Edit: Swan and I switched. :D But it's finished so I reposted the whole thing.
[ Name ]
Ethan "Kumiho" Marx (He responds to either.)
[ Age ]
14
[ Gender ]
Male
-[ Guardian ]
Reshiram
[ Starter ]
Umbreon, Blackie Male, Sand Attack, Quick Attack, Psychic
[Appearance ]
Ethan is about five foot three and not very heavy. He does not monitor himself particularly well, barring to make sure he's healthy. His skin is the color of wet sand, mostly due to his frequent wanderings outside. Ethan is not strong but is instead rather agile. He doesn't fight often and prefers to run or walk, reminding some of an annoying gnat. Kumiho has hair as black as pitch barring the ends which are silver, his natural hair color. His eyes are black and it is hard to distinguish the pupil from a distance. There is a constant, lip only, humorless smile on his face.
Ethan's clothes are quite plain. His shirt is black and long, sleeves almost covering his wrists. He wears a pair of grey jeans and white socks. It hides some of the marks on his skin where he got hurt trying to observe and investigate. He once got comments about being an abuse victim. He doesn't deny or agree with them. It isn't as though it hinders him in any way. All is for the sake of investigation. His right wrist bears the mark.
What scares people are the Umbreon ears on his head and tail poking out of his pants. He is not an Umbreon as the appendages are fake. However, they are very realistic, the blue bands on them disappearing and reappearing. They also twitch and react to sound. According to his uncle, they even feel like fur. He would know, since he made them. On Kumiho's forehead is a blue circle. He is meant to look as close to an Umbreon as possible. Does it work?
[ Personality ]
Ethan is an oddball. Being raised by a traditionalist family could do that to you. He's quiet, not in the I want to kill you way but in an observant, calm way. He's incredibly intelligent, frequently able to solve puzzles and problems with ease. Ethan outwardly shows a face a contentment, able to control his expression very well. "A true warrior smiles at death," is one of the statements his father passed to him and he adheres to it even in sorrow. (You know, when he should cry and what not.) He does not, following his father's wishes even as the man rots in his grave. Emotions do not always need to be shown in order to be grasped is the way he lives despite the pressure around him. This does not mean he is not emotional; he simply suppresses it, even though one day it could come crashing onto him.
This boy enjoys disguising himself, playing tricks on others and twisting them for no reason other than to observe the changes in emotional reactions over time. No act from him is done without an urge to observe. Even the mundane acts keep him occupied, helping him to confirm the idea of routine. Ethan enjoys observing anything and everything and when others are around will frequently tell them what he has found, simply to await the cycle that will inevitably come from the endeavor. His tone varies depending on who and what he is speaking of but most of the time remains toneless. Nothing he does is impulsive. Well, almost nothing.
He is completely unaware of the idea of good and evil in a general state. Every person is judged individually in his mind. So he is unaware of the general idea that his words and actions could hurt another. He has a dim idea of physical and mental pain but the idea simply never occurs to his young sheltered mind. He does not believe he is better or worse than anyone else and secretly finds the idea of the pecking order completely ludicrous, as no matter your status, a Pokemon could kill you and that would be the end of it.
To him Pokemon are fellow living beings and interesting subjects. However he does not adore them over humans. They are his fellow creatures. Despite his ability to comprehend them better, there is no totem pole. Due to his understanding of them, he has become a very pragmatic individual, more than he already was. They have yet to teach him kindness and understanding on a personal level however, which leads to trouble. It is the same with change. Whether it's physical or not, that is the most difficult puzzle, and one Ethan always enjoys.
There is only one thing that can cause a physical display of emotion from Ethan and that is the topic and existence of his sister Elena. His sister is a conundrum in his mind, causing feelings such as anger, affection, and protectiveness to rise up within him. He does not understand why this occurs. The two haven't seen each other in many years after her. He is going on this journey to find her and solve this puzzle. It has not occurred to him as of yet that he is merely worried about his slightly younger sibling or that he misses her greatly.
[ History ]
The Marx family of Januvale has always kept their beliefs old-fashioned... or their crazed idea of old-fashioned. The main (there are many more) religious belief of his family is that whenever their children are born with silver hair they contain the spirit of a Pokemon within and will lead the family to incredible prosperity. So far, the latter has held true. Not so much the former but that is only because it cannot be physically proven. When it comes to technology nobody seems to discuss the topic, despite using it. As for battling and earning pins, they were well-known, rather dangerous if truth be told. Even if they weren't, the Marx were well known in their prowess in the medical field so to speak, despite the old ways followed.
Ethan was born to this family on the night of the full moon, which to them signaled a sign as it was a blue moon (Astronomically). His hair was silver and he was very quiet not long after. Believing he was a blessed child of the night, they assumed he would show a preference to a Dark-type spirit and brought many forward to see which one was linked to him. Most of the ones brought to him caused little reaction more than the simple affection given to children. His parents (sane people) believed this tradition was completely ridiculous and impossible. Even the father, whose grandfather had been given that of a Kingdra (Horsea at the time), was in definite doubt.
However, they were "proved" wrong when Ethan's uncle came for a casual visit and his Umbreon chose to behave quite unlike itself and took the baby to hide in the forest. They did manage to find him but the Dark-type was quite protective of him. It took a few minutes to calm the Pokemon down. This was all the proof the other family members needed however and they took the baby to dye his hair the proper color, leaving the ends as their original color, so he never forgot his roots as he aged. His parents wanted to protest but doing so would leave them out on the streets.
Two years later Ethan's sister was born in the summertime with silver hair of her own. She was "bonded" to a Cyndaquil. It didn't affect Ethan that much as he was mostly with his father. He was also raised strictly both in routine and lessons. His father made sure his son was observant, a boy who would search for the real truth as he was born to, not simply the one that appeared to the biased eye. They were kept apart until his sister was four and he six. By that time, Ethan had started school and was outcasted quickly, not that it particularly bothered him. At the time, people were too uninteresting anyway.
It was quickly understood how opposite the two of them were. Elena was bright and outgoing, entrancing and exciting humans and Pokemon alike. Ethan was someone who could (If he felt like it) calm others and usually sat off to the side in events. Despite this opposition, the two got along. Ethan was the only one who could make her stop crying. When she started classes, Ethan grew curious, wondering why people noticed her so much. He decided to find out.
Before he could however, his sister disappeared when he turned nine. Well not really. His mother had had enough of the Marx family and divorced, taking her with. He had never heard from them since. His father, who had been ill for quite some time as it was, died a year after, leaving his son at the mercy of the older family members. Thankfully, his uncle came to live with them and managed to keep him free for the next few years. Ethan, having little else to do, continued to try and solve the puzzle that was human beings. As he says, he's still missing a few puzzle pieces. Due to his frequent comments and endless smile, he was soon called Kumiho, a dangerous moniker. Things passed in such a way, coupled with an unusual desire to leave his home. Much longer and he would be a puppet and that did not sound very interesting. Of course, his idea was pushed further when the dream came to him.
[ Sample text ]
When the Chatot shouted about fire, it was a warning to the baker. Ethan ascertained this after a day of watching from the trees with Tono, the Zorua who follows him around. It wasn't his but one of the family's many Pokemon with a like of stalking things, particularly him. Tono yipped at him, a noise that Kumiho took to mean to watch. The Pokemon did not have to bother. He knew what to do. He climbed down and walked casually into the market. He stopped at the stall, pretending to examine the wares in front of him. Hm... a Pinap tart.
"Ah hello little Kumiho." The man recognized him immediately and smiled cordially. However, Ethan quickly saw his gaze was wary. Perhaps he had a reputation. The fake ears twitched on his own head and Kumiho tinted his grin with an innocent touch. It was time to find out.
"Good noon," he returned before continuing smoothly. "Observation: extraordinary events give way to rumors and brief attention compared to those of ordinary events, which get more notice in an abnormal setting. Evidence: Baker is wary of a boy who has never been to his stall. Observation is applicable to the human race and has not been exhibited by Pokemon as of now. Conclusion unreachable."
The baker stared for a moment before laughing heavily. Kumiho smiled brightly. Observation: humans laugh to hide the rage and confusion. It is mostly done to children. "Ah looks like you have good ears after all! Don't worry, people just call you a strange lad. It's nothing to worry about."
"I'm sure it isn't." Ethan agreed. He could feel someone behind him.
"Now then, what would you like to buy?" The baker, a large man, grinned down at him. "I can tell you're hungry."
"Two Pinap tarts please." He paid and left, tossing one up into the air. Tono ran up and caught it, grinning playfully. Ethan walked onward until he reached the waterfront. "Are you going to speak up sir Joresh?" he asked.
The man was quiet for a few moments, as if thinking. "You felt your tail move correct?"
"Observation: Extraordinary events are met with attention. Case in point: Joresh Ja is the strongest trainer in Januvale. He is a withdrawn aloof man with a preference to Pokemon over humans. He is not known for his appearances in Januvale."
"... Well-informed aren't you?"
"Addition to profile: Joresh Ja has a sense of humor." He turned to look at the man behind him, Tono growling slightly with disdain. "Is there a reason you opted to speak to me?"
"You were about to swindle that man."
"Incorrect. Assumption invalid." He moved to rest his arms behind his head. "I would have paid him regard-" His arm was grabbed suddenly, Joresh staring into his black eyes. Kumiho did not let his expression waver. "Is something the matter?"
Joresh stared a moment before letting go. "You are going to follow me." Without waiting, the man turned sharply and disappeared down the road.
Ethan paused then almost laughed. "Impulsive decisions are risky." He went after him, curious to know what could provoke the reclusive human.