready for it.
  
• Letting Others Down:  Few things are more disheartening than disappointing those who depend on you.
  
• That Ugly Side:  Jack knows what he is capable of, and he knows what he's done in the past.  Quite frankly, he is afraid of himself, that he may lose control, and what may happen at that point.
  

General Appearance


Height: 6'1"
Weight: 180lb.
Hair: Jack's hair is a platinum blonde, usually kept very short, and often left however it dries in the morning.
Eyes: A ghostly blue.
Skin Tone: Surprisingly well tanned.
Appearance: One probably wouldn't be able to pick Jack out of a crowd, unless they were specifically looking for him.  Average in height, not overly muscle-bound, nor frighteningly slender, not much about him really stands out.  Were he to remove his clothing, it would reveal a rather well defined muscle structure, focusing more on tone, than build.  Judging by the bronzed hue of his skin, he does get his fair share of sunlight.  Though, a myriad of marks, cuts, and bruises mar otherwise smooth skin, along his extremities.

More often than not, Golding wears rather nondescript attire.  He prefers simple, solid color shirts, almost always with long sleeves.  When weather is colder, he will opt for a hooded sweatshirt, usually of the pull-over variety, rather than the sort with a zipper.  Or, perhaps he'll find a warm coat, if a sweatshirt alone isn't enough.  He seems to prefer warmer colors, such as reds and oranges.

If one looks closely, they might notice the white of bandages wrapped around his wrists.  More obvious than those, however, are a pair of grey, fingerless gloves, which are usually associated with hand-to-hand brawling.  They have seen some wear, as the seams are loose, and have some frayed edges.

His lower apparel is also rather plain.  Most days, he dons a pair of casual slacks, most often tan in color.  They fit loosely enough to move around comfortably, yet not so loose that they require a belt to stay up.  While most of his pants are in good shape, there are a couple pair, that have holes in the knee, and frayed cuffs.


Guild/Council

Guild: Guildless
Tattoo: N/A
Rank: D