Speck [A]

[pixiedream]

Name: Speck


Nickname: Specks, Doggy, Good Boy, Chief


Age: 37


Gender: hombre


Species: human/dog


Position: Good


Powers/Abilities/Techniques/Skills: Besides an eye for trouble and the strong build and discipline a man gets from hard labor on the ranch, Speck hasn't much to offer. He's had no idea that magic even exists until now (The Spirit of the West sure didn't tell him anything)and he certainly isn't trained to wield anything beyond pulling a wagon or hoe. One curious canine trait did pass on to his new human body- his super sniffer. Along with his heightened scented senses, Speck also displays other dog-like traits such as sensitive hearing, athletic ability (ex: lifting, climbing, running, jumping, catching and fetching) unrivaled loyalty, and most importantly- a knack for digging holes. Speck is also a great judge of character and he's been told (and appropriately rewarded ) time and time over for his people skills.
He can also grill a mean steak. (Even if he does prefer it raw.) Speck might not be much of anything now, but who says an old dog can't learn new tricks?

Weapon/Items: Speck hasn't got much to his name. One thing in particular is his star-shaped sheriff's badge. It used to just be a prop doggy ID tag with his owner's information in case he got lost, but now his dog days are over and it sits clipped on his belt. Curiously enough, it still has his name and owner's contact number engraved on the back.

Because Speck isn't packing any heat (he is 100% opposed to unnecessary violence), he has a habit of defending himself with whatever is available- usually unconventional objects: chairs, tree branches, bottles, ropes, paintings, etc. Speck probably picked up this habit watching too many martial arts movies starring Jackie Chan. Awkward and improvised Kung Fu moves also follow. However, when coerced, Speck can pack a punch in any hand-to-hand brawl. He learned how to scrap as a pup with his seven other brothers and sisters in his litter.

Picture: (coming soon)


Appearance: As a pooch, Speck was just a straggly looking tri-colored mutt with a black dot on his rear and even darker brown paws. He had a pointy muzzle and unruly fur all over his body except for the short fur on his skinny legs. If he ever had to guess at the breeds of his parents, he'd bet his biscuits that his father was a border collie and his mother was a poodle (he had to admit though, he was also biased in selecting the top two highest ranking dog breeds for intelligence). Although, on some days he swore he was part terrier.

In his new human body, Speck has a farmer's tan, gray eyes, and short nut-brown hair. He wears a cowboy hat on his head complete with boots with bronze-colored cricket-y spurs on his feet. It was odd getting used to wearing clothes, but without his fur to keep him warm, he found it necessary. Speck also wears a nifty leather utility belt of sorts. Don't let him catch you calling it a fanny pack! He prefers to call it a satchel or 'man-belt-for-men...oh-hush-or-I'll-clock-you-one'. It comes equipped with a satchel on the side for storing his things- potions, bacon, the works. He also has a bandanna that he either wears around his neck or tied to his waist. The rest of his clothing is pretty standard for a ranch worker. Speck has work-tattered blue jeans on with a nothing-too-special white shirt. Sometimes he'll wear a leather vest too, and when he's feeling particularly fancy, he wears a clever bolo tie complete with a red checkered button shirt.


Personality: Speck will tell you he is a bonefide, certified pacifist. He only fights when it is absolutely necessary: to defend another critter or defend himself in a life or death situation. He's been known to clock a few folks in the head to knock some sense into them, but those have been special cases. In short, he's not the sort of guy to spar or fight mostly (not even arm wrestling-as he is humble man and hates showing off); he'll take on any and all challengers for eating contests, though. Speck also thinks he knows how to speak Spanish. His attempts to communicate in the language are...charming.

He's the kinda guy who would get all riled up in an ugly spat with his lady the day earlier, wake up, make himself a bowl of cereal-o's, then finally swallow his pride and march on over to her house only to wave the box of cereal at her threateningly and shout, “I love you, dagnabbit!” He's quite the lady killer in his own way, but above all, Speck is honest to the core. He has only stolen one thing in his entire life and that was his master's talking creature toy. Speck hated that blasted thing; it talked all of the time in nonsense terms. It had large creepy eyes that followed you everywhere and he swore he saw it smirk at him on occasions. It was annoying. It was evil, and it had to go. So, one Saturday when the kid was away at a sleepover, he snatched that critter in the middle of the night and buried it in a place no soul should ever find it. He wasn't proud of what he did seeing how his friend frantically searched for it, but sometimes on a dark night, he swears he could hear the faint noise of the evil toy's giggles muffled by the earth. One thing that Speck is certain: Energizer batteries never die.

Speck is also mighty protective of those around him. He always has to make sure everyone is taken care of, even if he knows deep in his heart they can very well take care of themselves. Much of this self-imposed responsibility comes from his former position as head cowdog/sheriff of his family's ranch. A few years ago he lost his mentor and best friend- a rooster named Red who was his father figure since he was a pup, to a coyote break in. Speck was told to call for help while Red held back the coyotes. Speck was devastated at first, but he knew Red would be upset at him if he had let Red's death keep him from ''pulling his weight''-as Red would put have it, on the ranch. Speck knows life has its hazards and its upsets, but you can't let those things keep you from livin'- Red taught him that, the old bird's final words to him were, “Wipe that stupid look off your face; it don't suit you. This is my choice. I'm Red ain't I? I say how I live, and I most certainly say how I go. Now, son you go do that.”
Speck counts his blessings every night and says a prayer for a beautiful, bitter old man.



Original World: The Wild West- (Nevada desert area, Disney's Bolt)
Current World: Traverse Town


History: Speck was just another mutt in a “Free to a good home” cardboard box by the grocery mart. He was adopted by an old man and his grandson, the boy having fallen in love with him and his floppy little ears at first sight. The boy named him Speck after a singular black dot he had on his rump. Speck and the boy were the best of friends. Every day, when Speck wasn't getting a scolding from Red, they would play together, stuck to the other like Elmer's glue. After they first watched Enter the Dragon together, Speck followed him to martial arts class. When Speck was small enough, the boy would even hide him in his backpack and take him to school. It wasn't until the teacher found a present under her desk that they were discovered. Even then, Speck would walk the distance to and from the school with him. The boy's grandfather would even sang them a modified version of the “Mary Had a Little Lamb” lullaby- everywhere the little boy went, Speck was sure to go. He lived on the ranch with them for a long time until the boy grew up to be much larger and left for college. Speck was not allowed to follow him anymore, and it seemed like the boy only visited on Christmas holiday now. When he graduated, Speck thought it was over, but then the boy got a job elsewhere and it seemed they never saw each other anymore.

Speck saw that the old man was getting older, and no longer was he as vigorous and sprightly as before. On top of that, the ranch was in debt. They were going to lose their home. Speck would have none of it. This was where they grew up. This was where they would eat ice cream in the summer and make snow forts in the winter. This was where they would camp out in the front yard and toast marshmallow smores. This was where Red had lived and where he was buried. This was their home. When the old man fell ill, Speck knew he had to go fetch the boy who was now a man. Everything went wrong after he left, and it was the Sheriff's job to set things right. Armed with nothing but a Christmas postcard with an address on it, Speck set out into the desert. His friend had things to answer for.

Speck was in the desert for days. He knew of some stops to get water (other farms now foreclosed), but he never dawdled for too long, his mission pushing him forward. He spent one night at an abandoned petting zoo.

He remembered that they would visit this place all of the time. They would all ride in the old pickup truck where Speck would stick his head out the window while he sat up front in his best friend's lap. When they arrived, they were always running out the door in a hurry. First, they would see the goats and then the giraffes, but there was a particular animal Speck loved to see. There was another dog there Speck had an eye for, and while he pretended to patrol the area for suspicious characters, she would tease him. It was a little game they would play. She never minded that he was a mutt (she was a purebred champion herself) and Speck knew if she hadn't moved away they could have gotten married and had a family together.

It was completely different now. The sign hanging by the road was missing letters and rearranged by some punks with a sorry sense of humor. It now read: Pee Test Oven instead of Eve's Petting Zoo. It used to have green grass everywhere, but now it was as empty of life as the rest of the desert. All of the animals were gone now, either sold to other zoos or eaten. The brightly colored fences were all broken now and the house was in shambles. Speck had chosen to stay the night in her dog house. Luckily, the teenagers hadn't tampered with her home, because it still her name, Granola, on it. He smiled and laid his head down and closed his eyes. It still smelled like her in here. Speck called her Miss Nola and she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Funny too. He could hear her voice now, as cool and smooth as a glass of fresh sweet tea.

Wait- he really was hearing her name. She was calling out for help.

Speck rushed over to the sound of her cries and his heart nearly stopped when he saw her body surrounded by a group of black insect-like creatures. Their heads dodged left and right, squirming about, but soon they drew closer around her. Speck had seen this before when he had lost Red to the coyotes. They were going to kill her- poor, sweet Miss Nola. She had just been on her way to visit Speck when all this happened.

They were startled when they heard his loud bark, and drew back slightly. Speck charged in and all he remembered after that was a blanket of darkness enveloping him and then nothing. He woke up with the sun in his eyes and the silhouette of a stranger above him. He couldn't right make out his face, but Speck could make out a few details about the man: he wore a serape, had a sour expression, and carried around a stick of some sort. Speck asked him if he was dying and if the man was the Spirit of the West come to take him to the other side.

“You don't have to worry, Kid. I ain't gonna kill you.” the Spirit of the West laid his hat on Speck's head. “Now any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone.” and then figure nudged him in the chest with his stick. “You've got to ask yourself one question. Do you feel lucky? You're going to need it.” The Spirit of the West then turned to walk away; Speck could have sworn he was smirking. “Now get off my lawn.”

Speck woke up again in a completely different place. He adapted quickly enough to discovering he had been changed into a man. It was still a shock walking on two legs. Speck eventually got a job as a maintenance man at the Gizmo Shop, keeping a canine past a secret while he gathers information about what had happened to him and any leads to the whereabouts of his family and Miss Nola.


Role Playing Sample:
It had been a a little over two months now since Speck had arrived at Traverse Town. He could recall his first memory of the world. It seemed like the entire city was lit up like the Fourth of July. Living in the desert, Speck had seen his fair share of winters, but certainly not like this. The neon signs and street lamps painted the surface of the ice and snow. The icicles on the sides of the buildings reflected the lights and seemed to glimmer like stars frozen to the rooftops. It was an especially impressive display at night. Speck could almost forgive the permanent cold because of it.

He took his first steps out into the snow... and nearly hollered when he saw a human hand where a paw 'ought to be.

(Thinking about it now, Speck couldn't recall how long it took him to adjust mentally that he'd been turned into a man. He remembered floundering about in the snow for a bit, in a complete panic.)

"What in tarnation!?" His hands were shaking. His fleshy...digital....hairless....HANDS were trembling like crazy. "And where-!" he nearly snapped his neck looking for his tail, only to find a denim-clad backside. "And this-!" His boots. "What about-!" Ears. (this pattern continued on as Speck rediscovered his body.)

He then scrambled over to a window. He clutched at his face, pushing and pulling at his skin.

Speck moved out from the window,
then back again; he screamed.

He ducked out from the window again,
looked back,
...and screamed.
"OH-MY-LORD, I've been invaded by the body snatchers!"

(Soon enough, he found his head and put himself together. After he found his family, he could worry about whatever voodoo magic the Spirit of the West done put on him later.)

Questions/Comments/Suggestions?
I wanted to make sure the rest was OK before I included the roleplay sample. I wanted the sample to reflect his life post-disaster. Nah, I'll give it a shot.

[Zephiris]

Lovely. xD The canine-dog transition is a little out of whack for the KH universe, but I'll call the same ploy that transforms people into animals when they visit the Pride Lands, or mermaids in Atlantica.

In any case, I like him. Accepted.

You may now repost this in the Final Profile board, put that link in your signature, and begin to roleplay. Have fun. ;]