asgard app!
May. 8th, 2014 12:20 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
routinemercyOOC Information;
Name; Ans
Personal Journal; ans99
Contact; kindaxscary on plurk, AIM, and at gmail
Other Characters; n/a
IC Information;
Character Name; Hal Yorke
Canon; Being Human (UK) http://beinghuman.wikia.com/wiki/Being_Human_Wiki
Canon Point; Post-series
Age; Approximately 524 years old
House; Hel. Being a bloodthirsty vampire for much of his life, Hal has definitely not only been close to death but has usually been the cause. Though he has a chance for a new start in Asgard, he lives in daily regret of the things he has done and is saddled with guilt that will stay with him the rest of his life.
Power; Shadow Control
Personality; For most of the series, Hal appeared to be a stuffy, obsessive-compulsive prat averse to interacting with others, women in particular. It's important to note that this was only one side of his personality, and more importantly, the side he clung to because the other one terrified him.
Hal described his own personality as cyclic, confessing to Leo that since becoming a vampire he had undergone periods of extreme sadism and periods of relative kindness. The final episode of series 5 supports the theory that it was becoming a vampire that caused this schism: after he became human, he remarked that he was neither 'good Hal' nor 'bad Hal' but “both.” The situation seems akin to multiple personality disorder; although Hal could remember what he'd done as Lord Harry, he switched between personalities as if he was being possessed, and often implied the switch was a complete replacement, like “night following day.” In other words, he couldn't be good 'Hal' and 'bad Hal' at the same time, but each side must take turns. The Hal Yorke of this last half-century resolved to remain kind as long as possible, though he always feared the return of his darker side (what the other vampires called 'Lord Harry') and saw it as inevitable.
What kept Hal kind? He had to renounce blood entirely, because in the Being Human series drinking blood is treated more as an addiction than a requirement for vampires. Any return to blood would result in Hal craving it and running the risk of reverting to his vampiric personality. So to keep his mind off blood, he and Leo devised a series of rituals and routines to keep Hal busy-- and therefore, in his own words, sane. One of the most important rituals for him was to set up a box of dominoes, but then take it down piece by piece instead of knocking the chain down. Not only did it occupy his time, but it taught him to control his desire.
The training with Leo activated some sort of obsessive-compulsive disorder in Hal, expanding his rituals into a requirement for order and stability of all kinds. This included cleanliness, routine, and creature comforts such as 'central heading, carpets and Radio 4'. He scheduled his activities hour to hour and couldn't abide by disorganization, even going so far as to order eggs by size and turn all the matchsticks in a box to face the same way. Routine and organization was extremely calming to him and something he turned to in moments of stress.
Hal was a vampire for at least 500 years, which not only made him an Old One but also an irrepressible dork. Spending the last 55 or so years with Leo and Pearl in a barber shop hadn't really gotten him much more up-to-date with the ways of the world. Hal still prefers more refined activities and entertainment, such as listening to Bach, taking dates to museums, and playing the lute. One noted exception is his love for Motown, probably due to Leo's influence. In general Hal is happily clueless when it comes to modern politics and technology.
You can imagine Hal's quirks don't make him a lot of friends. Don't worry; he prefers it that way. Staying away from people was another method he employed to make sure he stayed on the straight and narrow. If he didn't get close to humans he couldn't attack them. When he does interact with people he tends to be socially awkward and almost timid, as if he's trying to get out of the conversation as quickly as possible. This is especially true for women, because Hal hasn't had the best history with them. As a child he was raised by prostitutes and never knew who his parents were. When he became a vampire he tended to take a misogynistic approach to women, seducing them and then killing them. When he's first introduced in the series, it's clear Hal hasn't had a date in a very long time. He was only really able to have relationships with female ghosts such as Alex and Lady Mary because he could no longer hurt them. Even still, he was deceptive and manipulative, stringing Lady Mary along with the idea that she had kept him dry for much longer than he actually was.
As 'Lord Harry' he was a formidable force. Most vampires were afraid of him, even the Old Ones. He wasn't just vicious but actively sadistic, interested in breaking the spirit of others and forcing them to be as cruel and broken as he was. For example, after turning his lawyer Cutler, he 'mentored' him by forcing him to drink his own wife's blood and then revealing her dead body to him directly afterward. The potential for him to revert to his old ways was there even after Leo's help; at one point in the series we see an alternate future where Hal became “quite literally, their poster boy” for the vampire coup and apparently has become just as terrifying as ever.
It can be argued, though, that Lord Harry wasn't always cruel, and in some ways was a more complete person than Hal allowed himself to be. His attitude in the flashbacks when dealing with Lady Catherine and the Devil, as well as in the final episode of series 5, was more of a snarky, self-absorbed realist than a complete monster. He proposed a truce with the werewolves, and even gave Tom a glimmer of hope about his fantasy of becoming human, telling him he was already there by virtue of trying. He was less fussy about a mess. He even sang and danced freely, as opposed to Hal's shame whenever he was caught doing so. But he was not one for self-sacrifice, and ultimately didn't seem to form strong attachments to anyone. For example he refused, twice, to stick his own neck out to destroy the Devil in a ceremony, instead opting to use the blood of one of his minions. He didn't appear to lie as a rule, enjoying inflicting brutal truths on others instead and remaining unapologetic for what he really was. Like most other vampires, he considered his status considerably higher than that of humans and werewolves.
Leo made the mistake of telling Hal all vampires are inherently afraid of death. But Hal chose to be a vampire because his entire life he'd been alone and driftless, and he felt he should strive for a greater destiny rather than simply die. His human life made him bitter enough to reason that he deserved more, even at the expense of others. Aside from his nasty turns as Lord Harry, Hal's language is often haughty and he considers himself more intelligent and refined than others around him. Part of this is holdover from being an Old One, a high-ranking vampire, but part of this also stems from inherent insecurity and a need to prove himself more than just a bastard child of prostitutes.
Hal is not afraid of dying so much as abandonment. It is important to remember that based on his series prequel short, Hal approached Leo. He spent time with the werewolf and seemed to find his opinion important. This is because Hal was hoping someone could find worth in him, as well as the ability to be saved. He would not be able to give himself a fresh start on his own; he needed the confidence and love of another to gain the courage and resolve. We saw this pattern begin again when Hal acquired new flatmates: he openly considered Tom to be his new Leo, and we can see how devastated he is at the thought Annie, and later Alex, has lost confidence in him. It is hinted that the alternate future where Hal becomes Lord Harry again occurred in a timeline where Hal never met Annie and Tom, thus lacking the support and influence of his new friends. When Alex refused to believe in him and Tom became an enemy near the end of Series 5, Hal reverted to his Lord Harry personality almost immediately, telling Alex there was “no point” if she thought him incapable of change.
We don't get to see much of the 'human' Hal at the end of the series, but his statement that he is "neither and both" his 'good' and 'bad' sides implies that he's been balanced out personality-wise. Now that he doesn't have to worry about Lord Harry coming back, or his addiction to blood, Hal is free to explore the kind of person he really wants to be. He's more relaxed, more approachable, less inclined to panic over disorder or dirt. At the same time old habits die hard, so he still highly prefers order, cleanliness, and routine. His memories have not gone anywhere either; Hal still carries a great deal of guilt and regret over his bloody past. The fear that he may lose control and hurt others is still paramount in his mind.
Samples;
Network Sample;
[The transmission begins with a series of rustling, fiddling sounds punctuated by soft, inaudible cursing, and at one point a quiet admonition to someone:]
Tsss! Don't-- I've got it!
[And then a quiet throat clearing.]
Hello. My name is Hal Yorke. This may seem an odd request, but does anyone know where I might acquire a Victrola in this city? I realize we have access to more recent technology, but I find the sound to be... hmm. Warmer, I suppose.
I'll be needing records as well. Double points if they're Motown, but I'll take anything at this point.
[There's an awkward pause, and then:]
Thank you for your time.
Log Sample; http://assguardians.dreamwidth.org/49007.html?thread=24760431#cmt24760431
Name; Ans
Personal Journal; ans99
Contact; kindaxscary on plurk, AIM, and at gmail
Other Characters; n/a
IC Information;
Character Name; Hal Yorke
Canon; Being Human (UK) http://beinghuman.wikia.com/wiki/Being_Human_Wiki
Canon Point; Post-series
Age; Approximately 524 years old
House; Hel. Being a bloodthirsty vampire for much of his life, Hal has definitely not only been close to death but has usually been the cause. Though he has a chance for a new start in Asgard, he lives in daily regret of the things he has done and is saddled with guilt that will stay with him the rest of his life.
Power; Shadow Control
Personality; For most of the series, Hal appeared to be a stuffy, obsessive-compulsive prat averse to interacting with others, women in particular. It's important to note that this was only one side of his personality, and more importantly, the side he clung to because the other one terrified him.
Hal described his own personality as cyclic, confessing to Leo that since becoming a vampire he had undergone periods of extreme sadism and periods of relative kindness. The final episode of series 5 supports the theory that it was becoming a vampire that caused this schism: after he became human, he remarked that he was neither 'good Hal' nor 'bad Hal' but “both.” The situation seems akin to multiple personality disorder; although Hal could remember what he'd done as Lord Harry, he switched between personalities as if he was being possessed, and often implied the switch was a complete replacement, like “night following day.” In other words, he couldn't be good 'Hal' and 'bad Hal' at the same time, but each side must take turns. The Hal Yorke of this last half-century resolved to remain kind as long as possible, though he always feared the return of his darker side (what the other vampires called 'Lord Harry') and saw it as inevitable.
What kept Hal kind? He had to renounce blood entirely, because in the Being Human series drinking blood is treated more as an addiction than a requirement for vampires. Any return to blood would result in Hal craving it and running the risk of reverting to his vampiric personality. So to keep his mind off blood, he and Leo devised a series of rituals and routines to keep Hal busy-- and therefore, in his own words, sane. One of the most important rituals for him was to set up a box of dominoes, but then take it down piece by piece instead of knocking the chain down. Not only did it occupy his time, but it taught him to control his desire.
The training with Leo activated some sort of obsessive-compulsive disorder in Hal, expanding his rituals into a requirement for order and stability of all kinds. This included cleanliness, routine, and creature comforts such as 'central heading, carpets and Radio 4'. He scheduled his activities hour to hour and couldn't abide by disorganization, even going so far as to order eggs by size and turn all the matchsticks in a box to face the same way. Routine and organization was extremely calming to him and something he turned to in moments of stress.
Hal was a vampire for at least 500 years, which not only made him an Old One but also an irrepressible dork. Spending the last 55 or so years with Leo and Pearl in a barber shop hadn't really gotten him much more up-to-date with the ways of the world. Hal still prefers more refined activities and entertainment, such as listening to Bach, taking dates to museums, and playing the lute. One noted exception is his love for Motown, probably due to Leo's influence. In general Hal is happily clueless when it comes to modern politics and technology.
You can imagine Hal's quirks don't make him a lot of friends. Don't worry; he prefers it that way. Staying away from people was another method he employed to make sure he stayed on the straight and narrow. If he didn't get close to humans he couldn't attack them. When he does interact with people he tends to be socially awkward and almost timid, as if he's trying to get out of the conversation as quickly as possible. This is especially true for women, because Hal hasn't had the best history with them. As a child he was raised by prostitutes and never knew who his parents were. When he became a vampire he tended to take a misogynistic approach to women, seducing them and then killing them. When he's first introduced in the series, it's clear Hal hasn't had a date in a very long time. He was only really able to have relationships with female ghosts such as Alex and Lady Mary because he could no longer hurt them. Even still, he was deceptive and manipulative, stringing Lady Mary along with the idea that she had kept him dry for much longer than he actually was.
As 'Lord Harry' he was a formidable force. Most vampires were afraid of him, even the Old Ones. He wasn't just vicious but actively sadistic, interested in breaking the spirit of others and forcing them to be as cruel and broken as he was. For example, after turning his lawyer Cutler, he 'mentored' him by forcing him to drink his own wife's blood and then revealing her dead body to him directly afterward. The potential for him to revert to his old ways was there even after Leo's help; at one point in the series we see an alternate future where Hal became “quite literally, their poster boy” for the vampire coup and apparently has become just as terrifying as ever.
It can be argued, though, that Lord Harry wasn't always cruel, and in some ways was a more complete person than Hal allowed himself to be. His attitude in the flashbacks when dealing with Lady Catherine and the Devil, as well as in the final episode of series 5, was more of a snarky, self-absorbed realist than a complete monster. He proposed a truce with the werewolves, and even gave Tom a glimmer of hope about his fantasy of becoming human, telling him he was already there by virtue of trying. He was less fussy about a mess. He even sang and danced freely, as opposed to Hal's shame whenever he was caught doing so. But he was not one for self-sacrifice, and ultimately didn't seem to form strong attachments to anyone. For example he refused, twice, to stick his own neck out to destroy the Devil in a ceremony, instead opting to use the blood of one of his minions. He didn't appear to lie as a rule, enjoying inflicting brutal truths on others instead and remaining unapologetic for what he really was. Like most other vampires, he considered his status considerably higher than that of humans and werewolves.
Leo made the mistake of telling Hal all vampires are inherently afraid of death. But Hal chose to be a vampire because his entire life he'd been alone and driftless, and he felt he should strive for a greater destiny rather than simply die. His human life made him bitter enough to reason that he deserved more, even at the expense of others. Aside from his nasty turns as Lord Harry, Hal's language is often haughty and he considers himself more intelligent and refined than others around him. Part of this is holdover from being an Old One, a high-ranking vampire, but part of this also stems from inherent insecurity and a need to prove himself more than just a bastard child of prostitutes.
Hal is not afraid of dying so much as abandonment. It is important to remember that based on his series prequel short, Hal approached Leo. He spent time with the werewolf and seemed to find his opinion important. This is because Hal was hoping someone could find worth in him, as well as the ability to be saved. He would not be able to give himself a fresh start on his own; he needed the confidence and love of another to gain the courage and resolve. We saw this pattern begin again when Hal acquired new flatmates: he openly considered Tom to be his new Leo, and we can see how devastated he is at the thought Annie, and later Alex, has lost confidence in him. It is hinted that the alternate future where Hal becomes Lord Harry again occurred in a timeline where Hal never met Annie and Tom, thus lacking the support and influence of his new friends. When Alex refused to believe in him and Tom became an enemy near the end of Series 5, Hal reverted to his Lord Harry personality almost immediately, telling Alex there was “no point” if she thought him incapable of change.
We don't get to see much of the 'human' Hal at the end of the series, but his statement that he is "neither and both" his 'good' and 'bad' sides implies that he's been balanced out personality-wise. Now that he doesn't have to worry about Lord Harry coming back, or his addiction to blood, Hal is free to explore the kind of person he really wants to be. He's more relaxed, more approachable, less inclined to panic over disorder or dirt. At the same time old habits die hard, so he still highly prefers order, cleanliness, and routine. His memories have not gone anywhere either; Hal still carries a great deal of guilt and regret over his bloody past. The fear that he may lose control and hurt others is still paramount in his mind.
Samples;
Network Sample;
[The transmission begins with a series of rustling, fiddling sounds punctuated by soft, inaudible cursing, and at one point a quiet admonition to someone:]
Tsss! Don't-- I've got it!
[And then a quiet throat clearing.]
Hello. My name is Hal Yorke. This may seem an odd request, but does anyone know where I might acquire a Victrola in this city? I realize we have access to more recent technology, but I find the sound to be... hmm. Warmer, I suppose.
I'll be needing records as well. Double points if they're Motown, but I'll take anything at this point.
[There's an awkward pause, and then:]
Thank you for your time.
Log Sample; http://assguardians.dreamwidth.org/49007.html?thread=24760431#cmt24760431
