Cobbe

Basic Information

• Basic Info

  • Name: Cobbe
  • Gender: Male
  • Played by: Nazhosh

• Physicalities

  Species: Masked Booby/Gannet. Cobbe will not tell you this, because you will laugh at him - Gannet isn't so bad, but he still prefers not to admit it. In terms of appearances, he looks a little more like a raven or crow... if one can ignore the webbed feet as well as the brightly-colored eyes and slightly-too-long red beak.
  Gender: Male
  Orientation: Heterosexual
  
  Age: 28, still looks quite young.
  Height: 6'4''
  Weight: 170
  Build: Fairly thin and lanky, but his muscles are at least toned.
  
  Eye color: Deep orange
  Beak color: Earthy, muted red.
  
  Feather color and markings
  The bird's natural colorings are a background of white feathers with black markings along the bottom edge of the wings, a black mask around the beak, and black underfeathers at the tail. However, he has a tendency to alter the white feathers through various means to produce a darker grey. This coloring can often be uneven and patchy, leading to a mottled pattern.
  
  Scent
  Varies, but most typically hints of smoke and soot and the smell of moist earth. Occasionally wafts the gentle scent of henna or ink. What with some of the new occupations he's taken to, from time to time the earthy smell will be replaced with the distinct but muted scent of seawater.
  
  Notable scars and other physical features
  Although Cobbe has no obvious physical scars, the left side of his beak is chipped in three diagonal lines. In addition, he is missing two long tail feathers, which is hopefully a temporary development.

• Details

  Accent: English, decidedly Cockney. Depending on the company it varies in weight, and at times he tries without complete success to erase it from his voice entirely. Typical speech sounds something like this.
  Voice: Slightly gravelly, as though lungs and throat had been habitually exposed to smoke or grit. A bit more mild than that of Badger from Firefly.
  Speech eccentricities: Cobbe has a habit of either not remembering names or simply refusing to use most people's real names, instead assigning them with a nickname. This has not always gone to his favor. Additionally, he has a tendency to mispronounce certain, more complex words, and especially in the case of literary phrases, quote them incorrectly. As an example, he might say 'slings and errors' instead of 'slings and arrows'... although as a plus it would be hard to catch as a mistake.
  
  Literacy: Can read, but reading aloud presents slight problems; the bird has to be careful in order to do it accurately. Can only write numbers. Crude pictures often do well to suit his purposes.
  
  Handedness: Left. Deft enough with right, but nowhere near ambidextrous.
  
  Afflictions: Dyslexia. This very likely goes a good way to explain his poor experience with reading and writing. Of course, he doesn't know the word to explain it, and mostly just assumes stupidity and incompetence on his own part. Bit of an inferiority complex, which results in a fairly defensive nature.
  
  Personality
  Despite his failed training as a businessman, some of the lessons left their mark as they fit quite well with the existing framework of his character. In particular, Cobbe is not a patient creature, and not only dislikes wasting his time, but often simply will not. More than one interaction or bargaining session has ended with him exiting without explanation.
  
  In reality, Cobbe can be quite gregarious and is fond of socializing, but that side of him is rarely--if ever--seen. Appearances have always given him trouble, and although the bird tries there is a stigma both with his class and species that seems hard to shake. No small amount of this is self-imposed, however; lacking self-confidence, he has a tendency to be defensive and, occasionally, violent because of it. If snubbed or insulted he can be a very spiteful creature. Stubborn, obstinate and headstrong, once his mind is set on something he's not likely to let it go easily.
  
  Likes
  Tobacco, despite the difficulties it presents. Thinking philosophically, although he has nearly no concept of what philosophy is. Shiny things. Both solitude and company, depending on the circumstances. Whiskey and brandy. And he has a terrible weakness for traditionally pretty or beautiful (not so much 'sexy') women, so long as they don't treat him too poorly; he's learned a few lessons in that regard. In reality he enjoys quite a number of fine things, and perhaps longs for the more prosperous life he left behind. And although he does find pleasure in his 'work', he might just wish for something a bit more.
  
  Dislikes
  Poor treatment, mockery, or being underestimated. Being under anyone's thumb. Authority and attempts to control him. Not all too many things, really, but the few things he's chosen as irritating he's come to loathe with a passion.
  
  Prejudices: Slight, natural unease around felines. It's a largely unconscious thing, though it won't stop him from pursuing interaction if he really wants to.
  
  Family
  Father and mother, in the typical style. Neither are cared for, his father in particular. He has had no regrets about leaving either of them behind, and would probably be very cross if he ever saw them again. He feels largely the same about his older brother. His younger sister has gained a bit of a soft spot in his heart, although he's perfectly content not to write or attempt to contact her. Rather, he just thinks of her from time to time and wonders at her fortunes. The bird is largely disconnected from anything that reeks of bloodlines. He considers himself a self-made man that doesn't owe his family any gratitude.

• Clothing and possessions

  Clothing
  Despite the difficulties of it what with the wings and all, Cobbe always wears clothes, and always makes an effort to look presentable. He essentially owns and wears two types of outfits: dress clothes and work clothes. Although both are a little limited in variety he uses them to his best ability.
  
  Dress clothes
  Most commonly he will wear at least a buttoned shirt and bracers, trousers down to the knee and ending in a specially-designed cuff. A waistcoat is worn over the shirt, occasionally topped off with a cravat. He does not typically wear shoes; the things would have to be specially designed for his feet, and although he's seen a few pairs, affording such a thing is not one of his top priorities.
  
  A poorly-kept secret is the booby's fondness for hats. If at all possible, he prefers to be wearing some kind of hat. While attempting to look more like a businessman than a worker, it's usually top hats, although other varieties might make an appearance. All of these things are usually described in RP.
  
  All of Cobbe's clothing makes an effort to be neat and tidy, but it is hard to ignore the fraying around the hems on most of his garments or the scuffed nature of the wool or cloth at his elbows. Closer inspection shows that most garments have undergone countless cycles of wash and repair. If nothing else the poor chap's trying, and unless someone goes looking for the signs he might very well come across as a low-upper or high-middle class.
  
  Working clothes
  Usually an off-white buttoned shirt of thicker/cheaper material, though the rest of the outfit is kept to darker colors. Brown or grey trousers secured by bracers, sleeves of the shirt typically rolled up. A scarf is optional, as is a hat, though if one is worn it is nearly always of the newsboy variety.
  
  
  Other accessories
  Cobbe owns a silver pocketwatch, kept with a meticulous shine. Very rarely he may have his hands on a cane, but his lack of habit with them has caused a tendency for him to lose the damned things. A kerchief is always handy in one pocket or another, and in another, a deck of playing cards. For more special occasions, a well-worn tarot deck may make an appearance.
  
  
  Possessions
  Not much is kept out of every day sight, both because there's not much place to put it and because he hasn't got much to begin with. A well-worn shovel, a crowbar... simple tools that no one need ever see, stashed somewhere secret or safe until they're needed.

• Abilities

  General abilities
  The bird is truly good at very few things. Amongst his past failures are education in general (though one could argue he was never given a fair shake) and a life in proper society.
  
  But what he does have well in hand are character traits that are desirable for certain career paths: a loose relationship with morals and ethics, surprising loyalty under certain circumstances, and no fear of getting his hands dirty... one way or another. Also, adaptability. He's a creature far from where he belongs, has spent much of his time in tight, underground spaces. 'Comfort zone' isn't a concept he's very familiar with.
  
  He has excelled at digging, found he at least has a keen mind for avoiding traps (after a short but steep learning curve), adapted well to stealth, and even turned himself into a decent enough pick-pocket. Though not as good as he'd like.
  
  Naturally, he does have fantastic abilities with hand-fishing (or beak-fishing as it were) and diving. These skills come in handy in an island environment.
  
  Outside of his work, he's always found himself to be a seamless liar and charlatan. He knows how to handle a tarot deck despite his complete lack of belief in it and can do a few menial bits of entertainment such as juggling and balancing things on the tip of his beak. Whatever it takes to make a buck.
  
  
  Fighting
  Cobbe is no trained fighter, but he's been in his share of fist fights and has more than once or twice had to run and scuffle. Stronger than your average creature and with a bit more stamina (digging does build up the core and arms), the only truly impressive trait he has is his agility. The bird is balanced to a fault.
  
  In terms of weapons, he's used to pummeling with his fists but is quite comfortable with a crowbar or shovel, both of which are quite heavy but not so fast to swing. Although he's used knives before it's typically not as a weapon but as a threat.
  
  Speed: 1
  Strength: 2
  Stamina: 1