John Wayne's Journal

Player Information
Name: Panther
Age: 23
Time Zone: PST
E-mail invisicecream@gmail.com
AIMPanthrillmantrim
Previous Roleplay Experience (if any): lots and lots

Character Information

Character Name: John Wayne
Universe of Origin: Vertigo (technically a DC title, but they made the distinction, and so will I).
Age as of July 1, 2007: deceased.

History
John Wayne has been a advisor on the issues of manliness since his demise. He comes to characters who are troubled, and making a tough decision, prompting them to ‘man up’. For a long time he hung around Jesse Custer because he had really interesting problems, and needed a lot of help. But he doesn’t play favorites, and encourages all the people he talks to toward the decision that is most honest, and most in line with the person’s moral code. He encourages strength in everyone he talks to, and doesn’t accept any excuses for not doing the right thing, whatever the person deems that to be. Politics are beneath John Wayne. He’s only interested in the preservation of the manly ideal.

The ghost of John Wayne is not really a ghost of a person, but an ideal. While the real John Wayne was just a guy who could only play one character, his ghost is that character. He acts as though he’s done all the things that he acted out in the movies. These events aren’t in any particular order in his mind, and many run together. He’s also very mutable, so if he’s around one person too long, he begins to take the shape of what they believe a real man is. It’s another reason he followed Jesse so closely.

Skills and Abilities
Being a spirit, John can be anywhere he wants to be, and talk to anyone he wants to talk to, unless they have some kind of anti-occult shielding. Doctor Strange may be able to keep him out, but Tony Stark might not.

Personality
John is acerbic, and grumpy, rather like an old man. He’s also obsessed with the concept of manliness, and doing the right thing. He’s a man’s man for sure, and won’t shy away from encouraging a person to kill to do what’s right. In the end, he knows that the only way a man can truly be a man is if he does what he knows deep down is right. This concept is more important to him than right and wrong, or fair and unfair. If a man knows in his heart it’s right to kill babies, then there are bound to be ten other men that know in their hearts it’s right to kill that man, so in the end, he’s bargaining that there are more good men than bad.

He likes whiskey and cigarettes, so anyone who smokes or drinks will be bothered by him more often. He believes in religion, but also believes it has its place, which is not always right in front of everything else. In the end he’s a peaceful man, but if he has to fight to get to that peace, he won’t hold back an inch.

Alignment
John doesn’t take sides. He simply wants the people he lectures to make the decision they think is best, and be a man about it.

Sample
“You know, you’re not doing right. What kind of a man can just pick up and go like that? Only a coward runs from a situation he can’t handle.”

The woman behind the wheel of the car, looking supremely annoyed at him. He didn’t pay it any attention, though. He continued his conversation, leaning back a bit, legs splayed. He looked exactly like John Wayne in the only movie of his she’d seen, but that didn’t forgive him for showing up in her car unannounced like that. “You made a promise you won’t keep, which is bad enough. But now you’re thinkin’ of running out, even though it’s not his fault you’re a damn fool. You’re the worst kind of coward, for lyin’, then runnin’. At least face up to the fact that you can’t keep your word.”

“Shut up.” Her voice showed her anger, and hiss that threatened pain and lots of it. He shook his head, tipping his hat forward enough to lean back in the seat, even as she returned her eyes to the road.

“Won’t even admit it to me. What kind of a heartless bitch are you?”

She swore loudly, and pulled over on the shoulder, turning to face John. “How dare you come into my car and start preaching to me about shit that isn’t even your business. You’re a bastard, and a shitty actor, and I’m glad you died.”

As she ranted, he gave her a cool look from under the brim of his hat. “Wouldn’t be so mad at me if I was saying you’d done right. You know you’re doing wrong. You know what you want. You’re just afraid of it. Only a coward gives in to fear.”

She nearly growled in frustration, leaving the car, the door slamming behind her. John shook his head, and appeared behind her. “Not very smart, either. That ain’t your fault, though. Don’t take brains to do what’s right, only heart. You got that kinda heart in you? Or have you started fooling yourself, too?”

Domino turned to him, striking out, trying to punch him. He easily stepped out of the way, though it wasn’t, strictly speaking, necessary. “No, you’ve got a heart in you. Maybe it’s time you started listening to it instead of your fear.”

She made a face, stepping back. “Fuck off, old man. I’m not going to listen to your bullshit.”

He shook his head, placing a very real feeling hand on Domino’s shoulder. “Maybe it’s time you stopped listening to your own bullshit. What are you really afraid of? What’s got you so scared you’d walk away from what you’ve always wanted? Who are you afraid of? It’s not just Cable that’s good at making a mess of things.”

She made a face, angry still, but unable to deny the grain of truth in the statement. “What the hell do you want, anyway?”

“Just an honest answer. But not for me. Think about what you’ve been doing, and ask yourself if it’s making you happy. If you can honestly answer yes, then keep driving. If not, well, then you’ve got a lot more questions to ask.”

He faded then, giving her one last tip of his hat.

Other
Not required, but if there are any specific plot ideas or themes you are hoping to explore with this character in game, please list them here.