guess you could say that about most anything in life:

Name: Pana
Age: 27
AIM SN: shadow shibari
email: PM
plurk: pana

General

Canon Source: Twin Peaks
Canon Format: TV series (+ film + audio tapes + autobiography)
Character's Name: Dale Cooper
Character's Age: 35

What form will your character's NV take? A voice-activated Micro-Mac pocket microcassette recorder, modified to include modern smart phone features.

Abilities

Character's Canon Abilities:

Investigation • As expected of all FBI special agents, Cooper is an expert in law, ethics, behavioral science, interviewing and report writing, advanced investigative and intelligence techniques, interrogation, and forensic science. Beyond that, Cooper has a unique deductive method which he claims to have learned through a dream about Tibet. This method employs techniques which can only be described as superstitious and magical, at odds with the rational technique of most detectives. Although it appears to be little more than luck or a guessing game, the Tibetan method has brought Cooper much success in the past.

Firearms • He is trained to shoot handguns, shotguns, submachine guns, and carbines at an expert level. His marksmanship is complimented by fellow law enforcement officers. During one practice session, he makes six hits on the target: four through the eyes and one through each nostril.

Operational skills • Through standard FBI training and experience, Cooper is skilled in defensive tactics and surveillance. Included in his skill set are jujutsu, boxing and grappling, handcuffing, control holds, body searches, weapon retention, and disarming techniques.

Observation • Cooper displays, if not eidetic memory, at least something close to photographic memory and attention to detail. Case-related or not, he makes note of the most minute details and can later recall and examine them. This unfortunately does not extend to his dreams, the details of which often escape him at the most important moments.

Clairvoyance • A supernatural extension of his investigative techniques, Cooper has experienced dreams and visions throughout his life which guide him along a certain path and eventually lead him to the Laura Palmer case. His visions are nearly incomprehensible, garbled communication across space and time, and frequently he himself fails to understand them. In truth, these visions are the result of his own future self's interference. Twenty-five years into the future, Cooper is trapped in a spiritual purgatory known as the Black Lodge, and the dreams are that Cooper's futile attempt to prevent this from coming to pass. Other residents of the Black Lodge, entities who feed upon garmonbozia (pain and suffering), assist him in this task - or perhaps sabotage his efforts. The present Cooper trusts these visions but never fully grasps their meaning. At one point, he describes himself as a "strong sender". In context, he means that he should not be present during certain witness questionings because his willpower frequently influences others, but this is also an accidentally apt description of his future self, who is responsible for sending these visions through intent alone.

Conditional: If your character has no superhuman canon abilities, what dormant ability will you give them?

Because Cooper's psychic abilities are entirely limited to the Laura Palmer case and the mysteries of Twin Peaks itself, I would like to extend them to be relevant to the world of Siren's Port as well. Instead of communicating with the demons of the Black Lodge, Cooper will now be communicating with the Darkness. As he has already been "claimed" by the demon BOB, creatures of the night will mistake him as one of their own and refrain from attacking him; the weakest may actually be repelled by him. As he develops, he may further repel the Darkness by will, in the way that he eventually commands the residents of the Black Lodge, but this control will be shaky (since, after all, he never does gain control over BOB - the powerful being who possesses his body in the future). His dreams now will also come from the Darkness rather than the Black Lodge, warning of Darkness spikes, future catastrophes, or Core fluctuations - something I would like to plot with the mods. And, with permission from the players involved, I would also like his natural near-psychic intuition to come into play during criminal investigations.

Weapons: A Smith & Wesson Model 629 Snub handgun.

History/Personality/Plans/etc.

Character History: [ wiki ]

Point in Canon: Season 2 Episode 1 - "May the Giant Be with You"

Cooper lies bleeding on the floor of his hotel room, having just been shot by a mysterious assassin. Drifting in and out of consciousness, he has visions of a giant who provides him with clues about Laura Palmer's murder, then he speaks to Diane via his voice-activated tape recorder about his regrets and his hopes for the future, should he survive.

Character Personality:

Special Agent Dale Cooper is exactly the kind of man one would expect to find in the FBI. He has the brilliant mind necessary to take in all the details and use those details to solve whatever puzzle is placed before him. But the details that he absorbs about the world around him don't only relate to whatever criminal case he's currently investigating. He takes it all in: the smoothness of a coffee brew, the sweet taste of cherry pie, the sound of the wind in the trees. Observation is not merely a part of his career. It's Dale Cooper's way of life.

Cooper also has a habit of narrating his observations, almost to an obsessive compulsive degree, and this habit has become one of his most defining traits. When he was young, he got into the habit of keeping a diary via tape recorder. This habit continues to this day in the form of recordings addressed to his secretary, Diane. It is never made clear whether Diane actually receives or listens to these tapes, but Cooper enjoys pretending to speak to her, regardless. "Diane" hears everything about Cooper's daily life, from notes about his current case to remarks about the quality and make of the hotel bed sheets he has been sleeping on for the past two nights.

His eccentricities don't end there. Cooper has a number of distinct mannerisms that become almost memetic among the people around him, such as giving an enthusiastic thumbs-up when he approves of something. There is also his aforementioned over-appreciation for coffee ("damn good!") and cherry pie, his superstitious beliefs and occult methodology, and his uttering of zen wisdom whenever the opportunity presents itself. And he has a strange sense of humor which can be all at once dark, dry, and child-like.

For all his strangeness, Cooper maintains an air of professionalism and authority that leads few people to question him even when he employs downright ridiculous methods (like throwing rocks at a glass bottle to narrow down a list of suspects). He can be serious, determined, and unflinching in the face of adversity. He also has a strong sense of morality and refuses to behave in an unethical manner, sticking to the rules unless a human life is at stake - and then accepting the consequences for his transgression without argument. When he sees weakness in people, he does not judge or take advantage. He is deeply respectful of others, even when he disagrees with them, and feels compassion even for those who have committed atrocious crimes.

Cooper's compassion is in fact so great that, after he eventually solves the case of Laura's murder, he ends up cradling Laura's murderer in his arms while the man lies dying of a self-inflicted injury and serenely sends him off with the following words: "The time has come for you to seek the path. Your soul has set you face to face with the clear light and you are now about to experience it in all its reality, wherein all things are like the void and cloudless sky, and the naked, spotless intellect is like a transparent vacuum, without circumference or center. In this moment, know yourself, and abide in that state." The speech is based on a passage from the Tibetan Book of the Dead, a ritual meant to peacefully guide the dying as they transition from one life to another. Cooper actually follows many Buddhist teachings, expressing much reverence for the Dalai Lama. He practices mindfulness as a method of processing the world he observes, allowing him to appreciate life but also to cope with tragedy and loss. He is not only an investigator, but a sage.

Despite both his genius and his wisdom, Cooper's demeanor is friendly in general. He has a warm face and he's quick to smile, whether he's amused or has simply discovered something he finds profound. He shows interest in others, asking after their health or inquiring about their hobbies. He notices new shoes or a new haircut and will compliment these little details. He is eager to learn about everything and nothing is too mundane to delight him.

His amicability, however, is a shield. Cooper keeps the focus on others so that the attention never returns to him. He is a mystery to others because he prefers it that way. His self-reflections are just that, and they remain private between himself and "Diane". He has been hurt in the past, deeply, because he allowed himself to open up - and most importantly, someone else was hurt because of it. It's a mistake he's determined not to repeat. He has closed his heart and remains carefully distanced, an outsider and a protector of those things he finds precious.

Cooper may exude confidence and express optimism - not to mention all his esoteric faith-based nonsense - but the truth is that he is ultimately realistic. He is not naive about the world; he has seen its ugliness and studied it to its blackest core. He is prepared for the worst case. He expects harm to be done. He applies logic to problems just as often as he relies on luck. He observes, yes... and then he adapts. He sees the darkness but refuses to be consumed by it, fighting hatred and more importantly fear with love and veneration for life's gifts. The struggle, however, is endless.

Character Plans:

Cooper will almost immediately become involved with SPPD because law enforcement is his passion in life. SPPD might be more receptive to his techniques, as psychic ability is actually given credence in this city, and he will hopefully obtain homicide detective status in a short period of time. Beyond work, Cooper will marvel at the wonders of this new world, make friends with all of these alien individuals, and overall be grateful for his second chance at life.

Appearance/PB: [ icons ] [ kyle maclachlan ]

Writing Samples

First Person Sample

[The voice being recorded is both hushed (out of respect for the speaker's present environment) and weak (for reasons yet to be explained).]

Diane, it's... 2:43 pm on June 3, 2012. By my calculation, that means I've been asleep for... two hundred and eighty months. Twenty-three years have passed since my last recording, Diane, and I have to say: I look pretty great for my age.

The last time I remember speaking to you, it was from the floor of my room at the Great Northern Hotel and I had just been shot. I don't remember a whole lot else, but the doctors tell me I've lost quite a bit of blood so that's to be expected. I feel both frustrated and grateful. Grateful to be alive, and frustrated because the investigation is facing yet another setback.

"Setback" may be an understatement. Diane, you are not going to believe this. As I just told you, it's been twenty-three years. That's twenty-three years in the blink of an eye. They tell me I've traveled through time, and that's apparently a common occurrence around here. Here being the city of Siren's Port, Canada - that's an island off the coast to the west of Vancouver, Diane. Have you ever heard of a place like that? I sure haven't.

The frustrating part is that my ticket was one-way. Preferable, yes, to the other one-way ticket I was facing - but gosh I really felt it. I was on the verge of something. Will I ever know who killed Laura Palmer?

[There's a pause and murmuring in the background, along with the squeaking of a cart being rolled into the room.]

- Ah, more on that later, Diane. Nurse Irene is here.

[Click.]

Third Person Sample

"All in all..." he was telling Diane, "...a very interesting experience." His eyes were fixed on the wooden ceiling above, which grew darker as his eyelids felt heavier. Then there was a rush all around him and he became certain this was the moment - the moment of his death. Was this the feeling of his soul leaving that heavy body behind? He felt lifted up, pulled away, and the darkness became a blinding light.

The time that passed between that moment and the next was beyond his comprehension. Eventually Dale Cooper came to realize that what he was looking at was, in fact, the sun. All around him were the signs of a beautiful summer day, or perhaps late spring. He could tell it was warm even though his skin still had the chill that accompanied blood loss. He could feel grass beneath his fingers. He could see tall city buildings in the distance, windows reflecting a clear blue sky. Seagulls. There were seagulls circling overhead. Salt in the air.

It was important, he felt, to note the sudden change of scenery. His lips parted and he tried to tell Diane about it, but he was even weaker now. A shiver went through him, the effort causing his blood pressure to drop further. He thought that he should rest and at the same time wondered if succumbing to that would mean truly giving himself up to death. And was he ready for that in this moment? Because he suspected something wonderful had happened. Maybe even a miracle. And if he wasn't already dead, then he really wanted to stick around to see what came next.

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see someone running toward him. In the distance, he could hear sirens. Both seemed simultaneous, but there was likely some time in between. Then he blinked and he was being lifted into an ambulance. Then he was asleep.