APPLICATION
Player Name: Jackie
Plurk Handle: Nadat
Other characters: N/A

Character Name: Garrus Vakarian
Fandom: Mass Effect
Character Journal: forgivetheinsubordination
OU, AU, or OC? Original universe
If canon, canon point: Just prior to the events of Mass Effect 3; Garrus is on Menae but Palaven has not yet been attacked.
PB: N/A
Superhero Name: Archangel

History: http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Garrus_Vakarian


Additional OC and AU Background: N/A

Personality: Garrus starts off as, in his words, a bad turian. What that means is that unlike the obsession of most of his species (turians) with duty, regulations, and rules, Garrus likes to avoid red tape and simply get a job done. He’s direct. Why offer someone a chance to explain, or take them in for the legal system to handle, when a bullet can do the trick quickly and finally? His personality lends itself very well to his aptitude with the sniper rifle; keep the issue at arm’s length and eliminate it with one shot. This take on things changes somewhat over the course of the three games, as he starts to realize that while he can’t fix the whole galaxy, he can control his own actions and how he deals with what comes up. He still hates red tape and rather enjoys flouting it, as evidenced in ME3 when he takes the player character, Commander Shepard, to an area no one’s supposed to be in (there are 137 regulations against being there) for an impromptu sniping competition, but now he can also accept its existence and purpose. Most of the time.

Continuing on the sniper theme, Garrus tries to keep people at a distance. It’s not too surprising. He’s fought most of his life with his father, his mother is dying of turian alzheimer’s, and he and his sister are even on the outs for a good part of the game as he can’t tell her what he’s doing or why he’s not visiting. He loses his entire hand-picked squad between the events of the first and second game. Garrus has learned it’s safer to put up walls and barricades. Nonetheless, some of the crew of the Normandy (the spaceship the player character commands in all three games) have slipped in there, especially its commander. He’s not going to be quick to open up and let others in, not after losing so many, but with time and respect he’s willing to try opening up. His relationship with James Vega is a good example of this - Vega doesn’t join the series until the beginning of the third game, but a little over midway through Garrus can be found in the mess hall with him, swapping stories, bragging, and finally letting on that he appreciates the human just a little, even if ‘Jimmy Vega’ sounds like the name of a pole dancer in his opinion.

That leads into Garrus’ favorite way to communicate: sarcasm. Whether he’s remarking on the Commander’s distinct lack of dancing skills or sharing human and turian jokes with the human pilot of the ship, Garrus is most at ease when there’s something he can snark about. He gets very serious when things come down to it, though. In the final game he has to make a call for his people on where they stand and defend, and calls it the calculus of war - 10 million die here so 20 million can live over there. It’s a difficult call, but he’s matured to the point that he can make it. He does make it.

Vengeance and justice are key sticking points for Garrus. It bothers him when things go unpunished, when things slide through the cracks, and he’s very eager to go after people and make things right. Rather, make things right the way he thinks they should be made right. This is demonstrated in the first game with Dr. Saleon, someone who grew and harvested extra organs from people desperately in debt, and then in the second with Sidonis, who betrays Garrus’ squad. All he wants is to hunt these two people down and put bullets in their head, an action which he can take or be stopped in by the player character (Commander Shepard.) The third game is far more focused on the central conflict as opposed to any personal side-quests, but when you encounter a space-ninja-assassin-jerk who killed a former squadmate, Garrus yells “I’ll tear his head off!,” a stronger reaction than any other enemies in the game receive.

Garrus is also entirely loyal. Shepard earned his respect and he follows his Commander. This is demonstrated clearly in the second game, when Shepard has to go into an area dealing with a plague that kills everything except humans and vorcha. Garrus doesn’t hesitate to follow Commander Shepard in. Shepard’s on a suicide mission, working for a time with a terrorist organization that wants to put humans above all other races and Garrus is there no matter what, evidenced also near the end of the third game when the Commander states “there’s no Shepard without Vakarian.” Should the player stop Garrus from making the two kills (Saleon and Sidonis) there are questions, but Garrus deals with it. He even, after some time, understands. Once someone has earned his loyalty, Garrus cannot be swayed away from it.

The outer image Garrus tries to present is that of the snarky, suave, tough turian, but he’s a bit vulnerable. He’s lost a lot of people in his life and at one point says Shepard’s his only friend left. The third game shows that he’s actually got a few others, but as the galaxy’s at war everyone’s at risk of losing people. In fact, for about half of the third game he has no idea if his father and sister have made it to safety. It’s implied that his mother has passed away, and depending on player actions at least four teammates have been lost along the way by the point I’m taking him from, possibly more. It’s taken its toll. There are cracks in his armor, but he tries very hard to keep them hidden. He’s also really, really bad at pick-up lines. And flirting in general. So much for suave. At least he’s still snarky.

Canon Powers: N/A

Game powers: 1 super badass power: Technomancy. Garrus can hack into systems and take them over, cause malfunctions, boost ally tech's efficiency/effectiveness. If he's in an area with turrets he can override them one at a time and make them back up his group; if he's with someone using power armor he can make it withstand more damage. Locked doors and systems would be vulnerable to him... but in return, he'd leave a signature traceable by the Legion authorities. His use of his ability wouldn't be mysterious or invisible to them.

Abilities: He already has some tech skills in canon, fairly well known for calibrating the guns of the ship he serves on to be far more effective, and having updated his omnitool (wearable tech) to overload enemy systems. Garrus is also an excellent sniper and experienced soldier, good at leading people in combat. He's good at hand-to-hand combat, and his species' natural body plating protects a lot of his internal organs.

Setting: Garrus has always wanted to be a superhero. As a younger C-sec (Citadel security, a space-station official police force) he felt stymied by red tape and wanted to get out there saving the galaxy, which is why he doesn't hesitate to join the protagonist of the games. In the second game he's turned into a Batman-type figure, taking out criminals vigilante-style with one rule - no civilian casualties.

He's coming from a pause in a battle to save his galaxy in order to save this one, and he'd think it important to work for all of the universes. What he's going to struggle with is the no killing clause, and I'm looking forward to playing with that. I'm also looking forward to him learning to build new teams, and remembering what it's like to have to try to get his feet underneath him. Long-term, I'd like him to adapt and find himself a place for a time trying to save this universe before going back to his own.

SAMPLES

Prose Sample: Garrus' mandibles flare out at the question. He's feeling a little amused and a little smug. Before answering he finishes off his drink so as to make the dignitary wait a moment. It's petty and satisfying and not anything that he can be called out for.

"I'm Garrus Vakarian," he replies as he sets his cup down. "I know, yeah, doesn't mean anything to you. Yet." He rests a hand on a hip, straightening up to his full height. "But I'm Archangel. Defender of justice in an unjust galaxy. Righter of wrongs. Protector of civilians. I've faced a threat to my universe that wanted to wipe several species out; I can help face this one too."

It isn't the most respectful reply. But he's just been questioned by someone who wants him out there saving the day while not risking their own ass. It seems fair.

"You done anything about the fight yet? Because I've got a couple of suggestions for ways you can help if you were interested." His mandibles flare out wider in utter amusement now. There isn't a chance the dignitary is interested. All the same, he's going to give the guy time to answer. Garrus has been surprised before, and even if he doesn't get surprised he still feels like he's made a point for himself.

Network Sample: Hey, me.

[There's a pause of thought before he resumes. Garrus sounds pretty calm, all things considered.]

It's about time they pulled in a turian. Should've brought in a whole bunch of us, maybe a couple krogan, salarian or two, if they were thinking. Maybe not the krogan. Most of 'em aren't like Wrex.

[Some of the calm and joking around is a show. How much of it's for him and how much is for anyone else listening in, he's not entirely certain.]

A job's a job, yeah? Saving the universe, all the universes, no pressure. Hah. Point is, if we don't get this done, then the whole thing with the Reapers isn't gonna matter. We lose there too. Really don't feel like letting all of that work go for nothing. Pretty sure no one else does either.

And hell, there's no indoctrination here. As far as I've heard. So none of those worries. And when we get back, we take Shepard to a bar and brag about every second of this. She can headline saving back home, but I'm saving even more. Not to mention Chronoblivion's a better enemy name than Reapers. Maybe there's even something here that'll help there.

[There's a pause. He's not going to fool himself now or then.]

We'll get back before they do.

Additional info: He comes with full armor, a customized visor detailed at the bottom of this post, and an Omni-tool.

If this is your first character being apped to the game, did you reserve first? Yes.

❚❚❚❚❚ ＢＡＳＩＣＳ． ■ NAME & ID CODE: Garrus Vakarian || NHD-C12-VKN-033 ■ CANON: Mass Effect 3, post Cerberus Base mission ■ AGE: 33 ■ CURRENT TEAM & STATUS: Green, healthy ■ LANGUAGE: Turian common/trade, his clan's turian, Citadel common/trade, a few phrases in English ■ INVENTORY: Here

❚❚❚❚❚ ＩＣ． ■ PHYSICAL AFFECTION: Garrus is getting more used to physical affection as time goes on, but he's still not really a hugger unless he knows someone well and is concerned for them. He's more prone to pats on the shoulder than anything else. ■ PHYSICAL VIOLENCE: Would your character die for another character currently in the game? Yes Would your character kill for another character currently in the game? Yes Is your character comfortable with and/or willing to mutilate a dead recruit’s body? Comfortable with, no. Willing if there was a reason, potentially. ■ RELATIONSHIPS: Many? Explained further down. ■ MENTAL INFORMATION: Garrus has some trauma after dying still. ■ MEDICAL INFORMATION: Vertebrate, needs to breathe, feels hunger, has three digits on each hand (six total,) and two eyes. ■ FAVORITE SENSORY INPUT: Sound ■ OFFENSIVE SUBJECTS & TRIGGERS: Garrus has a lingering issue with being killed, which he has conveyed to Noh-Varr ■ REBELLIOUS TENDENCIES: Garrus is not likely to directly disobey the CDC as he has his planet to think of, nor is he likely to directly rebel, but he does intend to change the organization from the inside out. It can't go on like this, in his mind. ■ ADDITIONAL PERMISSIONS: Link your additional permissions post here.

❚❚❚❚❚ ＯＯＣ． ■ PLAYER: Jackie ■ PREFERRED CONTACT: PM through here, or PP me on Plurk at Nadat. ■ BACKTAGGING: Always ■ THREADHOPPING: Yes ■ FOURTHWALLING: Probably not. Check with me first. ■ ACTION VS PROSE: I like both. ■ OFFENSIVE SUBJECTS & TRIGGERS: Topics of sexual assault and violence. ■ YES/NO SCENARIOS: I do not desire to play out complete non-con sexual scenarios, anything heavy on the gore, or abuse of animals/children. Most other things I am all right with. Ask me if there's something you're not sure of. ■ ANYTHING ELSE?

As far as relationships go, he currently, as of early November 2014, has two 'adopted' kids, three castmates including his commander, two casual flings going on, a dozen or so students, and a fair few friends.

This is a work in progress, putting together what someone would basically see/hear from a turian, and specifically Garrus.

( Ordered from whole body, then head to toe )

Right. Because people are going to be leaving messages in my head now.

Try it.