SHADES
Future Foundation - Seventh Division
Ultimate Bodyguard
Status: ALIVE
ABOUT
Name: Shades
Species: Gryphon
Gender: Trans man
Pronouns: He/Him
Sexuality: Bisexual
Age: 27 (?? Human yrs)
Height: 6'9" (205 cm)
Weight: 250 lbs (113 kg)
Birthday: June 15th
Class: 42
Title: Ultimate Bodyguard
Division: 7
Likes: Cooking, Flying, Relaxing, Swimming
Dislikes: Horror movies, Laser pointers, Being messy, Royalty
PERSONALITY
Shades is a gryphon: part cat, part bird. His build makes him look very tough and intimidating, and brawling with him is like fighting a lion and swan at the same time. His senses and instincts are as sharp as they can get. However, he dislikes using his strength unless the situation really calls for it, and carefully moves as if everything around him is fragile. People keep asking him for hugs for some reason.
While he looks deadpan and has a resting serious face most of the time, he's...actually kind of a pushover. He finds himself waiting for someone to give him orders, until he remembers he can actually make his own decisions. Even while he isn't working, he tries to make sure people feel safe and sound.
Shades is sometimes absentminded, tending to space out a lot, and is a bit of a dumbass. He's not very book smart, but makes up for it with some good ol' gryphon wisdom. Once you get past his scary-looking exterior, he's actually really easy to befriend and chill with! It doesn't take a lot to be on good terms with him.
HISTORY
Shades used to live in a very fairy tale-like kingdom. There was strife between humans and magical creatures, but he was able to make do and survive. The Queen had taken him in as a hatchling and raised him to be a servant and bodyguard for her daughter, Vanessa. They were childhood best friends, and as they grew up, they were both scouted out and enrolled in Hope's Peak Academy, class 42.
Their old home was very medieval-like, and the change from that to something much more modern and futuristic was pretty jarring, but he adapted. He's used to being around humans and magic being less and less common- banned, even.
He did fairly decent in Hope's Peak Academy, where he and Vanessa were inseparable. He became the Ultimate Bodyguard, and her the Ultimate Princess.
Things were going relatively well, until something happened back at home. Shades doesn't want to talk about it, nor is he able to. It was so bad that his memories of his time in Hope's Peak Academy, along with his teen years were very spotty and hardly there. Because of that certain event, he and Vanessa were no longer friends nor on speaking terms.
He left the kingdom in search of a new home and job. Shades took on different jobs, mostly as a security guard or night guard. He moved around a lot, at one point he lived near and worked in a studio. During that time the killing games started, and it kind of haunted him. The nature of showbiz and the killing games combined left a bad taste in his mouth, and he left once more.
He now works in Future Foundation, living his life in a bit of a haze. He considers switching his profession from security to something of a healer, perhaps going back to his old, magical roots. He's not sure, but he's holding on to Hope that things can get better.
RELATIONSHIPS
Ahn Lee
Shades often worries about him. Deep down, he thinks Ahn has every right to not trust Shades seeing as they have different views about their abilities and about fire.
They get along well actually!
Akira Kurusu
Shades regrets not getting to know him well enough when Akira was still alive. When A.I.Kira, or Aikira came to existence, Shades was skeptical of it working out.
He now treats Aikira as a close friend (and still feels a pang of guilt).
Amelia Reynolds
He got to know her after the second trial, and also helped find her during the third motive. Finding her unconscious terrified him... He's glad she's okay. Shades sees her as someone with a lot of heart, often wondering about her Ultimate Title
Ark Primrose
Shades hasn't met him yet, due to starting out as a very reserved hermit. He hopes to get to know him before their time runs out in the Future Foundation Game.
Blues
He hasn't talked to him much, all he knows Blues is a robot and Tao keeps calling Blues 'Shades'. The gryphon didn't think highly of him at first, but that was due to the stress of the first trial. Shades finds him strange, but cool!
Clemont Maire
Shades sees him as a very smart guy, and wishes he were as academically inclined. The meeting where he introduced an AI of his boyfriend Akira concerned him a lot, as he thought that was one unhealthy way to cope with grief. Still, he somewhat understands, and is glad to see Clemont doing much better after Akira died.
Date Kaname
He was initially weirded out by his colleague who called out to him as if he were a feral cat. Date is very strange! But Shades likes to be strange with him on the ambien. Shades wishes he could help him more. He also longs for a similar support system Date has, but the gryphon feels he would never have that.
Della
He hasn't talked to her much, but respects her a lot! Somehow he's intimidated by her because of one tiny, silly incident where he accidentally interrupted her and Spinel in the chat. Shades has been to some movie nights they were having!
He hopes she's doing okay after the motive secrets were released.
Grimnir
Whoah this guy is a literal god! What! ! ! Shades thinks he's very cool, even if Grimnir can't access his magic. He learns a bit about him and his friends and hopes to get to know him even more! At this point he pretty much associates him with Date and vice versa- If Shades ever wonders where to carry and drop Date to, he's going directly to him!
Haruto Souma
Shades doesn't know him very well yet, but enjoys his company in the chatrooms! For some reason, he thinks of the vending machine when he thinks of Haruto. He should probably ask the guy if he's seen some of his stuff he carelessly lost. Shades doesn't know it, but Haruto has his sunglasses currently!
Iah Umbra
Fellow magic user! Shades is unfamiliar with his category of magic- Something about creatures and cards? Shades is terrible with those cards. He wonders about the glimpse he's seen at the end of the second trial...Is Iah a cyborg?? Shades also notices familial ties with his roommate, Sebastian.
Jowd (and guest!)
A fellow bear perhaps Shades is weirded out by the whole ghost thing. He won't admit it out loud, but he's intimidated by both Jowd and the ghost. He's terrible at telling them apart in the chatrooms, but they both seem very serious and mean business. Did the ghost guy phase through him? Shades found that very unsettling.
JK
Another one Shades is unfamiliar with. He really should get to know them better as their chances of surviving the game get lower and lower. Maybe he can bring JK a soda sometime!
Kyoya Saikai
He's casually conversed with Kyoya in the chatrooms from time to time! Shades sees him as a no-nonsense kinda guy and one of the serious ones! He finds Kyoya's reactions to some of the fun chatroom shenanigans a bit amusing and is a bit guilty of adding to the shitposting
Lucky Guy
Shades was going to offer him company during the first body investigation, only to later find out Lucky Guy was the first culprit of the game. Milksogyny indeed... Shades is never looking the same way at chocolate milk ever again after Lucky Guy's execution.
Naib Subedar
Another one of the very first people Shades interacted with, sometime around the ghost event. He got to know him better sometime in chapter 3, unfortunately after Norton's untimely demise.
Naib suggests Shades takes a nap, Shades follows. Both of them started to bond around the infirmary incident, and the gryphon considers him a close friend! He wonders what 'fuwa fuwa' means though, each time they hug.
Nathan
Shades admires him a lot- he admires Nathan's kindness and selflessness, and was inspired to return to dabbling with magic. He now works alongside Two and Nathan as the groups healers. Shades can sense what Nathan's going through and is horrified that his healing wouldn't help. He doesn't know how to approach Nathan about the latter's own health and safety, and can't find the right words. He hopes he can help Nathan before it's too late
Norton Campbell
Shades accidentally scared the hell out of him during the ghost event with his shiny cat eyes. He seemed like a very nervous and jittery guy! They didn't know each other very well. Norton returned the favor and unintentionally scared Shades in the breakroom (Shades squealed okay it was very undignified)
His last words to Norton were something along the lines of 'Have a good rest.' in the chatroom. It haunts Shades.
Octavo
Yet another one Shades didn't get to know very well... He would have loved to! They were kind of similar, he thinks. So similar that Shades almost thought he himself was somehow the culprit of the second trial- Fire magic, being at the wrong place and wrong time... He doesn't know if it was Octavo's or Akira's scream during that late night patrol.
Olivia Wilson
Heck yeah a super hero! Shades finds her to be kind of wild and bold in the chatrooms. He sees her as super strong, both physically and mentally- she's been through a lot, and Shades will make it a note to check on her more often. Shades needs to offer his healing magic, he feels so rude not to do so each time he sees her bandaged arm from a stab wound.
Osomatsu Matsuno
They had a strange first meeting that's for sure! Shades tackled him and accidentally stole his points during the second motive. Shades appreciates him for introducing Sock Hockey to the group, and is happy for him and Tao! ...He's also concerned about the guy's tendencies. The Gryphon knows that Osomatsu is a good person despite it all.
Penny Poledina
Another robot! Shades doesn't know her well, only through the secrets motive does he know a thing or two. He knows she's a cool robot. He wishes he could help with healing, but unfortunately technology is out of his limits.
Percy Parker
Another superhero! Is he spiderman... Shades must know more. When he thinks of Percy, he associates him with Olivia and Fuzzy! Shades hopes he can find Fuzzy soon... at some point, after the infirmary incident, Shades was delirious and held a spoon thinking it was Fuzzy. He vaguely remembers something with his roommate...Sorry Percy! Shades will do his best to help you with Fuzzy soon!
Pewter
He knows very little about his roommate, but is more than happy to get to know him. Shades hit up the roommate chat a few times, and since Date could get a handful, Shades has Pewter as the other designated 'carry this guy to his bfs'. Shades likes Pewter's aesthetic...perhaps he would incorporate some color scheme into his wardrobe.
Pierrot Nakamura
Probably one of the first people he's interacted with in person, after mostly keeping to himself like a hermit. He appreciates him and his balloons! At first, Shades assumed Pierrot didn't see him as a person, being a strange creature and all. Still, friends are friends and he's glad to be on good terms!
Ren Suguzamori
It all comes back to cards! Shades doesn't know about these kinds of cards either, but finds it to be very neat! Learning about Ren's secret through Willie's motives didn't really phase him as much, he believes Ren to be a good person!
Sebastian Hawthorne
The roommate he kind of mentions the most! It seemed very tense at first, seeing as they both looked very intimidating in their sharp suits and had that purple theme going. And then Shades turned out to be easygoing, whereas Sebastian kept up a front. Shades believes Sebastian to be very strong, nothing seems to phase the man- until the third motive where the gryphon witnessed Sebastian's injuries and his lowest point. Shades was angry on Sebastian's behalf... he cares for him a lot, and calls him 'Sebby'.
Shintaro Kisaragi
This guy is super smart it scares him- Shades believes Shintaro's braincells might help them all get out of this mess. The gryphon sometimes straight-up zones out at some of Shintaro's explainations, but he really does try to keep up. Predicting a pattern in the game got his interest; Shades hopes he doesn't get killed for knowing a little too much. Deep down, he wonders if Shintaro is a mastermind of sorts.
Spinel Rodriguez
Shades appreciates her for hosting movie night and such! Horror movies was something he disliked, but Alien turned out to be really good! Shades considers removing horror movies out of his dislikes. He's accidentally snooped in the chats where she and Della were conversing and feels like he's made a fool of himself in front of her. He hopes to get to know her better! And also watch many more movies and events with groups sometime!
Taokaka
Fellow cat!!!! Or well, cat-like person. Shades feels some kind of connection with her, kind of like spiderman_pointing.png. He's good friends with her, and hangs around the chatrooms and in person. Shades received one of her items from the weird machine, and plans on returning it to her. He keeps procrastinating though, and things keep happening.
Two T. Trevor
The guy reminds him of Bones McCoy from those sci trek movies. Very serious, great at his job, and probably overworked from being the sole medical professional. Shades knows nothing other than very basic first-aid, and while he feels like he's cheating with healing magic, he wants to help with the workload and ease it a little bit alongside Nathan. Shades sees Two as another one of the serious guys, but for good reason. Shades hopes he doesn't disappoint Two with his healing assistance.
Zidane Tribal
He...He didn't get to know him in time. He wishes he had, but Zidane was gone too soon in the first body discovery. Shades figures they could've been at least acquaintances, with the gryphon being security guard and Zidane as thief. It would make for an interesting dynamic- he keeps daydreaming of 'what-ifs'. He hopes Zidane rests in peace.
ABILITIES
FIRE MAGIC/PYROKINESIS (PASSIVE)
Shades can form flames out of thin air! He draws his powers from the sun itself, and needs to practice ever so often to remain efficient.
His fire will not harm people unless he wills it to.
It looks to be a standard yellow-orange flame, your average fireball spell. Shades does not need to recite spells or draw sigils, it comes naturally to him like a sorcerer.
Shades can also form simple images out of fire and even change colors at will.
FIRE MAGIC/PYROKINESIS (OFFENSIVE)
When in battle, Shades' fire takes on a subtle purple tint. He will throw fireballs that would explode upon impact.
It's effective, but his aim is kind of poor when it comes to range.
Shades will also do a powerful stomp that creates a fiery, floor-is-lava shockwave (Think of Snatcher or Bird Directors from Hat in Time)
HEALING
Healing magic takes form as a warm, glowing gold orb. It encases his hands, and contact with it provides instant pain relief. It will speed up the natural healing process to an extent and may leave a temporary gold scar, depending on the kind of injury. Think a mix of zenyatta and mercy from Overwatch
Effectiveness completely depends on Shades' mental state. Healing will not work if he himself is critically injured, or having a severe breakdown that he cannot lie to himself to get out of.
He cannot in any circumstances bring back the dead.
Shades might be able to revive himself, but there's a way bigger chance he won't be able to. In this canon, he's only done it once. And that is...
SOL
Shades is Sol, and Sol is Shades. He is Shades' last ditch effort to protect himself from death.
Sol is also responsible for murdering in self-defense.
Sol is a lot like ???% from MP100, and unlikely to make an appearance outside of DV flashbacks.