leo valdez. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
commandertoolbelt) wrote2017-02-03 01:50 pm
commandertoolbelt) wrote2017-02-03 01:50 pm
Recollé ✦ Application
PLAYER
YOUR NAME: Ray #2
18+?: Yes
CONTACT:![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
seolearo or PM commandertoolbelt
CHARACTERS IN GAME: N/A
RESERVATION LINK: Here!
YOUR NAME: Ray #2
18+?: Yes
CONTACT:
commandertoolbeltCHARACTERS IN GAME: N/A
RESERVATION LINK: Here!
CHARACTER: CANON SECTION
NAME: Leo Valdez
AGE: 16
CANON: Heroes of Olympus / Trials of Apollo
NAME: Leo Valdez
AGE: 16
CANON: Heroes of Olympus / Trials of Apollo
CANON HISTORY: Leo at the Riordan wiki.
CANON PERSONALITY: As a general rule, Leo's a pretty positive, easygoing boy. With the good-natured disposition he inherited from his mother, he likes to believe the best in everyone around him, and takes great joy in making people smile, even if it means acting silly or completely ridiculous. Part of that manifests in cracking jokes (a few bad ones get past the filter from time to time) and a bit of friendly teasing, but that's how Leo shows he cares. Playing pranks (often on bullies) also qualifies. He's practically a Hermes kid in that way.
Upbeat and energetic, he doesn't allow much to phase him, brushing things off like they're no big deal and adjusting to his surroundings pretty rapidly, even through his skepticism. He's honest, and while he doesn't really expect that of others, Leo's more open to accepting the unordinary than most, thanks in no small part to his power over fire. That said, if it's too outlandish, he'll take what he's told with a grain of salt. As young as he is, the boy is highly intelligent when it comes to certain subjects (mechanics, math, problem solving, logic; he was doing better than some grown and trained professionals when he was just five years old), and he'll weigh the more odd things with his personal experience and knowledge before coming to a conclusion. Since he's a quick thinker, though, it usually doesn't take much time. On the other hand, he doesn't always give himself that time to think before acting. That can get him into a world of trouble, but again, he's decent at rolling with the punches and moving on. After all, that's how you survive - both as a scrawny kid who wasn't much good at physical fighting, and as a demigod.
Though Leo's preference by far is to keep his happy, energetic front, he is fully capable of being serious (or angry) if he has to, or if something's triggered it. Life or death situations are nothing to sneeze at, for instance. He's not much of a fighter (though the fire powers help in that regard), but if he has the right tools, he can usually build something to help out in a snap.
The two negative emotions he's most acquainted with would be guilt and insecurity. He blames himself for his mother's death, for letting that dirt woman get to him, for breaking the promise he made by using the fire. As far as Leo's concerned, most of the bad things that happen around him are probably his fault, even in the smallest way; he's just bad luck. As a result, he's taken to running away - from his family, from foster homes, from the past, from mistakes... everything that hurt and brought him pain. It's why he keeps smiling in the worst sorts of situations, despite taking on more than his share of inner turmoil. Keep moving forward, he'd tell himself. Outrun the sadness. Keep going so it can never catch up.
Still, that doesn't stop the insecurity. Leo's got this thing where he compares himself to others, and he often underrates his own abilities. Strong? Hardly, he's pretty scrawny. Smart? When it comes to machines, maybe, but history or literature sure aren't his strong points. Cute? Well, okay, he's got that much going for him. But a guy's confidence can really take some damage when standing next to others who could do so much more. Leo is just the mechanic. Everyone else fills the other roles - strong, smart, persuasive, beautiful, that kind of stuff. All he does is fix things, and that's pretty unremarkable. Even so, he does his best with what he's got to make everything work out. The lowly mechanic has to prove himself, after all - to himself, and to everyone else.
But in spite of everything, Leo is generally okay with his lot in life. The mechanic, the funny guy, sidekick - it's okay. He does his job well enough. As long as he can stay ahead of his past, there's no reason for him to be unhappy, especially after discovering his status as a demigod. Knowing why he's the way he is - ADHD, dyslexic, can't keep his hands still to save his life (not always a bad thing; it's pretty fun building little things or messing with the nearest gadgets) - and knowing that he has a place to go that won't reject him or make him feel like an outcast makes a difference. Having something productive to set his mind and skill to is even better.
SKILLS/ABILITIES:
CANON PERSONALITY: As a general rule, Leo's a pretty positive, easygoing boy. With the good-natured disposition he inherited from his mother, he likes to believe the best in everyone around him, and takes great joy in making people smile, even if it means acting silly or completely ridiculous. Part of that manifests in cracking jokes (a few bad ones get past the filter from time to time) and a bit of friendly teasing, but that's how Leo shows he cares. Playing pranks (often on bullies) also qualifies. He's practically a Hermes kid in that way.
Upbeat and energetic, he doesn't allow much to phase him, brushing things off like they're no big deal and adjusting to his surroundings pretty rapidly, even through his skepticism. He's honest, and while he doesn't really expect that of others, Leo's more open to accepting the unordinary than most, thanks in no small part to his power over fire. That said, if it's too outlandish, he'll take what he's told with a grain of salt. As young as he is, the boy is highly intelligent when it comes to certain subjects (mechanics, math, problem solving, logic; he was doing better than some grown and trained professionals when he was just five years old), and he'll weigh the more odd things with his personal experience and knowledge before coming to a conclusion. Since he's a quick thinker, though, it usually doesn't take much time. On the other hand, he doesn't always give himself that time to think before acting. That can get him into a world of trouble, but again, he's decent at rolling with the punches and moving on. After all, that's how you survive - both as a scrawny kid who wasn't much good at physical fighting, and as a demigod.
Though Leo's preference by far is to keep his happy, energetic front, he is fully capable of being serious (or angry) if he has to, or if something's triggered it. Life or death situations are nothing to sneeze at, for instance. He's not much of a fighter (though the fire powers help in that regard), but if he has the right tools, he can usually build something to help out in a snap.
The two negative emotions he's most acquainted with would be guilt and insecurity. He blames himself for his mother's death, for letting that dirt woman get to him, for breaking the promise he made by using the fire. As far as Leo's concerned, most of the bad things that happen around him are probably his fault, even in the smallest way; he's just bad luck. As a result, he's taken to running away - from his family, from foster homes, from the past, from mistakes... everything that hurt and brought him pain. It's why he keeps smiling in the worst sorts of situations, despite taking on more than his share of inner turmoil. Keep moving forward, he'd tell himself. Outrun the sadness. Keep going so it can never catch up.
Still, that doesn't stop the insecurity. Leo's got this thing where he compares himself to others, and he often underrates his own abilities. Strong? Hardly, he's pretty scrawny. Smart? When it comes to machines, maybe, but history or literature sure aren't his strong points. Cute? Well, okay, he's got that much going for him. But a guy's confidence can really take some damage when standing next to others who could do so much more. Leo is just the mechanic. Everyone else fills the other roles - strong, smart, persuasive, beautiful, that kind of stuff. All he does is fix things, and that's pretty unremarkable. Even so, he does his best with what he's got to make everything work out. The lowly mechanic has to prove himself, after all - to himself, and to everyone else.
But in spite of everything, Leo is generally okay with his lot in life. The mechanic, the funny guy, sidekick - it's okay. He does his job well enough. As long as he can stay ahead of his past, there's no reason for him to be unhappy, especially after discovering his status as a demigod. Knowing why he's the way he is - ADHD, dyslexic, can't keep his hands still to save his life (not always a bad thing; it's pretty fun building little things or messing with the nearest gadgets) - and knowing that he has a place to go that won't reject him or make him feel like an outcast makes a difference. Having something productive to set his mind and skill to is even better.
SKILLS/ABILITIES:
- Battle reflexes: Interpreted as ADHD by the mortal world, Leo's got a sever case even among demigods. It's supposed to mean he's alert and ready to fight if he has to, thought it doesn't always come off that way with him.
- Multilingual: As a Greek demigod, he is hardwired to read Ancient Greek, which sometimes makes modern languages difficult and gives him a diagnosis of dyslexia among mortals. In addition to Greek, Leo can also speak Spanish and English fluently.
- Morse code: His mother taught him this skill so they could speak while in different rooms, and he's retained it over the years.
- Technokinesis: Prized skill of the children of Hephaestus, Leo can do just about anything with machines. Even among his siblings, he's considered a genius mechanic - thanks in part due to his godly heritage and his mother teaching him what she knew from working as a mechanic from a young age. Even if he's never used a machine before, Leo typically has very little trouble operating it, or fixing it if need be. He only needs to be close enough to sense it to make it work - touch isn't strictly necessary, although it helps, so he can and has moved mechanisms through walls. Another facet to this is sensing traps, and knowing how to disarm them. This ability also allows him to communicate with machines.
- Forging: An important part of his duties as a member of the Hephaestus cabin in Camp Half-Blood is forging weapons and other equipment. Celestial bronze is their metal of choice, and he can build just about anything one needs with it, given time. If he has to, Leo can even build a forge from scratch.
- Blessing of Hephaestus: Also known as pyrokinesis, he is the first child of Hephaestus to wield this ability in centuries. It gives Leo the power to generate and control fire, as well as immunity to heat and flame. While he doesn't have full control over it, Leo often uses it in battle or forging.
CHARACTER: AU SECTION
AU NAME: Leo Valdez
AU AGE: 16
PHYSICAL DIFFERENCES: Not much! A few less scars, maybe, but overall Leo looks the same.
AU NAME: Leo Valdez
AU AGE: 16
PHYSICAL DIFFERENCES: Not much! A few less scars, maybe, but overall Leo looks the same.
AU HISTORY:
Because of this, Leo has never felt out of place as he has in canon. Without the loss of his mother, he’s never needed to fall back on family who failed him, nor was he thrust into the foster system and into homes where he’d never felt comfortable or wanted. The loss of these experiences means he’ll be much less bitter about his lot in life, and much less cynical and mistrustful of new people or authority figures. Leo still has his insecurities, of course - his friends do more important things, he’s not very strong, he’ll never be the smartest kid in school - but he’s far more likely to see the positives in the situation than dwell on the negative. If his friends do important things - well, fixing things is important, too. Maybe Leo will never be on the football team, but he can run fast. So he won’t make valedictorian - he’s a genius with mechanics and knows it. So what if he’s never been on a date? He knows where he belongs, and that’s with his family.
He’s still known as a troublemaker, especially at school, because he likes having fun a little too much and sometimes gets carried away and takes a prank too far. Most of the time, Leo will only push boundaries as long as he thinks he can get away with it. Not being able to run away from the consequences of his actions or play it off means he’s going to be a little more careful, both to avoid his mother finding out about his mischief and to at least try setting a good example for his little brother. Recollé has made Leo a little less reckless, if a bit more comfortable in his own skin.
And when it comes to the sad times, his solution isn’t to just run away from his problems like he does in canon. Growing up without feeling isolated and alone has made Leo more open about how he feels, even if it’s not so great. Sure, he’ll still play it off and try to lighten the mood, but he doesn’t feel the need to hide it and pretend everything is fine when it’s everything but. If nothing else, he’ll talk to his mother about it, but he’s just as open with his friends in letting them know how he feels. Life’s not all roses, but it’s a lot easier when you’ve got a people backing you up and a laugh to share.
- Leo was born in Houston, Texas, to parents who divorced when he was very young. Because of this, he never knew his father well and never cared to ask questions about the guy, especially after making the move to Recollé so his mother could pursue better job options in the city. He was eight years old at the time.
- Leo has a younger sibling. The plan is for his mother to have adopted Roderic as we worked out in this thread, if they app in the same cycle! Leo would have been fourteen at the time. Otherwise the younger sibling will be an NPC for now.
- All of their other family was left behind in Houston, but once every few years they go back to visit his aunt and grandparents. He's always hated every minute of it, for no real reason than it was boring and his aunt can be a mean old bat.
- He used to have a babysitter before the move to Recollé, but he doesn't remember much about her, just that she was someone his mother knew. After coming to the city, he either went to the workshop with her or hung out at home. Somehow she's never on the list of people to visit when they go back to Houston.
- His mother is a mechanic, and taught him everything he knows. Since he was young, Leo has hung around the shop after school to help out and learn some new things when he's not doing homework. It's because of this that Leo has a knack for tinkering when he's distracted, bored, or just needs something to do with his hands.
- Over the years, he's been developing his ability to make miniature machines and robots. He can develop some rudimentary (but working!) machines without really thinking about it most of the time.
- Because they were never the most financially secure family (being a mechanic isn't always the best-paying gig), Leo got a part-time job as soon as it was legal. He was hired at a different workshop than his mother, where he'll sometimes work on projects he doesn't want her to know about - all legal, of course, just not mom-approved. Sometimes Leo is too creative for her peace of mind.
- Leo also has a history of skipping school when he can swing it to earn some extra cash at work. Every time he's done it, mom has found out. He suspects there's a mole at the workshop, or she's just psychic.
- School was always a struggle for Leo, with his only good subject being math. Part of that is attributed to his ADHD, finally diagnosed at age nine, though he's terrible about taking the meds. Part of it is because Leo just seems like a magnet for trouble, or maybe he just experimented on the school computers one too many times and administration doesn't trust him anymore. There may have also been an incident last year regarding a slowly escalating prank war that got him suspended for a week. After a strict talking-to from his mother, Leo has promised to tone it down for his brother's case, if not his own.
- The guidance counselor at school has been trying to convince him to consider college, and so far the only concession Leo's made is that he would want to major in robotics. He's figured it's the logical course to take his interest in machines, but he doesn't believe it will happen due to money issues.
Because of this, Leo has never felt out of place as he has in canon. Without the loss of his mother, he’s never needed to fall back on family who failed him, nor was he thrust into the foster system and into homes where he’d never felt comfortable or wanted. The loss of these experiences means he’ll be much less bitter about his lot in life, and much less cynical and mistrustful of new people or authority figures. Leo still has his insecurities, of course - his friends do more important things, he’s not very strong, he’ll never be the smartest kid in school - but he’s far more likely to see the positives in the situation than dwell on the negative. If his friends do important things - well, fixing things is important, too. Maybe Leo will never be on the football team, but he can run fast. So he won’t make valedictorian - he’s a genius with mechanics and knows it. So what if he’s never been on a date? He knows where he belongs, and that’s with his family.
He’s still known as a troublemaker, especially at school, because he likes having fun a little too much and sometimes gets carried away and takes a prank too far. Most of the time, Leo will only push boundaries as long as he thinks he can get away with it. Not being able to run away from the consequences of his actions or play it off means he’s going to be a little more careful, both to avoid his mother finding out about his mischief and to at least try setting a good example for his little brother. Recollé has made Leo a little less reckless, if a bit more comfortable in his own skin.
And when it comes to the sad times, his solution isn’t to just run away from his problems like he does in canon. Growing up without feeling isolated and alone has made Leo more open about how he feels, even if it’s not so great. Sure, he’ll still play it off and try to lighten the mood, but he doesn’t feel the need to hide it and pretend everything is fine when it’s everything but. If nothing else, he’ll talk to his mother about it, but he’s just as open with his friends in letting them know how he feels. Life’s not all roses, but it’s a lot easier when you’ve got a people backing you up and a laugh to share.