DV - APP
OOC
Name: Kichi
Contact: AIM: Lifeskichiru, Plurk: Kichiru
Age: 23
IC
Name: Keith Goodman
Age: 28
Before he was Sky High, King of Heroes, Keith Goodman was a simple farm boy living miles outside of Sternbild in the rural countryside. The only son of two aging ranchers, his birth was an unexpected miracle to the couple that, after years of trying, assumed child rearing was simply out of their reach. Despite his blessed birth, the hard-working pair never allowed even a moment for their beloved son to grow a big head, keeping him humble and well grounded by making him earn his keep with diligent work on their ranch. Work ethic was something they instilled in their boy from a young age and something they tried to stress as he matured into adulthood.
Though his parents appreciated, depended on, and stressed the importance of his work on the farm, the couple also understood the importance of education for Keith and for his future goals, whatever they may be and as far as they would take him. As such as soon as he was able, they enrolled him in the local public school. The school was like most rural schools in that it had a small pool of students, most from other farms in the area, and agricultural sciences played a subtle yet major part in their studies. While at the school, Keith preformed well-enough in most areas (debate and social studies being the exception), excelled in drama, and made a good number of friends. Confusingly, despite his friendly and charitable attitude, where he had the most trouble was not in academics at all but instead in the complexities surrounding conversing with girls. In fact, for a long time he avoided it all together and it wasn't until he reached junior high that he finally noticed the opposite sex.
Like most boys of that age, looks came first before compatibility and when his eyes locked on with his first love's beautifully sparkling orbs, and inevitably the situation didn't pan out well for him (his attempt to speak with her being completely ignored), he was more or less deterred from any future attempts. It was not bitterness (or fear) that deterred him from then on, but instead an overwhelming feeling of anxiety at his inability to understand woman, their needs, and the awkwardness he felt being in their presence where romance was concerned. Normally, one leaned on their friends for support or knighted a close one as their "wingman," but Keith struggled with the idea of facing something as embarrassing as intimacy. So, while his friends made poor decisions with young lasses in the back of their cars, he devoted himself even more so to his parent’s farm and when time allowed the amateur drama club at school.
When he wasn't devoted to work, chores, or school, Keith could be found with his nose pressed hotly against the worn pages of his used comic collection, following and admiring the lives of heroes who used their powers of good to battle the wicked and promote peace in their towns. In little ways, Keith modeled his life after them-- helping little old ladies with the groceries, directing lost children to their parents, helping build farm houses for those unable to after freak tornadoes, and so on-- but the older he got, the less and less he thought about those super-powered crime fighters and instead focused on his life down on the farm.
That is, until that year of his eighteenth summer...
Everyone looked forward to the county fair and Keith was no exception. It was a hot day and the wind was absolutely still as the auction began. People crowded around, young and old, to get a look at the fruits of the Goodman's and other's labor. When the benches filled up, kids and other non-bidders were sent away but the determined ones found places in treetops and elsewhere outside to watch and gossip. One such young boy, unsatisfied with his view from the last open branch and with a passion for all things 4H, decided to pursue a loftier seat and climbed up an old windmill next to the venue. It was the perfect view-- that is, until the wind picked up once more. Quickly that seat above the crowd transformed from best in the house to a stage of tragedy, the now whirring blades forcing his tiny body off the platform and on a straight path to the punishment. All eyes were on the falling boy and time seemed to stop for a moment and the ground waited patiently for impact when suddenly something rather miraculous happened. Instead of the expected sound of boy-meets-pavement, there was a rush of wind through the bleachers, tossing everything that wasn't held down or bolted into the air and with an outstretched hand, the blue-glowing farm boy cushioned the child's fall with a pocket of air circulating from his large, dirty palm. There was confusion and then silence followed by frantic and clamorous cheering. Keith was just as surprised by his powers, if not more so, as everyone else around him. A hero was born that afternoon of his eighteenth summer.
From then on, Keith was a countywide sensation and soon the whole town knew about how the Goodman's boy was a NEXT. His good deed was published in the paper and quickly he became a bit of a local celebrity for his wind manipulating abilities. While certain groups of closed-minded folks shunned him for his powers (calling him a freak and a pariah) most people were enamored with his powers and compared him to the heroes they saw on TV. It wasn't long before word got back to Sternbild.
Eight seasons and numerous clumsy rescues later, at his door came the scouts: sponsors looking to buy Keith's powers for their own gain in return for more money than farming could ever get him. Having not had a TV in their home growing up, he knew only what he had heard from his friends about HeroTV, what he seen in short glimpses on a set at the market, or what he had witnessed on the screens behind the television shop's window where he often glued his face as a child. HeroTV, the show about the real life super powered men and women who save the world from darkness. The show about justice and passion. The show about heroes. No, money was not a motivator for him; however, for Keith, the idea of being able to be a real life crime-fighter was. Still, as tempting as their offers were, he declined, unwilling to leave his parents farm especially if it meant following his dreams to the city. He had lived in the country his whole life and his family was here-- how could he protect them with so much distance between? It wasn't until his mother stressed the importance of his powers that he was finally able to really hear what the scouts had to offer them. Her insistence on him doing what was right for the majority overrode the duty he should feel to his family in her mind. This sudden gift of powers had to have come for a reason and she knew that reason had to exist outside of their town and in the bigger world beyond their borders. Besides, on his end, with the bountiful paycheck Keith could bank, he could ensure his parents lived out the rest of their lives comfortable, as he had always wished for them. They'd worked hard all their lives (and he had no doubt they would continue) but they were not as young as they once were and it was a reality, they all had to face together. With resolve in his heart, he took the job.
With the sponsorship of the Poseidon line, Keith successfully moved to and adjusted to life in the megalopolis of Sternbild. Even more remarkable still is how he transformed from small-town ranch hand to full time super hero, SKY HIGH on the hit show Hero TV and even acted as the MVP King of Heroes for several seasons.
Further History: http://tigerbunny.wikia.com/wiki/Sky_High
Personality:
Keith Goodman is as his name describes, a very good man. Being from a rural area, he grew up not only knowing his neighbors but also holding close relationships with them. Thus, he is always concerned with and empathetic towards others unlike many in the city who are cold to those around them. He goes to great lengths to boost the moods of those he comes in contact with and, as a hero, believes that he always has to be smiling because, after all, a hero is a role model for the people and the people need to be positive!
Speaking of positivity, he is the captain of its ship. While he is easily able to assert the things he likes (so long as it is fair) he has a difficult time expressing his dislikes, afraid that in the process he might hurt someone’s feelings, besides being entirely uninterested in focusing on negativity. However, this positivity does not make him immune to depression and disappointment, such as when he was denied a chance to say the lines he practiced or when his rank fell on the HeroTV leader-board. Still, these feelings never stop him from moving forward and he actively searches for ways to improve himself on a daily basis. Even though there are areas of himself that he may want to change, when he sticks to his morals and faces his insecurities, he is very confident and genuine person and this confidence makes him a born leader, garnering him many fans and followers even inside of their small group. His confidence is the lure but his gentleness endears those around him to stay by his side and fight with him.
At times, Keith can be bit of airhead and is commonly described as such by his female co-workers. While he is not unintelligent, he's a very straightforward thinker and often times this point-A; point-B thinking can expose how oblivious he is to the nuances of certain interactions. Due to this inability to read the situation, he is prone to asking about unsavory or sensitive topics bluntly and without too much concern for how it might come across. Though, due to his kind and gentle nature, the people with whom he often surrounds himself with have come to understand that his ignorance and bluntness is unintentional. Subtlety is, in the end, a lost art where he grew up and being from such a small community has made him rather sheltered toward progressive ideas.
To that end, despite his age, he is, seemingly, eternally innocent and this especially true where sexuality is concerned. Sexuality was not offered in his school and it most certainly wasn't discussed on the farm. He's a firm believer in true love, hand holding, and intimacy after marriage and his mind is geared towards one day settling down to raise his own family. Being that he is so innocent, Keith wont easily talk about sex (especially concerning his interests) and seems to not understand deviant view points such as homosexuality (bluntly asking Nathan if it's a form of butt fetishism). In spite of his lack of understanding on many unique ways of living that are possible in the city, he would never judge or shun anyone based on their decisions, caring for each citizen equally.
While subtlety may be a lost cause, politeness is something he excels in. Coming from a home where his father was to be addressed as Sir and his mother as Ma'am, no matter how dirty his hands got, the boy had flawless manners, easily giving respect to the adults around him as he had been raised to do. To this day, he still speaks politely with his peers and especially with his sponsors to whom he is always humble and thankful.
Remaining humble despite his fame is something that is very unique to Keith who even thanks his fans after rescuing them (twice, even). Keith doesn't risk his life for fame nor money and the points he racks up on the job are completely incidentals of his hard work. So, when he lost his title as King of Heroes, he was depressed but for different reasons than one might think. What truly had gotten him down at the time was the fact that he had lost in a crucial battle to save the people he sworn to protect and since his traumatic defeat had succumb to the crushing doubts in his own heart. He was not able to live up to his title and be the hero that Sternbild deserved and with Barnaby rising to the task, that feeling drove him to melancholy. With his lackluster results, he felt akin to a dairy cow that produced no milk or a chicken that couldn't lay eggs. Though, he was on a downward spiral, once he was made to face the truth that he was his own worst enemy, he turned his life around and fought harder than ever to make the woman in the park, who had stole his heart, proud and renew the faith of the masses in his ability to work hard and fight effectively.
On the topic of hard work, Keith follows the age-old model of if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right! Hard work runs in his blood and even if he's no longer the king, he will always train harder than any other hero-- that's a promise! Training is the one area in which he refuses to lose as it's the only part of his job that he has 100% control over. In his eyes, if he's not giving it his all, he's not doing the job the people depend on him to do. He starts his morning with jogging, followed by walking with John, then going to public events, followed by even more training, events, another walk and more training. In fact, even after punching out at the office, his hero work doesn't end there. After walking John and making sure to eat a proper meal, he begins his rounds in the sky on night patrol, looking for any disturbance in the peace of Sternbild. But don't worry, even with all his training (and perhaps because of it) he makes sure to bathe at least three times, if not four times, a day. Though his reasons may have changed over time, being away from his family was a sacrifice and so not spending just as much of his time protecting and connecting with the citizens makes their sacrifice feel rather wasteful. Besides the fact that protecting the peace is just the right thing to do as a man and as a hero and if he was given these powers, he had best use them to their full potential.
While other heroes may use their powers to get revenge, Keith's motives are simple: justice. No matter what a person does, he is neither the judge nor the jury. He believes in the justice system and is a simple deliveryman to their cause. Having seen many ex-convicts get jobs in the country where they turned their lives around, he fiercely believes that even the wicked can be reformed and tries to use his powers in ways that ask for submission but do not injure. Still, he is not opposed to a little showboating. Being on a television show asks a hero to do more than just save lives, it asks them to entertain their fans who count on them to stay in character. So, when Keith becomes Sky High, he always has a tough, hero-like line up his sleeve and a pose to go with it. His ability to memorize lines and improvise on the spot is one of Sky High's selling points, even if they are more often than not terribly lame and corny.
His humor and manner of speech is actually more suited to children, as he is nothing more than a big kid himself, but in reality, Sky High isn't very good at raising them due to a lack of self restraint and a very soft heart for their poor behavior. This can also be seen with how he walks his dog, to which people often comment, "who's walking who?"
Even if he isn't the sharpest man on the team, he would do anything for them and is one of the most dedicated heroes in all of syndication. Keith Goodman is indeed, a very, very good man.
Powers/Abilities: Keith's NEXT ability allows him the ability to manipulate the wind.
o FLIGHT: While he can fly, he cannot do so very high or far without the aid of a jetpack.
While these are the only powers we see in the show, it is reasonable to believe he has other abilities beyond these that involve his wind power. Such as using his wind to rake leaves or to cool himself down after a long run with John. Or maybe as a hair dryer...
Prose Sample:
It was a wonderful day in Sternbild. The sun was bright and the winds were mild; the perfect conditions for an early morning run with John before heading to his first public event of the day. So, with quiz show questions and manly poses racing through his mind, he stepped out of his apartment, leash in hand and he and John begin the first part of their daily routine.
As he rounded the corner, however, heading to the park, he noticed an elderly woman struggling with her groceries and without hesitation, he was quickly by her side, offering and urging her to let him take the heavy sacks from her thin arms. At first she resisted his aid, unaccustomed to men of his age being all that kind and not wanting to be a burden on his morning, but with his consistent reassurance she reluctantly handed over the bags to Keith who effortlessly carried them inside her home, John sitting, as ordered, obediently by the woman’s stoop though tempted by a nearby bird who were just begging to be chased. Once finished, and after escorting her to her door, he made his way down her steps, taking up the leash again and humbly waving off her gratitude.
"One should always help those in need. It's really nothing, ma'am, and nothing at all! Now you take care," he shouted back earnestly, picking up the pace once more and heading to the park to keep on schedule, waving behind him.
But that's when things got strange...
John, unable to resist the urge to chase, took off after the bird who was mocking him from afar, ripping the leash from Keith's distracted, waving hand. Shocked, the wind wizard took off after him, crossing the road dangerously to keep up, trying not to use his powers while out of his suit.
"John! Stop right now, John!" He called out, cursing himself for jaywalking and promising to apologize for it later. However, little did he know that the opportunity to go back would likely never come.
When John suddenly turned down and alley, Keith followed around the blind curve and was struck by something hard from his front, causing him to fall back to the ground, holding his bonked noggin. What did he hit? A wall? A pole? Was it a person? Perhaps it was Antonio-- his chest was pretty hard! He was disoriented and confused, and he didn't know what he had hit, but just in case, he was quick to apologize.
"Oh, no. I'm so sorry I wasn't look-," and he opened his baby blues, “-ing…”
Sand. Everywhere he looked there was sand and debris. He tried to stay calm but the sudden transition was a little alarming. In the distance he made out what looked like dilapidated buildings and neon. A town? But it wasn't Sternbild. No, it was nowhere he had ever seen.
"John?" He called out with uncertainty, standing up to dust the sand off his jacket-- but what was that stuffed in there? What was that rolled up paper in his pocket? A brochure? And a, what was it, arcade token? Ah, so that was it! Not bothering to read the brochure just yet, he took confident steps towards the town.
Once on the strip, surrounded by cherry blossoms, he looked about at the men who walked in and out of buildings freely and listlessly, some in kimonos and others in western clothes. He wondered if John had veered in here too, but the first thing he needed to find out was where they were and what the name of this elaborate period theme park was.
"Excuse me," he asked, reaching out to touch the shoulder of the first person to cross his path. "I didn't buy a ticket, but what is the name of this place, if you don't mind me asking?"