bolincredible | BOONS | ITEMS | CHARACTER GOALS: eachdraidh

( CHARACTER INFORMATION )
- ★ NAME: Bolin
- ★ AGE: 17 (probably verging on 18 with his game time + canon update?)
- ★ CANON & CANON POINT: Avatar: the Legend of Korra | initially post-Book 2
--- as of 10/2014, updated to his fight with Ghazan in the Book 3 finale.

CHARACTER BLURB:
¬ Basically Bolin's like a very big, muscular, friendly dog! Overall just kind of nice and spirited and upbeat, capable of having a lot of fun and content to let other people take charge. And then when the chips are down, he consistently proves himself able to bite. He'd do anything for his friends and family, and is about as easy to read as a large picture book when it comes to his thoughts and emotions. He cares about other people a lot, whether it's helping them while they're in trouble or cheering them up, and his actions tend to reflect that. However, he can also be dense and short-sighted in his efforts: subtle cues and reading people aren't his strongest points, and sometimes all the faith, loyalty, and "okay but just remember [positive thing here]" in the world aren't what people need. He's well-meaning and genuine, but naive and idealistic.

He also has a habit of doggedly seeing the best in the people around him, for better or worse. Once Bolin declares himself Kai's new big brother in Book 3, for example, he's consistently got nothing but the highest opinion of him. Even after Kai runs away (more than once), steals from people, lies, and strands him and Mako on a train to the most dangerous part of Ba Sing Se without their wallets, Bolin believes in him. This can do him great favors and allow for some unlikely friendships, but it can also get him stabbed in the back quite easily. Just because Bolin believes that a person is the person he sees they can be, doesn't mean they're really at that point.

He's got a knack for public speaking and playing up to audiences, too, whether in the pro-bending ring or as a mover star. Bolin likes attention and performing for people. He prefers teamwork over working solo and does well with animals. He has a lot of potential, but because of his tendency to be a follower or not taken seriously (or his inexperience leading to most of his suggestions being too light and not effective), he doesn't usually make good on it until the pressure is high and the chips are down.

--- ¬ KEY POSITIVES: Optimistic, naive, moral, kindhearted, outgoing, curious, loves helping people, loyal to a fault.
--- ¬ KEY NEGATIVES: struggles with insecurity/usefulness, acts/speaks without thinking, not the smartest, edges on too naive and trusting, bad at handling conflicts and negative emotions.
--- ¬ FEARS: ghosts/ghost stories, losing his brother/family/friends, being useless when something really bad is happening, people deciding he's useless and dumping him.

¬ OOC CHARACTER GOALS (in no particular order):
¬ Independence and Responsibility: While he's definitely demonstrated the capacity for stepping up and handling important things, Bolin still tends to be more of a dependent reactive type in the majority. Ultimately, I don't think his preference to be a team player over a team leader will permanently change, since it's so core to his personality! I'm still interested in having him take more steps on his own, though, and for him to have responsibilities to consistently take seriously.

¬ Travel and Presence: I love finding reasons/chances for Bolin to do some traveling around the Drabwurld, whether alone or as part of various groups! Especially since his armor modification to take into account! This goes hand-in-hand with wanting to give him chances to just... socialize and maybe even help people wherever he can. Bolin loves people, and I enjoy the idea of him getting out into the world and building a presence with some places/individuals just by being himself. I think he has a lot of potential in the goodwill and native-relations department, and it would be cool to work on it.

¬ Morality Conundrums: Bolin can have a black-and-white way of seeing things in his life. There's good guys and bad guys, good versus evil, balance versus inbalance, etc. The game has taken some big steps so far in challenging that mindset (learning that Shardbearers in his court aren't necessarily good people, trying to figure out his personal stance on being involved in the war, everything to do with Alyosha and Redgate, etc.), and I'd like to continue exploring it!

** ** ¬ PERHAPS A LESS TL;DR GOALS SUMMARY. Because wow I'm sorry. Essentially, I'm interested in: Bolin having to grow into his own and taking on more serious responsibilities, Bolin traveling more often and seeing what it's like to sort of make a name for himself just by being himself, and Bolin having to cope with understanding more unsure and grey moralities. I'm interested in him learning more about the courts, the war, and the Drabwurld as a whole, because the more he's been learning, the more unsure he's been getting about where exactly he personally stands on a lot of big issues (as opposed to where he stands because his friends are standing there, I guess).

As far as potential boons go, Bolin is notoriously easy to please. Things from home or related to his family (pictures, Pabu's performance outfits, etc.) would go over very well, and so would anything that might help him make good on his running desire to help people out. He's also the type to enjoy more materialistic/luxurious things for what they are! Good food, new clothes, shiny trinkets, good-smelling soaps, pretty much whatever on that front. I'm open to pretty much anything on the magical powers/items front, but I'd prefer to not have him gain metalbending via a boon.

BOONS/ITEMS TO DATE:

¬ Clothes he was wearing at home
¬ Obligatory magic communications locket, as per all game characters.

July 2014
¬ BOON: PABU w/ the ability to grow into a riding steed. (23rd)

August 2014
¬ REDGATE: COMPASS (from Hermione) (3rd)
¬ BOON: ARMOR: augments earthbending: "in addition to being able to manipulate earth, he'll be able to extend his power to living plants, encouraging their growth, root or branch, at an alarming rate wherever he wills. Practice will allow him to refine this ability." (25th)
¬ REDGATE: CHAMPION'S BADGE: "The badge is palm-sized, steel set with a red-metal imprint of crossed red flags, crowned in a wreathe of seven diamonds (stars, perhaps?) and the words 'In Defense' spaced to fill the circular border of the badge."
¬ POST-REDGATE: CHILDREN'S BOOK: The Seelie Come to Redgate, as described. (30th/31st)

SEPTEMBER 2014
¬ BOON: FAMILY PHOTO (3 copies)

OCTOBER 2014
¬ BOON: ARMOR UPGRADE: "Bolin's armour will be improved upon! When wearing it, he'll be able to craft Bolin-only fairy rings, which will allow him to swiftly transport wherever he chooses! The catch? He can only will them to grow in places he has been before!"

NOVEMBER 2014
¬ BOON: NUKTUK COSTUME + POSTER (25th)

DECEMBER 2014
¬ YULE GIFT: NECKLACE: From Hermione Granger. Holds small vial of Star Grass Salve. "a medicinal balm for soothing sores and wounds."
¬ YULE GIFTS: DOGTAGS (1 for Bolin, 1 for Pabu), FLINT STRIKER KNIFE, SMALL BAG OF TREATS: From John Grimm.
¬ YULE GIFTS: 2 CUPS LAVENDER TEA (gone), BLACK GLOVES, SMALL SCARF: From Zuko.
¬ YULE GIFTS: GOLD STONE (marked with snakes), CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY BOOK (with handwritten notes on the pages), BOTTLE OF JACK DANIELS: From Luke Castellan.
¬ TOKEN FROM THRANDUIL'S PARTY: NEVER-DULLING KNIFE: Given to Mako.

FEBRUARY 2015
¬ BOON: MAKO'S BENDING IS RESTORED.

MARCH 2015
¬ YULE GIFTS: FLYING BROOMSTICK, SMALL SUPPLY OF POTIONS, EXTENSION CHARMED BAG, CHARMED CLOAK, CHRISTMAS CRACKERS, TINY FLYING DRAGON. Only available to Bolin in-game after Yule, 2701.