The Angelus | Dani Baptiste (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
wingedcrown) wrote2012-05-06 03:05 pm
wingedcrown) wrote2012-05-06 03:05 pm
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sirenspull
Player Information
Name: Kal
Age: 22
AIM SN: walkthedawn
email: otherpromise@gmail.com
Have you played in an LJ based game before? Y
Currrently Played Characters: Riku (dawnward), Re-l Mayer (awakenings) and Alice Liddell (cruelwonder). The latter I will probably be dropping at the end of May.
Conditional: Activity Check Link: Here
Conditional: Official Reserve Link: N/A
Character Information
General
Canon Source: Top Cow Comics
Canon Format: Comics
Character's Name: Danielle Baptiste
Character's Age: Never stated. She's between 22-23.
Conditional: If your character is 13 years of age or under, please clarify how they will be played.
What form will your character's NV take? Her iPhone thing from home.
Abilities
Character's Canon Abilities:
Hoo boy.
As the Angelus' host and still possessing free will, Dani suddenly has a lot more than she could do with the Witchblade when she had it. The Angelus is the force of true light in the universe (though this doesn't always equate with goodness). As such, the Angelus host has an entire army of warriors at the snap of her fingertips, as well as all the perks of being the host of the light itself. Obviously, in-game, she won't be able to call her Angelus warriors (as she must create new ones). However, she does have some actual powers:
Heightened Strength/Speed: Self explanatory. She can't lift buildings or do crazy things, but she can easily lift a car and bend a metal bar.
Armor: Dani will be coated in gold and red armor, fitted perfectly to her body. This allows for some extra protection.
Flight: Dani gains red wings with her Angelus form. She can also float while not in her Angelus form.
Caste Call: Dani can call upon her soldiers to aid her in battle. (As she will not have her warriors, this will not work in Siren's Port until she creates more and I'm cool with putting a cap on how many she can create.)
Warrior Creation: All Angelus Hosts can create more warriors from the Light and turn them into sentient beings. These warriors can be hidden away from sight and can be practically invisible to the untrained eye, just as anyone can go through life never seeing angels. However, as Siren's Port is populated by the supernatural and the super-powered, people will be able to see/sense them easily.
(An important note with this: these warriors will NOT survive in the Darkness. Because it's not just regular darkness, they will slowly be broken down and destroyed, even if they aren't attacked by monsters. They'll last maybe ten minutes.)
Teleportation: Like the Darkness, the Angelus can pass through the light and teleport herself anywhere she pleases. (Dani will be incapable of teleporting herself out of this city.)
Fire/Light-based Attacks: The Angelus Host is capable of using fire and light to her advantage, generally as blasts or fireballs against her enemies. This also includes creating weapons for herself created from the light or fire. Dani dual-wields two swords made of this light.
Cleansing: The Angelus can cleanse a host of its darkness and evil if she can get close enough and is strong enough to overcome its power with her light. This only works with corruption; if someone is just plain evil, then this isn't going to work. This sort of power would be more beneficial if, say, someone was putting darkness seeds in people or something.
Sensing: The Angelus appears to know when there's a shift in theForce "balance" in her universe. Again, this isn't going to really work in Siren's Port because it's not the same world as hers.
Healing: Using the light, Dani can heal herself, but this takes time and energy.
Finally, Dani can teleport/travel to the ethereal plane in which the Angelus warriors exist. This will not work in Siren's Port but I figured I'd mention it since it's important. The ethereal plane is basically Top Cow's version of Heaven, though it's not called such. This is where the Angelus' throne is.
Conditional: If your character has no superhuman canon abilities, what dormant ability will you give them?
Weapons: Swords made out of fire/light that she can summon.
History/Personality/Plans/etc.
Character History: Here.
Point in Canon: Post-Witchblade 150, which takes place during Artifacts and after Julie Pezzini's death.
Conditional: Brief summary of previous RP history:
Character Personality:
Danielle Baptiste is a somewhat immature young woman when she first makes her appearance. She's a little snobby and sarcastic, mostly due to her upbringing and her time in New York. Her father and mother are both involved in law enforcement and, even though they're separated, it's clear that they both love her dearly. Her father, in fact, spoils her whenever he sees her. Though her financial situation during college is unknown, it's clear that she has a good enough head on her shoulders once she leaves that she probably provided for herself for the most part, possibly through a scholarship and a job. Her mother, who lives in New York near where Dani lives, is extremely responsible and authoritative. She has to be, after all, as captain of her squad. Her father is much more relaxed, which is why he stayed in New Orleans after the separation. This gives us a pretty good idea of how Dani was raised and it shows where she's gotten her sometimes lackadaisical habits and her sense of duty and justice. She's also still fairly young at the start of the series and so her immaturity simply stems from her lack of experience in the real world, though this changes fairly quickly.
Dani's story revolves around her uncertainty in life. Young, fresh out of college, with a degree in dance, she has next to nothing to get her started on her journey. She has to check in with an uptight mother and she's far away from the parent who would tell her to take it easy. Despite all of this, she's a very active and social creature, often going out clubbing and dancing with friends, going to the gym every now and then, and also going to the dance studio several times a week to practice. She's outgoing and friendly towards her friends and acquaintances, offering to help them out and lending an ear to their troubles. She also likes to dance on the wild side and has a taste for bad boys: she talks to Sara about how this seems stereotypical of all girls at one point and that she's had her fair share of troubled men. She mentions that she's had to deal with every sketchy boy on the block in college. She doesn't like to be committed to many responsibilities, romantic or otherwise, and this contributes to her feelings of uncertainty in regards to her future.
The Witchblade changes all of this. Dani has a dream about the artifact and about possessing it and when she finds Sara wants to give it up, she flings herself on the opportunity. Recklessly desperate and simply wanting to find change in her life, she takes it without a thought (though the Witchblade MUST choose its bearer and it did choose her), but then finds that she doesn't know what to do with it. In fact, Dani's first instinct is to simply wear it around as jewelry and wait for things to happen. She doesn't like to chase after work if she doesn't have to and she certainly isn't prepared for the responsibility. She eventually comes around to it, fueled by her innate sense of justice that she's received from growing up with two cops for parents.
It should be important to understand that the bearers of the trinity don't consider themselves heroes in any way. Sara, back when she first began to wield the Witchblade, saw herself as an "angel of life". Jackie's always used the Darkness for his own means. Dani, too, sees the Witchblade as simply a responsibility, which is why she's often turned off from the idea of outwardly seeking trouble. Jackie's a hitman and runs into trouble anyway. Sara's a cop and encounters bad guys on a regular basis. But Dani? Dani's just a dancer. What does she gain from looking for the creepy-crawlies that lurk in the dark? Sure, she wants to help, but it's not really the same as someone from Gotham, who takes their role as a hero very seriously. The bearers - all of them - have no intention of exposing themselves or what they do to the public in the interest of getting backpats. Instead, they work in secret simply because it'd be too much hassle to bring everything to the light. Most people shrug off the "supernatural" cases as just being weird and nothing else. It works, too, and all for the better. But even when she becomes the Angelus, an angel, Dani never thinks of it as heroic work. It's simply her duty.
Despite her conflicted feelings about the Witchblade and her role as the balance, Dani never backs away from a challenge or from a problem. She even reaches out to help others in their time of need, like with Finch, Sara, and even with David to an extent. These, at first, go terribly wrong because Dani lacks the proper discipline to understand what she's doing. In fact, she pushes herself to be intimidating because she believes she can take the easy way out and simply scare the problem away. When this doesn't work, she's forced to confront the issues head-on and this just shows how strong she is when she stops doubting herself and what she's capable of. The Witchblade and the Angelus would not choose her if she wasn't powerful in her own right. She just doesn't want to believe she's special. In fact, for most of her run as the Witchblade wielder, she just wants to be normal. She thinks the Wtichblade will bring a spark of excitement into her life and nothing more. She's very, very wrong about this.
As Dani encounters more and more of the supernatural, she begins to grow and flourish into a determined and brave young woman. She's resourceful and quick on her feet, though she's not as street-savvy and experienced as Sara. She puts the needs of others before herself and she refuses to give up in the face of battle. When she fights Sara, she's more concerned about her friend's safety than for herself and this causes her to lose; instead of being brave enough to kill Sara or to cripple her, she pulls back and this is her undoing. She learns to control herself and her snarky attitude, which continues to crop up even when she takes on her role as the Angelus (not all of her is going to change, after all). Her time with Sara serves to bring real discipline into her life, but even as a Witchblade bearer, she feels like she's not doing enough and that this isn't the place for her.
When she receives the Angelus, she immediately feels much more comfortable in the role. She isn't the tough-as-nails cop that Sara is and she isn't the jaded mafia hitman that Jackie is. Dani wants to make the world livable for other people without having to resort to tearing people's heads off (though, to be fair, she does understand that this is sometimes necessary). She strives to bring light into the world and to defeat the monsters who threaten the balance and the people in the universe. That is why her role as the Angelus is more fitting to her personality. The Angelus, once wrapped up in Celestine Wright, withdrew for a time once she discovered that there was something special about the humans. She questioned her role in the universe and she wondered why the humans were allowed to flourish while she was constricted to her place as the Light. Dani is her key to understanding all of that and that is why she's allowed to keep her free will and her personality.
Dani's role as the Angelus quickly teaches her many things about her new life. Within a matter of days, she's betrayed by her lieutenant and forced to come to terms with what she wants to do as the Angelus. Instead of shrinking, she proves her worth by striking Sabine down, punishing those who stood with her, and cleaning up the mess with minimal fight. However, it's clear that this changes her. When she's next seen in Artifacts, her words hold authority and weight to them. She's much more careful and measured about her decisions, though she still loses herself to the impulsivity of her emotions, just like anyone else. She comes to Sara's aid in the wrap-up of Witchblade without being asked and she asserts her authority as the Angelus host to Tiamat. She even calls upon her warriors and they gladly come to aid her in battle. She's gone far and above to prove that she may be a new breed of Angelus but that she's necessary to balancing out the light with the darkness, and she is a welcome addition to the host of angels.
Still, outside of the wings and the armor, Dani attempts to be normal when she can. She goes out on dates and dances, she goes on picnics and keeps in touch with her friends and family. She's a free-spirited individual, still taking risks and living her life to the fullest. She indulges herself when she can and she protects what's hers, whether those things are people or objects. She will not be cowed or controlled by anyone, whether it's the Darkness or fate itself.
Now, the Angelus...is a little different. Typically, when the Angelus possesses a host body, she overtakes the body's personality entirely. Many describe it as being in the "back seat" while the Angelus is the driver of the vehicle. They often don't remember the experience of being possessed unless they carry their own strong wills. Then, they MIGHT remember what happened to them, but not typically. Once, Patience (the Magdalena) was possessed and she remembered being immediately at war with the Angelus host for power. Finch, however, told Dani that she barely remembered a thing and just felt like she was being bathed in light and warmth. It's a toss up, essentially!
The Angelus host can be both cruel and kind. She is manipulative and authoritative. She reigns supreme in the light and is a creature of war, as evidenced by her eternal struggle against the Darkness. She commands the heavenly host under her wing and has taught them that rising in the ranks is as easy as killing one another. Pretty frightening stuff, huh? She has very little compassion for humans who are not "important" (read: powerful, threatening, and/or artifact bearers) and she is not afraid to kill for the sake of power, dominance, or even out of vengeance. She will strike down her own if they dare show insubordination. She is even willing to rip a baby out of a pregnant mother's belly just to get to it.
However, as said before, she can be kind. She has been shown to display compassion and attachment to people she eventually grows close to, including humans. She once begged Jackie not to kill a woman because she had grown to care for her. She can also be generous to her hosts, leaving their friends and family alive (if she wishes), and she will keep their body and psyche safe as she uses it. In fact, she once healed Celestine's mind from her extreme psychosis (as she had to follow every good act with an evil one) before taking her over, even though she could easily have subdued the woman's mental capabilities without a thought.
But why is there such a paradox? The Angelus has lived for thousands of years and has used that time to grow and learn. In the one-shot Angelus series (before Dani becomes the Angelus and Celestine is still possessed), she makes mention that she does not understand why, but humans are important. They are God's beloved children and yet they are allowed to be free while she and the Darkness constantly fight in an endless struggle of light versus the dark. She is curious as to why the earth is so special, why these people are so necessary, and so she becomes much more lenient about her purpose and what she does. She allows Celestine some semblance of free will and she is much more focused on discovering this truth than destroying.
The Angelus gives Dani her free will entirely because she has seen how the Darkness allows its own host to live and make his own decisions. The Darkness has won more battles than the Angelus; shouldn't this stand to reason that this is the appropriate decision to make? But she also sees potential in Dani, and so she lets Dani do as she pleases, simply being the strength in her wings and the light at her back. However, Dani can still hear the Angelus host, and she often will assert herself with Dani, though she never once takes control. Whether this is because Dani is too powerful of a will or because the Angelus trusts her isn't clear. What is clear, though, is that she has minimal influence when it comes to Dani's decision, and this is definitely the right choice; Dani uses the Angelus as angels of light and justice, helping people and doing what's right. The Angelus approves of her actions, too, and goes so far as to assert herself to Sabine to get her to back down.
Dani intimately knows the Angelus, though it takes her quite some time to actually tap into all of her power. The Angelus would normally give its hosts full access to their memories and past lives, but she did not do this with Dani because she was afraid it would influence her too much. Again, she wanted a host free of the Angelus' direct influence. Though she begins to remember bits and pieces about where things are located (like the ethereal plane, the Angelus' home) and how to use her powers, much of it still remains untapped to her.
In Siren's Port, while the Angelus will still be a part of Dani, she will not be a direct "character" that influences what she does or how she acts. She's taken the back seat and will probably not make an appearance unless someone threatens Dani or if the Darkness should be brought in.
Conditional: Personality development in previous game:
Character Plans: Dani will be growing outside of her own universe, alone and being the only Artifact bearer in the city. She'll work at a dance studio and will attempt to protect people from the Darkness and find ways to destroy it. I'd like for her to see the other angels and protectors in the game and decide whether or not "heroes" and "angels" really exist.
Appearance/PB: Dani with the Witchblade and as the Angelus.
Writing Samples
First Person Sample
[There's grumbling, first and foremost.]
Sure, bring me to some crazy place when I'm actually needed. The universe has some sick sense of humor, I'll say that much.
[She sighs.]
...Look, I'm sure most people use this network grumble and groan, so I'll cut to the chase. Does anyone know if I can exchange my money here and still use my credit cards? And what's the cheapest apartment out there that doesn't come with a creepy solicitor for these companies and really crappy furniture? I'm looking to find my own place ASAP.
[She starts to hang up before she pauses again.]
Oh. And what's this about the "Darkness" I keep hearing about?
[It doesn't sound like Jackie Estacado to her, but she can never be too careful.]
Third Person Sample
Being thrown from the light and into a whole other world was not what she had penciled in for this morning. In fact, just being shoved out of her natural element was enough to make her feel sick without the added feeling of pressure weighing her down as she found herself face-first in the dirt and wet grass of the baseball diamond. It had to have been a little after dawn, the light barely peaking over the horizon. It wasn't enough to warm her or make her feel any better, and she almost felt like dropping her head back down to rest.
"Ugh," she sighed into the grass. Five more minutes. She'd get up then and call Sara--
Dani paused, opening her eyes. This wasn't right. She wasn't home.
Stumbling up onto her feet and then promptly dropping back down onto her rear, she stared in uncertainty at the pitcher's mound in front of her like it was a dragon. "What the hell am I doing--" A baseball diamond. When did she get here? With a grumble, she fumbled around in her pocket for her cell phone and dialed Sara's number. I hope I don't get roaming charges for this little stunt. It never rang, simply beeped at her and toned: I'm sorry, your call cannot be completed as dialed or this number is unknown. Please try again later.
She huffed. "Seriously?" she snapped, trying Finch's number next. I'm sorry, your call could not be completed as dialed...
Dad. I'm sorry, your call...
"What the hell is going on?!" she shouted, shoving it into her pocket. She flopped back down and stared at the sky, glaring at the slowly lightening hue. How the hell had she gotten here? She didn't remember teleporting or trans-dimensional travel. She remembered the gathering of the Artifact bearers en masse at the church, hearing about this end of the world, the loss of Hope...
Oh, Hope. The child that brought the trinity together. Jackie, for as much an asshole as he was, wouldn't dare to interfere with Dani's business if she was there with Hope. She was, after all, considered the girl's aunt, especially with Julie gone. She frowned, her gaze darkening. Whoever it was that killed Julie and made Sara cry would pay, and they'd pay dearly. No one messed with her friend and got away with it. No one
Her eyes narrowed at the pitcher's mound itself in anger, as though that was the cause of all of her problems. She pressed a fist into the ground. "So why am I here, huh?" she muttered. She needed to be home. Everything was falling apart and she needed to do something. What good was she here...wherever here was? Dani sighed and steadily got to her feet. Don't even have a damn Curator anymore to be cryptic at a time like this. Someone definitely hates me in the universe at large.
Scuffing her foot in the grass, she heard something and she turned as a young woman approached her. In a business suit, she looked like she was going to sell Dani something. But the first words out of her mouth were, "Hello. Welcome to Siren's Port. Are you feeling all right?"
She cocked her head sideways. "Siren's Port...?" She never paid too much attention in geography class, okay, but she was sure she'd never heard of a place like this.
The woman just smiled. "I promise that all of your questions will be answered. Please, if you'll follow me," she said, gesturing to the dugouts not far away. Dani frowned for a moment but eventually shrugged and went with her. What choice did she have if she wanted answers?
Name: Kal
Age: 22
AIM SN: walkthedawn
email: otherpromise@gmail.com
Have you played in an LJ based game before? Y
Currrently Played Characters: Riku (
dawnward), Re-l Mayer (awakenings) and Alice Liddell (cruelwonder). The latter I will probably be dropping at the end of May.Conditional: Activity Check Link: Here
Conditional: Official Reserve Link: N/A
Character Information
General
Canon Source: Top Cow Comics
Canon Format: Comics
Character's Name: Danielle Baptiste
Character's Age: Never stated. She's between 22-23.
What form will your character's NV take? Her iPhone thing from home.
Abilities
Character's Canon Abilities:
Hoo boy.
As the Angelus' host and still possessing free will, Dani suddenly has a lot more than she could do with the Witchblade when she had it. The Angelus is the force of true light in the universe (though this doesn't always equate with goodness). As such, the Angelus host has an entire army of warriors at the snap of her fingertips, as well as all the perks of being the host of the light itself. Obviously, in-game, she won't be able to call her Angelus warriors (as she must create new ones). However, she does have some actual powers:
Heightened Strength/Speed: Self explanatory. She can't lift buildings or do crazy things, but she can easily lift a car and bend a metal bar.
Armor: Dani will be coated in gold and red armor, fitted perfectly to her body. This allows for some extra protection.
Flight: Dani gains red wings with her Angelus form. She can also float while not in her Angelus form.
Caste Call: Dani can call upon her soldiers to aid her in battle. (As she will not have her warriors, this will not work in Siren's Port until she creates more and I'm cool with putting a cap on how many she can create.)
Warrior Creation: All Angelus Hosts can create more warriors from the Light and turn them into sentient beings. These warriors can be hidden away from sight and can be practically invisible to the untrained eye, just as anyone can go through life never seeing angels. However, as Siren's Port is populated by the supernatural and the super-powered, people will be able to see/sense them easily.
(An important note with this: these warriors will NOT survive in the Darkness. Because it's not just regular darkness, they will slowly be broken down and destroyed, even if they aren't attacked by monsters. They'll last maybe ten minutes.)
Teleportation: Like the Darkness, the Angelus can pass through the light and teleport herself anywhere she pleases. (Dani will be incapable of teleporting herself out of this city.)
Fire/Light-based Attacks: The Angelus Host is capable of using fire and light to her advantage, generally as blasts or fireballs against her enemies. This also includes creating weapons for herself created from the light or fire. Dani dual-wields two swords made of this light.
Cleansing: The Angelus can cleanse a host of its darkness and evil if she can get close enough and is strong enough to overcome its power with her light. This only works with corruption; if someone is just plain evil, then this isn't going to work. This sort of power would be more beneficial if, say, someone was putting darkness seeds in people or something.
Sensing: The Angelus appears to know when there's a shift in the
Healing: Using the light, Dani can heal herself, but this takes time and energy.
Finally, Dani can teleport/travel to the ethereal plane in which the Angelus warriors exist. This will not work in Siren's Port but I figured I'd mention it since it's important. The ethereal plane is basically Top Cow's version of Heaven, though it's not called such. This is where the Angelus' throne is.
Weapons: Swords made out of fire/light that she can summon.
History/Personality/Plans/etc.
Character History: Here.
Point in Canon: Post-Witchblade 150, which takes place during Artifacts and after Julie Pezzini's death.
Character Personality:
Danielle Baptiste is a somewhat immature young woman when she first makes her appearance. She's a little snobby and sarcastic, mostly due to her upbringing and her time in New York. Her father and mother are both involved in law enforcement and, even though they're separated, it's clear that they both love her dearly. Her father, in fact, spoils her whenever he sees her. Though her financial situation during college is unknown, it's clear that she has a good enough head on her shoulders once she leaves that she probably provided for herself for the most part, possibly through a scholarship and a job. Her mother, who lives in New York near where Dani lives, is extremely responsible and authoritative. She has to be, after all, as captain of her squad. Her father is much more relaxed, which is why he stayed in New Orleans after the separation. This gives us a pretty good idea of how Dani was raised and it shows where she's gotten her sometimes lackadaisical habits and her sense of duty and justice. She's also still fairly young at the start of the series and so her immaturity simply stems from her lack of experience in the real world, though this changes fairly quickly.
Dani's story revolves around her uncertainty in life. Young, fresh out of college, with a degree in dance, she has next to nothing to get her started on her journey. She has to check in with an uptight mother and she's far away from the parent who would tell her to take it easy. Despite all of this, she's a very active and social creature, often going out clubbing and dancing with friends, going to the gym every now and then, and also going to the dance studio several times a week to practice. She's outgoing and friendly towards her friends and acquaintances, offering to help them out and lending an ear to their troubles. She also likes to dance on the wild side and has a taste for bad boys: she talks to Sara about how this seems stereotypical of all girls at one point and that she's had her fair share of troubled men. She mentions that she's had to deal with every sketchy boy on the block in college. She doesn't like to be committed to many responsibilities, romantic or otherwise, and this contributes to her feelings of uncertainty in regards to her future.
The Witchblade changes all of this. Dani has a dream about the artifact and about possessing it and when she finds Sara wants to give it up, she flings herself on the opportunity. Recklessly desperate and simply wanting to find change in her life, she takes it without a thought (though the Witchblade MUST choose its bearer and it did choose her), but then finds that she doesn't know what to do with it. In fact, Dani's first instinct is to simply wear it around as jewelry and wait for things to happen. She doesn't like to chase after work if she doesn't have to and she certainly isn't prepared for the responsibility. She eventually comes around to it, fueled by her innate sense of justice that she's received from growing up with two cops for parents.
It should be important to understand that the bearers of the trinity don't consider themselves heroes in any way. Sara, back when she first began to wield the Witchblade, saw herself as an "angel of life". Jackie's always used the Darkness for his own means. Dani, too, sees the Witchblade as simply a responsibility, which is why she's often turned off from the idea of outwardly seeking trouble. Jackie's a hitman and runs into trouble anyway. Sara's a cop and encounters bad guys on a regular basis. But Dani? Dani's just a dancer. What does she gain from looking for the creepy-crawlies that lurk in the dark? Sure, she wants to help, but it's not really the same as someone from Gotham, who takes their role as a hero very seriously. The bearers - all of them - have no intention of exposing themselves or what they do to the public in the interest of getting backpats. Instead, they work in secret simply because it'd be too much hassle to bring everything to the light. Most people shrug off the "supernatural" cases as just being weird and nothing else. It works, too, and all for the better. But even when she becomes the Angelus, an angel, Dani never thinks of it as heroic work. It's simply her duty.
Despite her conflicted feelings about the Witchblade and her role as the balance, Dani never backs away from a challenge or from a problem. She even reaches out to help others in their time of need, like with Finch, Sara, and even with David to an extent. These, at first, go terribly wrong because Dani lacks the proper discipline to understand what she's doing. In fact, she pushes herself to be intimidating because she believes she can take the easy way out and simply scare the problem away. When this doesn't work, she's forced to confront the issues head-on and this just shows how strong she is when she stops doubting herself and what she's capable of. The Witchblade and the Angelus would not choose her if she wasn't powerful in her own right. She just doesn't want to believe she's special. In fact, for most of her run as the Witchblade wielder, she just wants to be normal. She thinks the Wtichblade will bring a spark of excitement into her life and nothing more. She's very, very wrong about this.
As Dani encounters more and more of the supernatural, she begins to grow and flourish into a determined and brave young woman. She's resourceful and quick on her feet, though she's not as street-savvy and experienced as Sara. She puts the needs of others before herself and she refuses to give up in the face of battle. When she fights Sara, she's more concerned about her friend's safety than for herself and this causes her to lose; instead of being brave enough to kill Sara or to cripple her, she pulls back and this is her undoing. She learns to control herself and her snarky attitude, which continues to crop up even when she takes on her role as the Angelus (not all of her is going to change, after all). Her time with Sara serves to bring real discipline into her life, but even as a Witchblade bearer, she feels like she's not doing enough and that this isn't the place for her.
When she receives the Angelus, she immediately feels much more comfortable in the role. She isn't the tough-as-nails cop that Sara is and she isn't the jaded mafia hitman that Jackie is. Dani wants to make the world livable for other people without having to resort to tearing people's heads off (though, to be fair, she does understand that this is sometimes necessary). She strives to bring light into the world and to defeat the monsters who threaten the balance and the people in the universe. That is why her role as the Angelus is more fitting to her personality. The Angelus, once wrapped up in Celestine Wright, withdrew for a time once she discovered that there was something special about the humans. She questioned her role in the universe and she wondered why the humans were allowed to flourish while she was constricted to her place as the Light. Dani is her key to understanding all of that and that is why she's allowed to keep her free will and her personality.
Dani's role as the Angelus quickly teaches her many things about her new life. Within a matter of days, she's betrayed by her lieutenant and forced to come to terms with what she wants to do as the Angelus. Instead of shrinking, she proves her worth by striking Sabine down, punishing those who stood with her, and cleaning up the mess with minimal fight. However, it's clear that this changes her. When she's next seen in Artifacts, her words hold authority and weight to them. She's much more careful and measured about her decisions, though she still loses herself to the impulsivity of her emotions, just like anyone else. She comes to Sara's aid in the wrap-up of Witchblade without being asked and she asserts her authority as the Angelus host to Tiamat. She even calls upon her warriors and they gladly come to aid her in battle. She's gone far and above to prove that she may be a new breed of Angelus but that she's necessary to balancing out the light with the darkness, and she is a welcome addition to the host of angels.
Still, outside of the wings and the armor, Dani attempts to be normal when she can. She goes out on dates and dances, she goes on picnics and keeps in touch with her friends and family. She's a free-spirited individual, still taking risks and living her life to the fullest. She indulges herself when she can and she protects what's hers, whether those things are people or objects. She will not be cowed or controlled by anyone, whether it's the Darkness or fate itself.
Now, the Angelus...is a little different. Typically, when the Angelus possesses a host body, she overtakes the body's personality entirely. Many describe it as being in the "back seat" while the Angelus is the driver of the vehicle. They often don't remember the experience of being possessed unless they carry their own strong wills. Then, they MIGHT remember what happened to them, but not typically. Once, Patience (the Magdalena) was possessed and she remembered being immediately at war with the Angelus host for power. Finch, however, told Dani that she barely remembered a thing and just felt like she was being bathed in light and warmth. It's a toss up, essentially!
The Angelus host can be both cruel and kind. She is manipulative and authoritative. She reigns supreme in the light and is a creature of war, as evidenced by her eternal struggle against the Darkness. She commands the heavenly host under her wing and has taught them that rising in the ranks is as easy as killing one another. Pretty frightening stuff, huh? She has very little compassion for humans who are not "important" (read: powerful, threatening, and/or artifact bearers) and she is not afraid to kill for the sake of power, dominance, or even out of vengeance. She will strike down her own if they dare show insubordination. She is even willing to rip a baby out of a pregnant mother's belly just to get to it.
However, as said before, she can be kind. She has been shown to display compassion and attachment to people she eventually grows close to, including humans. She once begged Jackie not to kill a woman because she had grown to care for her. She can also be generous to her hosts, leaving their friends and family alive (if she wishes), and she will keep their body and psyche safe as she uses it. In fact, she once healed Celestine's mind from her extreme psychosis (as she had to follow every good act with an evil one) before taking her over, even though she could easily have subdued the woman's mental capabilities without a thought.
But why is there such a paradox? The Angelus has lived for thousands of years and has used that time to grow and learn. In the one-shot Angelus series (before Dani becomes the Angelus and Celestine is still possessed), she makes mention that she does not understand why, but humans are important. They are God's beloved children and yet they are allowed to be free while she and the Darkness constantly fight in an endless struggle of light versus the dark. She is curious as to why the earth is so special, why these people are so necessary, and so she becomes much more lenient about her purpose and what she does. She allows Celestine some semblance of free will and she is much more focused on discovering this truth than destroying.
The Angelus gives Dani her free will entirely because she has seen how the Darkness allows its own host to live and make his own decisions. The Darkness has won more battles than the Angelus; shouldn't this stand to reason that this is the appropriate decision to make? But she also sees potential in Dani, and so she lets Dani do as she pleases, simply being the strength in her wings and the light at her back. However, Dani can still hear the Angelus host, and she often will assert herself with Dani, though she never once takes control. Whether this is because Dani is too powerful of a will or because the Angelus trusts her isn't clear. What is clear, though, is that she has minimal influence when it comes to Dani's decision, and this is definitely the right choice; Dani uses the Angelus as angels of light and justice, helping people and doing what's right. The Angelus approves of her actions, too, and goes so far as to assert herself to Sabine to get her to back down.
Dani intimately knows the Angelus, though it takes her quite some time to actually tap into all of her power. The Angelus would normally give its hosts full access to their memories and past lives, but she did not do this with Dani because she was afraid it would influence her too much. Again, she wanted a host free of the Angelus' direct influence. Though she begins to remember bits and pieces about where things are located (like the ethereal plane, the Angelus' home) and how to use her powers, much of it still remains untapped to her.
In Siren's Port, while the Angelus will still be a part of Dani, she will not be a direct "character" that influences what she does or how she acts. She's taken the back seat and will probably not make an appearance unless someone threatens Dani or if the Darkness should be brought in.
Character Plans: Dani will be growing outside of her own universe, alone and being the only Artifact bearer in the city. She'll work at a dance studio and will attempt to protect people from the Darkness and find ways to destroy it. I'd like for her to see the other angels and protectors in the game and decide whether or not "heroes" and "angels" really exist.
Appearance/PB: Dani with the Witchblade and as the Angelus.
Writing Samples
First Person Sample
[There's grumbling, first and foremost.]
Sure, bring me to some crazy place when I'm actually needed. The universe has some sick sense of humor, I'll say that much.
[She sighs.]
...Look, I'm sure most people use this network grumble and groan, so I'll cut to the chase. Does anyone know if I can exchange my money here and still use my credit cards? And what's the cheapest apartment out there that doesn't come with a creepy solicitor for these companies and really crappy furniture? I'm looking to find my own place ASAP.
[She starts to hang up before she pauses again.]
Oh. And what's this about the "Darkness" I keep hearing about?
[It doesn't sound like Jackie Estacado to her, but she can never be too careful.]
Third Person Sample
Being thrown from the light and into a whole other world was not what she had penciled in for this morning. In fact, just being shoved out of her natural element was enough to make her feel sick without the added feeling of pressure weighing her down as she found herself face-first in the dirt and wet grass of the baseball diamond. It had to have been a little after dawn, the light barely peaking over the horizon. It wasn't enough to warm her or make her feel any better, and she almost felt like dropping her head back down to rest.
"Ugh," she sighed into the grass. Five more minutes. She'd get up then and call Sara--
Dani paused, opening her eyes. This wasn't right. She wasn't home.
Stumbling up onto her feet and then promptly dropping back down onto her rear, she stared in uncertainty at the pitcher's mound in front of her like it was a dragon. "What the hell am I doing--" A baseball diamond. When did she get here? With a grumble, she fumbled around in her pocket for her cell phone and dialed Sara's number. I hope I don't get roaming charges for this little stunt. It never rang, simply beeped at her and toned: I'm sorry, your call cannot be completed as dialed or this number is unknown. Please try again later.
She huffed. "Seriously?" she snapped, trying Finch's number next. I'm sorry, your call could not be completed as dialed...
Dad. I'm sorry, your call...
"What the hell is going on?!" she shouted, shoving it into her pocket. She flopped back down and stared at the sky, glaring at the slowly lightening hue. How the hell had she gotten here? She didn't remember teleporting or trans-dimensional travel. She remembered the gathering of the Artifact bearers en masse at the church, hearing about this end of the world, the loss of Hope...
Oh, Hope. The child that brought the trinity together. Jackie, for as much an asshole as he was, wouldn't dare to interfere with Dani's business if she was there with Hope. She was, after all, considered the girl's aunt, especially with Julie gone. She frowned, her gaze darkening. Whoever it was that killed Julie and made Sara cry would pay, and they'd pay dearly. No one messed with her friend and got away with it. No one
Her eyes narrowed at the pitcher's mound itself in anger, as though that was the cause of all of her problems. She pressed a fist into the ground. "So why am I here, huh?" she muttered. She needed to be home. Everything was falling apart and she needed to do something. What good was she here...wherever here was? Dani sighed and steadily got to her feet. Don't even have a damn Curator anymore to be cryptic at a time like this. Someone definitely hates me in the universe at large.
Scuffing her foot in the grass, she heard something and she turned as a young woman approached her. In a business suit, she looked like she was going to sell Dani something. But the first words out of her mouth were, "Hello. Welcome to Siren's Port. Are you feeling all right?"
She cocked her head sideways. "Siren's Port...?" She never paid too much attention in geography class, okay, but she was sure she'd never heard of a place like this.
The woman just smiled. "I promise that all of your questions will be answered. Please, if you'll follow me," she said, gesturing to the dugouts not far away. Dani frowned for a moment but eventually shrugged and went with her. What choice did she have if she wanted answers?