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luceti Application
PLAYER
Name: Loz
Journal Username: N/A
E-mail: jguineapig@outlook.com
AIM: jguineapig@outlook.com
Current Characters at Luceti: N/A
CHARACTER
Name: Xander Harris
Canon: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Gender: Male
Age: 24
Wing Color: Teal
Canon Point: Season 8, Wolves at the Gate arc, Part 2
Canon Point Explanation: I've chosen this canon point because Xander is in a more-or-less stable, non-emotionally fraught place, and it feels most appropriate to bring him into a game in a reasonably collected frame of mind. Immediately post the Season 7 finale would be far too angsty, but early Season 8 sees him settled and fulfilling a leadership/mentor role within the Slayer operation, and he's a lot more well-rounded and confident.
History: This page offers a very comprehensive history of Xander through the seasons: http://buffy.wikia.com/wiki/Alexander_Harris
Personality:
Known as the 'heart' of the Scoobies, Xander is in many ways defined by his essentially caring, compassionate nature. He loves and values his friends as if they were family - in fact, more so than his actual family, who are dreadful - and is willing to risk his life, on many occasions, for their sakes.
Despite having only one eye, Xander also has the epithet of being 'the one who sees' - he's perceptive and watchful, often noticing the things that others don't. It's a talent he's cultivated from always being in the background, outshined (or so he feels) by his demonstrably superior or more talented friends - Buffy the superhero, Willow the uber-witch, Giles the scholar.
Xander's feelings of inadequacy are something that dogged him for much of his teenage years, though in latter years he has developed a better appraisal of his own worth and grown more confident. In high school, he would deal with these feelings by making himself into a clown, the convenient comic relief - and while he's still no stranger to self-deprecating humour (or, in fact, most humour - he's a funny guy) he no longer feels like quite so much of a spare part.
One of the defining moments where we see this transition is in the Season 5 episode The Replacement, in which Xander learns that while heis occasionally goofy and inept, that's not all he is. He's also capable, assertive, trustworthy, charismatic, charming - and handy with power tools. It's a moment when he realises that he's a grown-up, and signals a shift from viewing himself as the 'loser' living in his parents' basement who wasn't smart enough to get into college, to someone worthy of respect.
Much of the blame for Xander's inferiority complex can be laid at the feet of his parents - abusive drunks who he pretty much can't abide, thanks to his awful upbringing. His parents' tumultuous relationship has instilled a serious fear of long-term commitment and marriage, which was one of the major contributing factors in his decision to call off his wedding with Anya. He's terrified of turning into his father - a stumbling, hateful drunk - and it also hasn't helped that he tends to have terrible luck with love interests, with an inexplicable preference for demonic ladies.
Xander can also be a bit of a meddler, misguidedly stepping into situations and interfering when he would be better off steering clear - as when he tries to bring Faith back from the dark side and is repaid for his efforts with a strangulation attempt. Sometimes, however, this instinct does pay off, for example when he manages to save Buffy with a spot of CPR following her confrontation with the Master. The fact that he follows her into danger against all cautions and reasonable logic, on this occasion, puts him in the right place at the right time.
On a slightly related note, Xander is not above being spiteful, petty or manipulative to achieve what he deems to be 'right', whether that's out of a genuine desire to protect his friends or for selfish reasons, or indeed an uneasy mixture of both - as when he decides to try and get rid of Angel 'for Buffy's own good' in Season 2.
Also, in more general terms, Xander can be pretty harsh (or, to be honest, downright mean) when he wants to - whether that's being cuttingly sarcastic and sneering to Spike, patronising to Anya, engaging in an acerbic bitch-off with Cordelia or delivering painful home truths to Buffy. He's eloquent and good with words, and sometimes that's a good thing, other times... not so much.
Aside from all that, Xander has a habit of eating when he's nervous. He's mortally afraid of clowns. He's constantly making pop culture references. And he's an avid comic book and sci-fi nerd, though he does his best to hide it. Overall, he's a man of many flaws, but ultimately he has a good heart.
Strengths
Physical: Xander doesn't have any superhuman physical strength, though thanks to years spent fighting vampires alongside Buffy and working construction, he's pretty strong and solidly built, and can handle himself reasonably well in a fight. Also (and I'm not sure if this counts as a physical strength, but) he does have a natural flair for working with his hands, a dexterity that's demonstrated in his skill at carpentry.
Mental: Although Xander isn't what you'd call exceptionally smart (and is by no means academic) he is good when it comes to things like practical tasks and pragmatic thinking - if you need a window fixed, he's your man.
Xander also displays skill with tactical thinking. At the start of Season 8, we see him taking almost a Watcher-type role, confidently instructing Buffy over a microphone as she prepares to launch an assault on a demon hide-out. Part of this skill might be a hangover from the time he got magically turned into a soldier at Halloween (as he was shown to retain memories of how to operate various firearms following that experience) but that hasn't really been addressed in canon.
Xander is also brave in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. He greets the prospect of imminent doom with gallows humour, and often shows moments of steely resolve when he encounters danger - as in The Zeppo when he engages in a stand-off with a crazed zombie intent on blowing up the high school. Despite being faced with a ticking bomb, Xander keeps his cool.
Emotional: As I touched on above, Xander is the 'heart' of the Scoobies, and I think one of his main emotional strengths is his capacity for love, compassion and forgiveness - he saves the world by reaching out to Willow when she goes on her magical murderous rampage, and he's the only person who can connect with her through the pain.
Similarly, after discovering Buffy's affair with Spike, although he initially reacts with anger and disgust, he is quick to forgive her and reforge their bond. Ultimately, he's fiercely dedicated, determined and loyal - especially to Buffy, Willow and Dawn. It's this quality that helps to keep the Scoobies together.
Weaknesses
Physical: Xander's biggest physical weakness is his compromised eyesight and lack of depth perception, caused by losing an eye to Caleb, the First Evil's acolyte. It makes him less sure-footed and more physically vulnerable, though by Season 8 he appears to have grown slightly more accustomed to the loss.
Mental: As I mentioned earlier, Xander isn't especially smart in the academic sense that his friends are, which led him to achieve not-so-amazing grades at school. He had particular trouble with algebra, though to be honest never seemed to really apply himself in any subject, and was often distracted/goofing around in class. He has quite a short attention span and finds it difficult to stay focused for long periods - particularly if it involves research in dusty books!
I also think that Xander is a pretty poor judge of character - or perhaps just easily blinkered by a pretty face - given his appalling track record with women, from the inca mummy girl even to Anya, who was, after all, an ex-Vengeance demon. He seems to lose all sense of logic where women are involved, ignoring blatant alarm bells, and frequently allowing himself to be treated like a doormat (as with his brief relationship with Cordelia, and, to a lesser extent, Anya) while Buffy and Willow tend to look on with dismay.
I think this could be to do with the fact that Xander is ultimately desperate for acceptance and approval - so to be admired, or to receive romantic attention from a woman (regardless of how suitable she actually is) is flattering, and he has a hard time resisting that. Also, he's a red-blooded guy and sex is a major motivator, so sometimes he's not always thinking with his brain. Ahem.
Xander is also shown to be vulnerable to vampiric thrall, becoming enslaved to Dracula's will for a while, and even maintaining a friendly relationship with the ancient vampire into Season 8. Another example of his questionable taste in company!
Emotional: Most of Xander's emotional weaknesses stem from the inferiority complex I discussed above - his shaky sense of self-worth sometimes makes him paranoid about what people think about him (something Spike plays on in The Yoko Factor) and causes him to ultimately make terrible mistakes, like leaving Anya at the altar.
He worries about being good enough - whether that's being a good enough boyfriend, a good enough provider, good enough at his job, or good enough to fight alongside his more powerful friends - it's something that's a persistent raw nerve and is shown to have serious consequences for him in canon.
Other than that, however, I think one of Xander's most significant weaknesses is his tendency to be judgemental of others, often failing to recognise his own hypocrisy or to acknowledge his faults. The clearest example of this is in Season 6 when he refuses to accept the parallels between Anya and Spike, expecting Buffy to show leniency towards Anya for her murders, when he was never willing to extend the same charity to Spike.
SAMPLES
First Person:
[Xander is currently in Luceti's library, chewing on a pen thoughtfully. In front of him is a notepad, decorated with an untidy scrawl - the notepad seemed a safer option than his journal, considering he had no particular desire to share his musings with an unsuspecting public.]
So, to sum up. In the case of Patch versus Glass Eye, we've reached a gripping stalemate.
On the one hand, the Patch provides a certain rugged, Nick Fury-esque je ne sais quoi. It also comes in many fetching shades, and doubles as a slingshot, which... I'm sure will be helpful in the event of a Goliath-related disaster. [He pauses weightily.]
But over here in column B, we have the Glass Eye. Though gross beyond all measure, what it lacks in hygiene it makes up for in looking like an actual eye. Also, the potential for hilarity is endless - see figure 1, in which the eye is left floating in a bowl of cereal. That's some quality scare. [This refers to a crude doodle on one side of the page.]
On the other hand, would a glass eye give me a permanent intense stare? Because that is literally never a good look. [A pause for thought.]
Of course, there's always the outside possibility that someone will just happen to design a highly advanced bionic eye - complete with X-ray vision and lasers, naturally - and offer me the prototype. [A dreamy expression spreads across his face]
Maybe it could also have night vision. Ooh, and telescopic zoom. And heat detection. And -- [Just as he's getting into full flow, someone walks into the library, and - unwilling to look like a crazy person talking to himself - he concludes his reverie with some totally convincing coughing. Smooth.]
Third Person:
Name: Loz
Journal Username: N/A
E-mail: jguineapig@outlook.com
AIM: jguineapig@outlook.com
Current Characters at Luceti: N/A
CHARACTER
Name: Xander Harris
Canon: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Gender: Male
Age: 24
Wing Color: Teal
Canon Point: Season 8, Wolves at the Gate arc, Part 2
Canon Point Explanation: I've chosen this canon point because Xander is in a more-or-less stable, non-emotionally fraught place, and it feels most appropriate to bring him into a game in a reasonably collected frame of mind. Immediately post the Season 7 finale would be far too angsty, but early Season 8 sees him settled and fulfilling a leadership/mentor role within the Slayer operation, and he's a lot more well-rounded and confident.
History: This page offers a very comprehensive history of Xander through the seasons: http://buffy.wikia.com/wiki/Alexander_Harris
Personality:
Known as the 'heart' of the Scoobies, Xander is in many ways defined by his essentially caring, compassionate nature. He loves and values his friends as if they were family - in fact, more so than his actual family, who are dreadful - and is willing to risk his life, on many occasions, for their sakes.
Despite having only one eye, Xander also has the epithet of being 'the one who sees' - he's perceptive and watchful, often noticing the things that others don't. It's a talent he's cultivated from always being in the background, outshined (or so he feels) by his demonstrably superior or more talented friends - Buffy the superhero, Willow the uber-witch, Giles the scholar.
Xander's feelings of inadequacy are something that dogged him for much of his teenage years, though in latter years he has developed a better appraisal of his own worth and grown more confident. In high school, he would deal with these feelings by making himself into a clown, the convenient comic relief - and while he's still no stranger to self-deprecating humour (or, in fact, most humour - he's a funny guy) he no longer feels like quite so much of a spare part.
One of the defining moments where we see this transition is in the Season 5 episode The Replacement, in which Xander learns that while heis occasionally goofy and inept, that's not all he is. He's also capable, assertive, trustworthy, charismatic, charming - and handy with power tools. It's a moment when he realises that he's a grown-up, and signals a shift from viewing himself as the 'loser' living in his parents' basement who wasn't smart enough to get into college, to someone worthy of respect.
Much of the blame for Xander's inferiority complex can be laid at the feet of his parents - abusive drunks who he pretty much can't abide, thanks to his awful upbringing. His parents' tumultuous relationship has instilled a serious fear of long-term commitment and marriage, which was one of the major contributing factors in his decision to call off his wedding with Anya. He's terrified of turning into his father - a stumbling, hateful drunk - and it also hasn't helped that he tends to have terrible luck with love interests, with an inexplicable preference for demonic ladies.
Xander can also be a bit of a meddler, misguidedly stepping into situations and interfering when he would be better off steering clear - as when he tries to bring Faith back from the dark side and is repaid for his efforts with a strangulation attempt. Sometimes, however, this instinct does pay off, for example when he manages to save Buffy with a spot of CPR following her confrontation with the Master. The fact that he follows her into danger against all cautions and reasonable logic, on this occasion, puts him in the right place at the right time.
On a slightly related note, Xander is not above being spiteful, petty or manipulative to achieve what he deems to be 'right', whether that's out of a genuine desire to protect his friends or for selfish reasons, or indeed an uneasy mixture of both - as when he decides to try and get rid of Angel 'for Buffy's own good' in Season 2.
Also, in more general terms, Xander can be pretty harsh (or, to be honest, downright mean) when he wants to - whether that's being cuttingly sarcastic and sneering to Spike, patronising to Anya, engaging in an acerbic bitch-off with Cordelia or delivering painful home truths to Buffy. He's eloquent and good with words, and sometimes that's a good thing, other times... not so much.
Aside from all that, Xander has a habit of eating when he's nervous. He's mortally afraid of clowns. He's constantly making pop culture references. And he's an avid comic book and sci-fi nerd, though he does his best to hide it. Overall, he's a man of many flaws, but ultimately he has a good heart.
Strengths
Mental: Although Xander isn't what you'd call exceptionally smart (and is by no means academic) he is good when it comes to things like practical tasks and pragmatic thinking - if you need a window fixed, he's your man.
Xander also displays skill with tactical thinking. At the start of Season 8, we see him taking almost a Watcher-type role, confidently instructing Buffy over a microphone as she prepares to launch an assault on a demon hide-out. Part of this skill might be a hangover from the time he got magically turned into a soldier at Halloween (as he was shown to retain memories of how to operate various firearms following that experience) but that hasn't really been addressed in canon.
Xander is also brave in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. He greets the prospect of imminent doom with gallows humour, and often shows moments of steely resolve when he encounters danger - as in The Zeppo when he engages in a stand-off with a crazed zombie intent on blowing up the high school. Despite being faced with a ticking bomb, Xander keeps his cool.
Emotional: As I touched on above, Xander is the 'heart' of the Scoobies, and I think one of his main emotional strengths is his capacity for love, compassion and forgiveness - he saves the world by reaching out to Willow when she goes on her magical murderous rampage, and he's the only person who can connect with her through the pain.
Similarly, after discovering Buffy's affair with Spike, although he initially reacts with anger and disgust, he is quick to forgive her and reforge their bond. Ultimately, he's fiercely dedicated, determined and loyal - especially to Buffy, Willow and Dawn. It's this quality that helps to keep the Scoobies together.
Weaknesses
Mental: As I mentioned earlier, Xander isn't especially smart in the academic sense that his friends are, which led him to achieve not-so-amazing grades at school. He had particular trouble with algebra, though to be honest never seemed to really apply himself in any subject, and was often distracted/goofing around in class. He has quite a short attention span and finds it difficult to stay focused for long periods - particularly if it involves research in dusty books!
I also think that Xander is a pretty poor judge of character - or perhaps just easily blinkered by a pretty face - given his appalling track record with women, from the inca mummy girl even to Anya, who was, after all, an ex-Vengeance demon. He seems to lose all sense of logic where women are involved, ignoring blatant alarm bells, and frequently allowing himself to be treated like a doormat (as with his brief relationship with Cordelia, and, to a lesser extent, Anya) while Buffy and Willow tend to look on with dismay.
I think this could be to do with the fact that Xander is ultimately desperate for acceptance and approval - so to be admired, or to receive romantic attention from a woman (regardless of how suitable she actually is) is flattering, and he has a hard time resisting that. Also, he's a red-blooded guy and sex is a major motivator, so sometimes he's not always thinking with his brain. Ahem.
Xander is also shown to be vulnerable to vampiric thrall, becoming enslaved to Dracula's will for a while, and even maintaining a friendly relationship with the ancient vampire into Season 8. Another example of his questionable taste in company!
Emotional: Most of Xander's emotional weaknesses stem from the inferiority complex I discussed above - his shaky sense of self-worth sometimes makes him paranoid about what people think about him (something Spike plays on in The Yoko Factor) and causes him to ultimately make terrible mistakes, like leaving Anya at the altar.
He worries about being good enough - whether that's being a good enough boyfriend, a good enough provider, good enough at his job, or good enough to fight alongside his more powerful friends - it's something that's a persistent raw nerve and is shown to have serious consequences for him in canon.
Other than that, however, I think one of Xander's most significant weaknesses is his tendency to be judgemental of others, often failing to recognise his own hypocrisy or to acknowledge his faults. The clearest example of this is in Season 6 when he refuses to accept the parallels between Anya and Spike, expecting Buffy to show leniency towards Anya for her murders, when he was never willing to extend the same charity to Spike.
SAMPLES
First Person:
[Xander is currently in Luceti's library, chewing on a pen thoughtfully. In front of him is a notepad, decorated with an untidy scrawl - the notepad seemed a safer option than his journal, considering he had no particular desire to share his musings with an unsuspecting public.]
So, to sum up. In the case of Patch versus Glass Eye, we've reached a gripping stalemate.
On the one hand, the Patch provides a certain rugged, Nick Fury-esque je ne sais quoi. It also comes in many fetching shades, and doubles as a slingshot, which... I'm sure will be helpful in the event of a Goliath-related disaster. [He pauses weightily.]
But over here in column B, we have the Glass Eye. Though gross beyond all measure, what it lacks in hygiene it makes up for in looking like an actual eye. Also, the potential for hilarity is endless - see figure 1, in which the eye is left floating in a bowl of cereal. That's some quality scare. [This refers to a crude doodle on one side of the page.]
On the other hand, would a glass eye give me a permanent intense stare? Because that is literally never a good look. [A pause for thought.]
Of course, there's always the outside possibility that someone will just happen to design a highly advanced bionic eye - complete with X-ray vision and lasers, naturally - and offer me the prototype. [A dreamy expression spreads across his face]
Maybe it could also have night vision. Ooh, and telescopic zoom. And heat detection. And -- [Just as he's getting into full flow, someone walks into the library, and - unwilling to look like a crazy person talking to himself - he concludes his reverie with some totally convincing coughing. Smooth.]
Third Person:
The forests of Luceti aren’t entirely dissimilar to those that surround the castle in Scotland that Xander had come (improbably) to call home, which was part of the reason why he was out walking there on this otherwise uneventful afternoon.
Another reason was the fact that he was looking for a decent piece of wood – for whittling purposes, thank you, though a couple of less-than-mature puns had admittedly crossed his mind – with a view to making a few figurines. Of what, he hadn’t decided yet, but he missed having something to do with his hands; something solid and practical and absorbing.
Also, he had a vague idea that he might whittle a stake for Buffy, for old times' sake. Spotting a likely looking branch, he bent down to retrieve it from the earthy ground.
“Let’s see… do you have Mr. Pointy potential?” He asked, mostly hypothetically.
Weighing in it in his hands and inspecting it with a measured squint, he considered it for a moment, before discarding it with a dissatisfied shake of his head – it was mottled with damp, it wouldn’t work. “Sorry, you didn’t quite make the cut this time.”
Engaging in wordplay whilst alone in the woods with no one to appreciate it was arguably futile of course, but at least it kept him amused. He moved on, picking his way carefully over twigs and various foliage, before pausing to lean against a convenient trunk to re-tie his shoelaces.
As if by divine providence (or infernal mischief), at that moment, an overhanging branch split from its bough with a crack, clipping Xander on the head with a painful thud. “Ow, jesus, what the --?” He exclaimed, rubbing his head ruefully and looking up for the source of attack, before noticing the fallen branch, now lying innocently at his feet.
“Scavenge two pieces of wood, get one concussion free,” he muttered resentfully, bending down to pick the branch up all the same. “Though I guess at least you’re not a tree-dwelling spider demon.”