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Jekyll Family History:
Many know the Jekyll family are notorious for being mad, but when first meeting Norvie, he seems like a pleasant young man with good intentions and a bright future. Unfortunately, his family motto is "Ipse facias vel nihil." - "Do it yourself or not at all", meaning it is their family honor to not use any human(oid) guinea pigs other than themselves. There is a difference between "Scary" and "Evil" in Halloweentown, after all, and the Jekyll family has always had pride in their own ethics. It is said they started as a human family long ago in the human world, but someone, somewhere along the line of genealogy crossed the line into... somewhere else. Usually they keep to themselves and their servants, but it is known for there to be a Jekyll reunion on occasion where the chemical smell is enough to burn away a werewolf's coat when walking by their gate, where cousins compete to see who had made the most interesting discovery.

What they're 'Hyde'ing:
Since the beginning of their history in the Land of Halloween, the Jekyll family have struggled with their bipolar natures to the extent that they have a beastly hidden layer. In a land where monsters and demons and ghouls are a common thing, this is not necessarily a bad thing, nor anything unusual. Even so, many of generations have sought a permanent "Cure" for their afflictions but to no avail. This drive to "Neutralize Fear" is one of the key reasons their family is viewed as the *crazy* sort of Mad Scientist.

With his grandfather dead, and his father having taken an unnatural keenness for dentistry, it's fallen on Norvegicus to continue the family research. Many don't see the point to his research these days, but ultimately Norvie wants more than anything *control*- over his own thoughts as well as his own body.

Norvie's Research:
Due to exposure to countless noxious and deadly chemicals since birth, Norvie's brain is a bit... scrambled. While the potions and his fear power might send his brain chemicals over the top even on a good day, Norvie can be a bit... mixed up. He takes his proper concoctions to keep his own Hyde's voice quiet most of the time. Perhaps it is a bit of teenaged rebellion, but while Norvie has trepidations about experimenting on his fellow students occasionally, unlike his family, he sees little harm in the occasional volunteer.

About a Name:

And that's where his name comes from!

His Family

Father: Dr. Harry Jekyll - Harry is a Dentist in Halloweentown, priding himself in rarely getting eaten or bit and helping Halloweentown's smile stay terrifying. He will often go to the human world, just to make sure kids stay terrified of the Dentist, as it should be. They are frightening people. He seems by all intents and purposes the normal, nerdy, polite if somewhat suicidal normal dentist... until you get into his chair. That's when the maniacal laughter begins.

Mother: Loretta Swain Jekyll - A beast of a woman, Loretta married into the Jekyll family and so she doesn't share their 'affliction'. She and Harry met during an appointment in which he fell in love with her monstrous maw. She enjoys baking and eating vermin and sometimes passerby in their garden.

Sister:

Grandfather: A cantankerous old man, recently passed on to the world beyond, who Norvie was very close to. He had long ago thrown his hands up over their family's identity crisis, and finally gave in entirely to his Hyde persona. He enjoyed shouting at people from his wheelchair and making disconcerting noises with his gnarled, fanged dentures. He encouraged Norvie's studies and gave him his first chemistry set. Norvie still keeps his dentures in a jar amongst his shelves for good luck.



Norvie's Fear Power stems from his family's "curse" so to speak. The monster that lurks under the seemingly kind hearted and rather... unscary demeanor is a fierce and deadly... well, rat. Norvigicus "Do not call me Norvie" Hyde is usually subdued for the most part by his host's concoctions, but at least seems to retain most control over his tail, much to Norvie's general embarrassment and frustration. The moment there's a flaw in a chemical level, he's there to give his opinion on the matter at hand even if it's just a ratty nerd that can hear.

So far, Norvie has only devised a short 'cure', a potion he takes twice a day to make sure he stays on track. When under duress, it becomes harder to hold back his hidden monster, and when he hasn't taken his tonic, he becomes increasingly unstable.

When he's not using his fear power outright, it only leaks small touches of changes when Hyde takes complete control, darkened ratty eyes that can see without glasses, and subtle monsterish influences.

He might lurk and fight and move in disconcertingly sharp quick movements like an animal, but he is well articulate, no matter his size or shape, and just as smart as his alter-self.

Year One Fear Power Transformation example:
Using his fear power is basically "letting go" and allowing his 'inner self' to come out. As he grows and matures, he'll be less and less afraid of himself and learn not to instinctively hold back.



"Ultimate" Fear Power example:

Spoilers perhaps??

Norvie's Minipets:
Norvie collects plant, insect, and various other chemical-carrying type minipets, keeping them around mostly to harvest various venom and oils for his concoctions.

Gallery Under Construction, for now enjoy:
General "Hyde" concept doodles.
Moar Hyde Concept Doodles.
Quickie concept of a possible "Full on Hyde" form:
When his potion's running out or being overly stressed some aspects might leak out, but this full form would only appear when using a high-rolling fear attack. Fear specifics still under construction.



More coming soon!

I've been debating that! I was given kind of an "eeeh" response when debating it having a sort of druggie-like effect on him (dependence/addiction/etc whatever the angle) so I was waiting for someone else to bring it up. XD

I really do like the idea that Hyde has his own half of the brain-bed, so to speak, where normal people would get that little voice in the back of their mind, the Jekyll half of him would feel like there's an unseen person over his shoulder throwing in his two cents at any given time. Then I got nervous because that's not necessarily how DID works but I mean... it's a J/H themed character, that seems like the standard trope with this sort of fellow. sweatdrop It's a touchy subject and I had one person already show concern for it "being done right". IF BY "RIGHT" ONE MEANS CONVINCING that I am confident in. sweatdrop

What do you think about remembering being hyde or not? I've always kind of felt it should be played as though one isn't sure if there really is a separate little demon living in is head, or if his mental state is just so shattered he believes it's separate as a coping mechanism. Traditionally, dissociative identities either lead to feeling like you're watching yourself through a television set, like a dream, or blacking out entirely. (One doesn't always remember dreams.) I would kind of like him to remember- it's the feeling of "not being in control" that scares him the most, and is the motivation for his personal research (regardless of what other little chemical finds he discovers along the way!) but I really do like the idea that feeling tough and powerful would be addictive to the otherwise polite and probably-pushed-around kid.

Re: Name: I'd really like to help avoid confusion/stepping on toes, so I'll figure something out. Ahahaha I'd name him Melvin but that's my dad's friend's name and I'ms ure he'd catch wind that I used his name.... Marvin might work okay, but nothing's really clicking for me yet. D: He could be Mortimer but goes by his middle name in an attempt to be "cooler" but really the middle name is just as bad as the first name? XD IDK still debating.

edit: Just had additional thoughts on the matter Val asked about- Maybe he's so used to taking his tonic to suppress the Hyde side, that now and then when he's procrastinated and felt the change over him he gets to the point sometimes when he's pushing the limit? Or maybe tries to find alternative concoctions that might give him that boost while keeping him in his own frame of mind? (I'm sure it always goes awry whatever he tries in any case.)

Toss 'em around how? O: Good question! I think MOST he would hoard, his room would be packed with vials and glassware and bright colors and noxious smells. XD As for extras, the duds, or things he just doesn't want around... he'd probably get inventive for places to dispose of them. And probably destroy a few bathroom stalls in the process. I'm sure if someone was crafty, they could con him out of one or two....

re: Poindexter. Ahahahahahah. Ahahahhaha. Dexter isn't bad, I think someone suggested that before, but it makes me think of Dexter's Laboratory so IDK XD ((still pondering! ))

((Goes to make some revisions!))

By toss them around, like...maybe he could make some volatile mixes for battle and use them in case he doesn't want to use his Hyde. Orrr he could use some of the duds? /shrug. Dunno, 's an idea, though!
And destroying bathroom stalls...oh geez. XD

AHAH! Originally I had imagined his fear power to be more deverse, to include just random potions in general, but then simplified- but I might have simpified too much! I'd love to see him squirrling around throwing whatever he happens to have on his person when going into the ring. I can still have it be up to dice rolls and just vary the attacks power... HURM. ((ponders it!))

Mriae- THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE GREAT CRIT I will respond directly in a minute!

Because I am a sucker for the duality aspect, what are the situations that would make Norvie feel those negative emotions? Is he a prideful sort? Does he get jealous easily? Since he's so friendly, what does it take to make him feel the emotions that he would "push" towards the Hyde side? And why does he insist on bottling them up as opposed to accepting them?