Name: Rapid Quill
Gender: Stallion
Age: Young adult
Species: Unicorn
Pelt Color: Blue with a white muzzle and matching white hooves.
Mane/Tail Color & Style: Black and red.
Eye Color: Yellow
Cutie Mark: A pen and diary
Residence: Mannehattan
Occupation: Investigative journalist/Information Broker
Talents, Skills: Discreetly spying on others, blending in, stealth, stealing secrets, writing, and can read lips. He is very articulate, often able to come up with the right words. He is also extremely attentive/observant.
(primary magical talent)Divinaton: This unicorn is naturally observant and has high detection skills.
(secondary magical talent)Teleportation: This unicorn has studied and practiced this fine art for many years and has just recently started to get the hang of it. However, thus far he cannot go too far with it. He usually only uses it for short distances and only when he really must.
(Skill)Telekensis: Like all unicorns, Rapid Quill can use TK to help him with basic tasks such as carrying things and writing. It seems he cannot lift anything heavier than himself.
(Learning)Abjuration: This unicorn is still learning minor defensive magic. He is still not very good at it, but is ever studying, so that one day he will be,
Likes: His job, stealing secrets due to the high it gives him, spying on everypony around him, writing, and sharing the sensitive secrets he's learned with other ponies in order to create tension. The color green, good luck charms, anything that is deemed lucky, comics, shiny things, gambling, cats, fishing, and milk.
Dislikes: What he terms as "unhealthy chaos" and total harmony. Being disrespected and not taken seriously. Ponies who don't accept him and his addictions after finding him out. Being called weak, heights, interrogations, bad luck, black cats, and dogs.
Character Personality:
Egotistical
Self-conscious
A bit jerkish
Superstitious
Obsessive compulsive
Delusional
Attention-seeker
Overly paranoid
Is warm and loving towards those he cares about.
One of Rapid Quill's most notable personality traits is his superstitious behavior. Although, he has been getting slightly better since he saw that one psychiatrist, he still won’t willingly walk under ladders or break mirrors. And whenever he sees one doing such he turns and goes the other way. Also, ironically enough he does not like black cats and will try to avoid them at all costs even going as far as kicking them out of his way. He believes black cats are bad luck or spies sent by enemies to spy on him.
On a more positive note he is extremely observant making it difficult for others to trick/deceive him. Despite being difficult to sometimes get along with due to him being an egotistical, narcissistic jerk he does have a softer, kinder side. He is warm and loving towards those he cares about. Also on a plus side he has above average patience, so he isn't easily annoyed/bothered by those of lower intellect. Usually if somepony says something he deems as idiotic he'll just stand there not at all caring and take it. However, he is very prideful and becomes flustered whenever somepony calls him out on a mistake.
He is also a brutally honest perfectionist who tends to not complete anything until completely satisfied. He is one of those individuals who will start over if not completely happy with his work. As he is brutally honest he is not afraid to say what is on his mind. If he thinks something is ugly he will say so and will be confused if someone is hurt by his words. As he is an Information Broker he is not above bribery and will readily exchange bits or goods for important Intel.
Rapid Quill was one of those who have always struggled to be a hero, to do the right thing since his own morals are all messed up and skewed. However, Rapid Quill then truly did want to help others who were in trouble. Unfortunately, he is also a very defensive, argumentative independent individual who believes he knows everything putting him often at odds against those who know better.
Rapid Quill gradually found himself drifting ever further from the side of good until a charismatic Earth pony named, Dr. Free Thinker led him astray leading his mind to snap causing Rapid Quill to defect completely from the side of good. After that he returned to Mannehattan with him and it was during this time he honed his skills and abilities.
Whenever confronted by somepony for what he's done Rapid Quill's speech and mannerisms quickly shift into a fake pleasant and calm tone. He acts super casual and calm about the whole thing acting as though spying, stealing secrets, and spreading said secrets around is an okay and even a normal thing to do.
Recently, he has had a craving for attention likely due to loneliness. He no longer cares if said attention is positive or negative, so long as it involves interaction on some level he wants it and therefore will do nearly anything to get it.
Hobbies:
Snapping the minds of his enemies
Stealing Intel (he actually can't help himself as he is compulsive to do so)
Gambling (doesn't cheat)
Messing with heroes
Creating tension
Spreading the secrets of others around
Writing
Fears:
Bad luck
Numbers 13, 23, and the three sixes
Anything that is deemed as unlucky
Walking under ladders (will avoid doing so at all costs)
Black cats
Broken mirrors
Heights
Being hated and then left all alone.
Secrets:
The long grotesque scar around his neck conveniently concealed by his green scarf.
He is afraid to go back to being a hero fearing he will only mess it all up and not be good enough.
Bio:
Rapid Quill was born and raised in Mannehattan. His mother, a light blue unicorn named Dr. Kavaura Mesh and his comic book enthusiastic father, Comic Fever, a grey unicorn did their best to raise their son well in the ever changing world of Equestria. They took special strides to teach him right from wrong and for the longest time they succeeded in their endeavor. Rapid Quill was eight when his younger sister, Graceful Swan was born. Rapid Quill's parents were initially worried that the baby's arrival would make the young colt jealous, but all their fears were for naught. Rapid Quill fell in love with the baby the moment she was brought home. He was always a good older brother to her: loving, caring, compassionate, protective and he taught her all sorts of things, a good role model.The way he treated his little sis made his parents proud and that in turn made Rapid Quill happy.
Now Comic Fever runs a large comic book shop while his more serious and workaholic yet loving wife is a scientist that studies Alchemy and makes all sorts of cures for what ails you. But because of Dr. Mesh's demanding job she would sometimes leave home to work or study and she'd be gone for days even weeks at a time leaving her children alone with their fun loving father. It killed Rapid Quill every time she left. While his little sister played with his father, Rapid Quill would stare longingly out the window waiting anxiously for his mother to return. It was his mother who taught him patience and now he could wait for hours on end in the same spot without any problem. Rapid Quill couldn't explain why, but he always felt closer to his mother which was odd since he tended to see less of her since she was always busy. However, things weren't always easy with his mother around. Sometimes late at night he could hear his parents arguing. He didn't like it when they argued mainly because it tended to scare his sensitive sister and being the protective older brother he was he would try shielding her from it. Whenever she heard their parents arguing Rapid Quill would distract her with stories. Even then the colt had a real knack for making up stories and his talent for story telling only grew with age. Whenever he confronted his parents they apologized and reassured their children that just because they sometimes bicker does not mean that they don't love each other. In his heart Rapid Quill understood, but it still didn't make the hurt go away.
And to make matters worse both Rapid Quill and Graceful Swan were teased by the other foals at school though for very different reasons. As a late bloomer, Rapid Quill used to struggle with unicorn magic. Even simple telekenesis proved difficult to him and when he saw others his age have less trouble performing telekensis it frustrated him to no end. It made him feel worthless and for the longest time he felt like he wasn't even a real unicorn. Out of paranoia he believed that he was in fact an Earth pony and that somepony as a cruel joke slapped a horn on his head when he was born or that somepony put a curse on him stripping him of his unicorn magic. His mother assured him that wasn't the case and that was the day she taught him patience. She promised him that if he worked and studied hard then he will be able to use his inner unicorn magic. Taking to heart what she said Rapid Quill hit the books taking his studies a bit more seriously, learning all he could about magic. He even did extra credit, something he didn't used to do. It was also during this time that he became superstitious. Believing the color green will bring him good luck as well as having a couple of good luck charms on him he started wearing green all the time. He also made a point to avoid anything he believed would bring him bad luck. Slowly, but surely all his hard work began to pay off just like his mother said. Now he was able to use TK with ease and he falsely believed that his lucky charms helped. He couldn't wait until he discovered his own personal magical talent. But now it seems all his extra studying and superstitious behavior has caught the attention of the school's bullies who now took it upon themselves to tease Rapid Quill for being an egghead and a teacher's pet as well as a superstitious nut, terms he personally could not stand.
Once they had filled his desk with back kittens and broken mirrors causing the young unicorn to freak out so much that he fainted. The bullies just shook with laughter.
Another time they distracted Rapid Quill with a bright, shiny light emitting from their horns revealing that he is easily distracted and again they laughed. It was at this time he started to get fed up with all their silly, childish teasings.
And his little sister was teased due to her extra sensitive nature and when Rapid Quill found out, oh he was furious. Unfortunately, it didn't matter to Rapid Quill that Graceful Swan's bullies were as little as she. He yelled at them anyway and even threatened them saying, "if you make my sister cry again I'll sock you one!" And so it began.
Rapid Quill after taking his own bullies teasing him so long could no longer take it and one day when they were messing with him he just snapped. Filled with a rage he fought the bullies, but due to being outnumbered he didn't win and got black eyes to boot. Still, he proved to his classmates that he wasn't one to be pushed around. That he would fight back.
Initially he defended fellow bullied students and the school loved him for it. He was a real hero in their eyes. However, he essentially became a bully to the bullies. Previously his mother had made the mistake telling him that doing things that make you feel good is a good thing. What she failed to inform him was that if what you are doing ends up harming others then you should stop doing it even if it feels good to you because it is a bad thing. To most this is just common sense, but not to Rapid Quill who had the bad tendency of taking words and phrases literally. See, he found that everytime he bullied a bully it made him feel good and not just good, but really, really good and in his morally twisted mind anything that feels this good couldn't be bad.
His sister, meanwhile, noticed the change and it scared her. Out of concern she told their parents. During the family conference, Dr. Mesh realized her error and tried to explain to her son why he shouldn't bully the bullies. Realizing what they wanted to hear, Rapid Quill promised he wouldn't do it again. A lie, but he said it in such a way that even his own parents believed him.
Rapid Quill realized that if he wanted to continue getting that feeling of Euphoria from bullying the bullies then he would need to be a bit more subtle about it. After going through some not so great ideas he decided to try his hoof in spying on them and he actually proved to be a natural spy. After school he followed them discreetly to a dance studio where to his shock they did ballet. This caused the dark blue unicorn to erupt with laughter from his hiding spot. Remembering his camera he took their pictures and then he left to prepare for his ultimate revenge. He posted their pics everywhere as well as submitting their story to the school paper for the whole school to read. He titled the column: Tough Guys or Total Softies? You Decide. The school was then split on whether Rapid Quill was a jerk for posting that or if the bullies deserved it. They even wrote a column about it.
However, the teacher was disgusted by Rapid Quill's lack of tact and called him and his parents to a conference to discuss his punishment. When his parents found out what he did they were understandably upset since he promised he'd leave the bullies alone. His teacher gave him extra homework and his parents grounded him for a month. Still, his teacher told him to never stop writing. That he had a real talent for it, one he shouldn't misuse and abuse. She even invited him to join the school newspaper full time provided that he promised to work with others to ensure his stories were more...tactful. His parents wondered if it was a good idea and the teacher informed them that she believed all their son needs is a positive outlet to share his gift of writing with others. And so his parents agreed. Rapid Quill was certainly excited. He always wanted to join the school paper, but never really had the time due to all his studying and he never imagined he'd join it like this. Even with all their good intentions so far those around him have been giving him very confusing mixed messages. Inadvertently these very messages were gradually shaping him to become something awful.
However, Rapid Quill did keep his promise about writing nice, supportive stories about his classmates rather than ones that hurt and he got praised and that praise felt good. It just didn't feel as satisfying as when he wrote that embarrassing story about the school bullies and oh how he missed, longed for that satisfaction. Still he feared if he wrote anything nasty or embarrassing he would get kicked off the school paper for good, so for now he played nice.
It was around age seventeen when his cutie mark appeared. He remembered it well. A magazine company in Mannehattan was holding a writing contest where the winner gets the exclusive honor to work fulltime for them. It was rapid Quill's dream. He just had to win. It was his destiny. So he wandered about Mannehattan for a juicy story. He interviewed several random ponies asking them what their favorite thing about Mannehattan was. When done he hurried home and wrote it all in using his carefully written notes and tape recorders. He worked long and hard on it until he finally was satisfied enough to send it in for the contest and as he did so his cutie mark, a red diary and matching pen appeared. He couldn't believe it! He actually got his cutie mark before even knowing the outcome of the contest. It seemed it didn't matter if he won or lost, something had recognized all this hard work and effort he put into his story. His parents and sister were so proud of him that they celebrated.
Two weeks later and the results of the contest finally came in and to Rapid Quill's happiness he won and the magazine company wanted him to start work right away. However, they wanted him to find a story outside Mannehattan to write about; which obviously required him to leave. After telling his family goodbye and promising he'd write them whenever he could, Rapid Quill set off on his journey. He had never ventured outside Mannehattan before, so he understandably was very nervous.
Ends up in a small town and is welcomed by the locals who take him in with open hooves. Feeling good about this one he struggles to build himself a home. Noticing the small unicorn struggle, the friendly local Earth ponies help him build. With everyone helping it didn't take long. One of the Earth ponies that helped took a particular interest in the newcomer. The charismatic Earth pony was a doctor named, Dr, Free Thinker and almost immediately Rapid Quill felt himself drawn to him. The Earth pony explained he got his doctorate in mechanical engineering. The two became fast friends and the older Earth pony became something of a mentor to the young journalist. A reason Rapid Quill took such a liking to Free Thinker was due to how accepting and non-judgmental the engineer was. Not once did the engineer tease him for being superstitious and studious.
However, one day while out interviewing the local baker, Free Thinker snooped around Rapid Quill's home until he spotted what he was looking for: Rapid Quill's diary. Using his skills he picked the lock open and spotted a journal entry he could use against his student.
When Rapid Quill returned home itching to work on his latest story, Free Thinker boldly confronted him with the journal entry where he wrote how happy he felt embarrassing his old school bullies. Understandably the blue unicorn was angry at his friend invading his privacy and ordered him to leave. But Free Thinker wouldn't budge and instead just stood there as though challenging his student. He informed Rapid Quill that he shouldn't feel guilt and regret over what he had done to the bullies because they deserved it. He then went on to inform him he shouldn't deny himself the feeling of Euphoria. The danger of Free Thinker was how absolutely charismatic he is, so much so that the blue unicorn believed his words. Still he remembered his mother's words, but then Free Thinker reminded him that if he had not done what he did then he may not have realized his talent in writing and he may never have gotten his cutie mark; which meant they never would have met. "Trust me, you did a good thing back there and look around you, you can still do good, great things as well as get that wonderful feeling of Euphoria. Will some ponies feel hurt? Sure. But that's life and business for you. Besides, take a good, long look at how dull this place is. A place like this could really use your less than tactful talents. After all nice guys finish last and you don't want to finish last do you?" Rapid Quill couldn't believe the harshness of his mentor's words. Still, he wondered if he could be right. Some of what he said did make sense. Rapid Quill just stared uneasily at the floor and shook his head. "No, I don't want to finish last. I want to be a winner. But I need some time alone...to think," Rapid Quill said showing Free Thinker the door. "Okay, just remember you need me. We could make a great team: you and I," he proclaimed just as he left.
Alone with his thoughts he considered all his mentor said. Uncomfortable, he continued work as usual and returned his family's letter careful not to mention Dr. Free Thinker.
Days later his mentor returned and insisted they work together to write something wonderful. Believing him he agreed. After spying on several of the townsfolk in their not so proud moments, Rapid Quill this time using an alias, Psyman Psays sent in his story to the Mannehattan Magazine. It did not take long for the magazines to reach the small town and when they did the residents became outraged and went as far as accusing one another for the stories. As Rapid Quill and Dr. Free Thinker watched them the engineer just erupted with laughter thinking this the funniest thing he has ever seen. Rapid Quill, meanwhile, was disturbed by the fact that the townsfolks misery caused him great pleasure. Noticing this, Free Thinker was quick to call him out on it. He always called him out on his weaknesses and Rapid Quill hated it, but in his heart he knew the engineer was right. "I'm horrible, aren't I?" Rapid Quill asked in the midst of chaos that now surrounded them. Free Thinker shook his head. "No. You're not. You're just...different. So you find pleasure in less than pleasant things. So what? No big deal. You saw me back there. We're a lot alike, you and I. You got guts kid and I love your ambition. When you want something badly enough you go for it, that's why I like you," Free Thinker reassured. "Then why do I feel so awful about it?" "Hey, don't let the feelings of these fools get in the way of your fun."
The two were playing with fire as they continued to write less that tactful stories that would be entertaining only to outsiders. One day just as the two felt they would never get caught a couple of the townsfolk stopped by for an unexpected visit and spotted the two working on a story. Caught red-handed and unable to lie their way out the two were put on trial by the understandably angry town. In the end it was decided that their punishment would be exile, never to return to the town again for if they did it meant imprisonment. The judge was kind enough to give them the day to pack up and leave, but would be guarded the whole time. So the two packed in silence, feeling too awkward to talk about anything in front of their guards.
Once done they left as quietly and when they were far enough away their guards left them. Once alone they discussed what they should do next. Rapid Quill feeling homesick anyway suggested they go to Mannehattan, but he made his mentor swear to keep his big mouth shut about their exile. Last thing he wanted was for his family to be ashamed of him.
Although surprised by his early return his family was happy to see him again. Previously, he did visit them a couple of times per year, but he never stayed too long. As he made a point to keep up with his family via visits and letters he wasn't too surprised by Graceful Swan's appearance. Now aged seventeen she had matured and even had her own cutie mark; which was that of a dark pink dancer's ribbon. Rapid Quill was equally happy in seeing them all again.
After he introduced his family to the engineer the subject of what he was doing home so early came up. Rapid Quill shot Dr. Free Thinker a look that said, 'don't tell.' The blue unicorn then came up with a lie. He informed his family that the magazine company wanted him back in Mannehattan to do a story. His family believed him.
Rapid Quill started acting weird around his younger sister. For one thing he acted more over protective than ever before. Graceful Swan soon found she couldn't even talk to young stallions her age without Rapid Quill breathing over her shoulder glaring at them. And on top of all that he seemed to have forgotten that she was no longer a filly; that she had grown up quite a bit since then. Graceful Swan couldn't stand it and went to their parents to complain. "He is always there. He won't leave me alone!"
When confronted, Rapid Quill simply stated, "I'm just worried about her and I don't want her to get hurt. Why if she ever got hurt or if some fool of a stallion ever made her cry or harmed her in some way and I wasn't there to stop it I would never forgive myself!" "Rapid I know you mean well, but you really should give your sister some space. She's not so little anymore," Kava pointed out. "And Graceful Swan you really should be a little more understanding of your brother. He's only acting this way because he loves and cares about you so much," Comic Story interjected. "So what do you say kids? Shake hooves and make up," Kava mused smiling sweetly. Groaning the two turned around and shook hooves. "Okay, I'm sorry for being in your hair sis and I promise to give you more space." Graceful Swan squinted as though not believing him. "Yeah, okay. Say don't you have a story to finish?" she reminded in an inquisitive manner. Suddenly remembering he nodded and hurried back upstairs to his room. "Oh right. Gotta run! See ya sis!"
Watching him, Comic Fever just shook his head. "That boy...I swear he is so easily distracted." "What do you propose he is writing about up there?" asked Graceful Swan, eyes having not left the staircase. Her father shrugged. "No idea. But it is best not to disturb him while working," Comic Fever warned his overtly curious daughter. "Well it better not be anything embarrassing," Graceful Swan exclaimed. Kava shook her head. "Now I doubt that especially since he learned his lesson since last time. You're not the only one who's matured over the years. Have a little faith in your brother," Kava reassured putting her daughter's mind at ease. Graceful Swan grinning mischievously nodded. "Yeah, you're probably right. Even Rapid's not stupid enough to try that again!" "Graceful!" scolded both of her parents. "What? I was just teasing," she assured playfully. "Although, his friend he brought back with him, the engineer, he's kind of creepy if you ask me. Don't you think?" Her parents exchanged glances. "Now that you mention it, it is kind of odd that he followed Rapid home. I mean he's staying at the hotel, so it's fine, but why?" Comic Fever mused. Kava shook her head. "I dunno dear, but we can always ask them later."
Meanwhile, upstairs, all alone in his room Rapid was indeed working away at his latest story. The good thing about the engineer was all the connections he had and oh boy did he have a ton of them and now that they were friends, partners even, Free Thinker's connections were now his. Of course a little bribe here and there for added ensurance certainly didn't hurt either. Equipped with an earpiece the engineer was feeding him important Intel that Rapid in turn was quickly writing down. Unfortunately, his sister was correct in her initial assumption about his story being truthful yet less than tactful. It seemed that the only way he was ever going to learn was the hard way. The small village he was banished from may not have liked his stories, but his employer certainly did as his stories made the magazine money. Once again he went by his alias, Psyman Psays. Of course not everybody living in Mannehattan liked Psyman Psays, his own family being one of them. Still, their distaste was not enough to deter the blue unicorn. He just hoped his family wouldn't discover the cold, hard truth. However, part of him yearned for them to find him out. That way he could explain to them why he is right and his critics are all wrong or so he believed. Little did he know he was being used by the charismatic engineer, Dr. Free Thinker for his unicorn magic.
He continued studying magic in between his work for the magazine. Lately he's been trying to learn minor defensive spells to defend himself as well as continuing his studies in teleportation and in divination.
