Paintman

This face used to be proper. Clean. Stylish. Almost too handsome to believe.

Unfortunate. But that's the price you pay to keep a decent job.

-- Paintman, pointing at himself

As a corrupt detective under the employ of an eldritch mob boss known only as 'Mr. Big', Paintman was assigned to the rather large supernatural tangle that is the Bifrost Terminal. With little true choice in the matter, being locked within the terminal becomes not a need to escape- rather, it becomes a fear of failing his boss. The mystery is just another job he aims to finish perfectly...even if it's at the sacrifice of his colleagues.

Table of Contents

Backstory
Personality
Abilities
Skills & Stats
Usage Notes
Gallery
Author's Notes

Backstory

Much of Paintman's life was typical, even after he became a detective- between police agencies, insurance companies, and the occasional paranoid individual, there was never a shortage of work for inquisitive minds. And while he could have pride in the fact that he could complete any job that came across his desk, things would subtly start to change when cop jobs would involve hunting down artifacts and spying on 'dissidents'. But the pay was good, and Paintman had a reputation to uphold. With his work ethic held to his heart, he kept his head down and the jobs always fulfilled to the letter.

He would be rewarded the only way an eldritch cult knew how- blessings from their patron to justify the service they put in. He would be forced into a pool of unending colour, waterboarded on a swirl of otherworldly essence. To this day, that essence hasn't washed off him.

His professionalism now firmly fused to his sunk cost fallacy, he remained in the cult's service to the point it would transform into a more organized and legitimate crew. The eight-pronged sight of their boss- only referred to as 'Mr. Big'- would equal the influence of the cult's legal corruption and spread freely. Paintman himself would thrive on his impeccable forgeries and his unsettling discipline to maintaining the cult's control...especially once he learned his gift would give him point-to-point sight and touch on anywhere that you could leave an imprint against.

With nowhere outside of his reach, work would fall on Paintman onto his plate until he became absolutely sick of more, never unable to give up his professionalism or his position. The brutal work is all that's left for him.

Paintman

Nose to the Grindstone

Aliases/Nickname(s)

'Paintman' is the alias

Profile

Race

Human with some eldritch editing

Pronouns | Gender | Sex | Sexuality

He/Him | Male | Male | Workaholic

Age

Early Fourties

Height | Build

6'1" | Lanky yet hardy

Hair | Eye | Skin Color

~~[Entry | Entry | Entry]~~None/Point-like/Caucasian

Distinguishing Features

✦ An endless liquid secretion from his face and palms- plus its sour smell

✦ A raspy voice that seems to emanate from his mouth rather than move with it

Job/Vocation

Detective, Forger

Hobbies

✦ People watching (for work)

✦ Alphabetizing old cases

Creator

Gun-ho Guy

Personality

As an uncanny blend of being both dry and intense, Paintman's world revolves around his work. When on the job (as he is most times) he acts with a single-mindedness that only the certainty of experience can bring. Any breaks or diversions are eventually to funnel back into his ultimate goal, and the ends will always justify the means in his mind. Paintman is keenly aware of his position, both in the mob and as an altered freak of nature- two things he'll lean into should he detect even a hint of unease. Objectivity is a frequent feature in his dialogue, both for him and who he speaks to. Lying to him is worse than telling a painful truth, as he's convinced he'll find out eventually (and at their consequence).

All things considered, he isn't in denial about the weight upon him. He actively bemoans more work even if it's things he'll do anyways, and understands the toll his workaholic nature takes on himself even if he can't manage to stop it. His efforts to become more outside his cult work have often become for naught- no amount of vices has filled the space that he had forced work into. But somewhere beneath, his own human limits are dredging themselves up from beneath the paint, and it may find him at the worst of times.

It should be noted that his boon does tend to choke things up- even if his raspy tone doesn't waver, he tends to speak in short sentences and singular describing words.

Likes

Attentiveness
Fine details
Experts at their crafts
Deli-style Reubens
Stretching until you feel a crack

Dislikes

Slackers
White lies
Babysitting
Olives
Long sprints

Abilities

✦ Paint Mark

Paintman's bread and butter. By making a face/hand print onto a surface, Paintman can push his face or arms through a different surface to observe and/or interact with whatever's on the other side. While this ability doesn't seem to have a range limit, he does have to memorize the place he wants to peer into for later, otherwise it won't work. Paintman is capable of full-body travel between points, but that requires the time to paint a body-sized entry on a surface.

✦ Suitcase of Mundane Horrors

Even a cult has their toys. Paintman carries along a sizeable steel suitcase filled with useful gear- some supernatural, some not. While there can be some creative liberties for smaller tools or exorcism materials, there are a few specific tools (listed below in the weapons section) that Paintman is aware of having.

✦ Convenient Brick

Not a miracle, but we'll make do. Whether by Mr. Big's influence, a malicious distribution of karma, or any other form of supernatural aid, Paintman seems to find a dripping block of paint nearby. It's still functionally a brick, but it seems to be an rare instance of Paintman not understanding if this comes with his boon or not. They will disappear, disintegrate, or otherwise leave after they find use.

Skills & Stats

Due to his job's nature, a majority of Paintman's skills offer a lot of utility. The combination of being both a detective and forger gives him a keen sense for the subtle, and an ability to weaponize the little pieces of information gleamed. Many a case also came to require more hands-on skills, necessitating a need for lockpicking and burglary know-how. Being on both sides of breaking-and-entering scenarios allows him to mentally recreate scenes with clarity.

But of course, his occupation mainly deals in the supernatural- Paintman's experience gives him more comfort in those situations of being completely out of his depth, keeping a dry handle on himself at all times. The many, many spirits he would have dealt with makes him privy to different ways of dealing with spirits...though thanks to the sheer amount of variations in the undead, chances are he's going to have to improvise anyways. You can never seem to prepare for everything...

Weapons

All of these items are obtainable from Paintman's suitcase:

-A wine bottle with cage-like supports (functions as a soul cage, currently empty)
-Several Derringers, chambered in .357 rounds
-Disposable strips of canvas with Mr. Big's sigil on it- allows for brief telepathic communication with them
-Small vial of invisible ink and a nice pen to join it

He also has his dripping block of paint, but it's an occasional summon rather than a suitcase weapon.

✦ General Stats

✦ Strengths	✧ Weaknesses
Unshakeable A taskmaster Overtly inquisitive Punctual Imposing presence (positive)	Dispassionate Overworked Bound by obligation Uncaring for others Imposing presence (negative)

✦ Psychological Stats ✦

Charisma	✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧	Kindness	✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧
Patience	✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧	Intelligence	✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧
Confidence	✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧	Perception	✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧
Discipline	✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧	Psych stamina	✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧
Courage	✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧	Caution	✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧
Honesty	✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧	Loyalty	✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧
Maturity	✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧	Creativity	✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧
Cleanliness	✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧	Work ethic	✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦

✧ Physical Stats ✧

Physical Strength	✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧	Speed	✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧
Magical Strength	✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧	Constitution	✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧
Physical Defense	✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧	Dexterity	✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧
Magical Defense	✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧	Stamina	✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧

Usage Notes

Appearances are allowed and encouraged, and I'd love to give input in those cases. Mentions would be appreciated.

Heavier/brutal content directed at him is allowed with permission. The man's kind of made for it.

Gallery

Paintman's Full Reference

Author's Notes

✦ Mr. Big's sigil is an eye-like oval around a great heptagram (a thinner 7-pointed star).