Post by Basil on Aug 17, 2009 10:09:24 GMT -5
Who am I? Just a conscience!
Introduce yourself
Hey, howdy, hey! The name's Linda, and I wished upon a star from I was a member of the old site. The other characters I play here include I used Basil before and reserved him for the new site. Basil and I are so very eager to join the Worlds of Disney circle of life!
Character basics
Character name:Basil Chatsworth Bassington, though he goes by the name of Basil of Baker Street
Age: 26
Species: mouse
Birthplace: Surrey, England
Movie: The Great Mouse Detective
Custom title: Private Consulting Detective
Why: Why'd you pick this character?
How do I love Basil? Let me count the ways. My favourite Disney character...check that...my favourite character of all time, Basil is my obsession. I only joined to use him, and my other characters exist primarily to complement or contrast him. I'm sure I could not play opposite someone else's Basil.
He has more personality in his little finger than most characters have in their whole body, and you know how small a mouse's little finger is. Basil's got it all: brains, looks, talent, and a host of flaws that make him so much more interesting than the too-perfect heroes of some films. I've devoted so much time and energy to thinking about Basil that his posts, nine times out of ten, just write themselves.
He da mouse!
Character appearance (try to get at least 2 or 3 sentences for each section)
Hair description:Brown hair, just unruly enough to be slightly rakish. Brown fur with a lighter tan blaze under his chin. Basil does not plaster his hair down with grease or cream as so many Victorians did. No facial hair, as this would tend to limit one's disguises.
Facial description/mood/expressions:Basil has a rather handsome face, but then, I am a bit prejudiced. Green eyes, nose a trifle large, charming smile.
A mouse of extreme emotions, Basil can can be smug when triumphant, indifferent when bored, furious when irritated. While on a case, he takes on an intense, alert expression so pronounced as to be almost frightening, which is a marked contrast to his lethargic look in times of depression. And his expressions and mood can change in an instant and back again just as swiftly.
Clothing style:Like all proper English gentlemen, Basil is properly attired at all times. He wears respectable tweeds in the Victorian fashion, with high collar, waistcoat (vest), braces (suspenders), and sometimes spats, but these last are not de rigeur. He is fond of his Inverness overcoat, and wears a deerstalker, a country hat, even in town, as a sort of trademark, a nod to his country origin. He does on occasion wear other hats and would rarely be seen out of doors without one. One thing Basil does not wear is a watch; his great brain always knows what time it is.
Body build:Tall for a mouse, some three and one-eighth inches. Excessively lean, a characteristic that is only enhanced by Basil's tendency to ignore his need for food while on a case. He has wiry muscles honed through rigorous activity and quick movements to complement his active brain. Large feet (sorry, Basil, I had to say it).
Any unique traits (optional):Basil has some scars from various encounters with Ratigan, but they are generally concealed by his fur.
Original character analysis (In your own words and please be thorough)
Personality:
Basil sometimes shows manic-depressive tendencies, bursting with energy one minute, then dangerously depressed the next, particularly when he sees himself as failing in any area. These black moods can last for days, and can be broken by something that sparks his interest, typically a new case or a clue of some sort.
He has a well-developed ego; Basil is a genius and he knows it, but he is never obnoxious in the Gaston mode. He is much more likely to deprecate his achievements with false modesty and typical British understatement. Unfortunately, he does tend to focus so keenly on his own agenda that he might treat others rudely, ignoring or patronizing them on occasion. This, however, is not done on purpose, and he is generally sorry afterwards; that is, if he even realizes what he has done.
He is a leader, not a follower, and does not expect his advice to be ignored.
Basil is patriotically English and has the British antipathy for all things French, though it is not so pronounced as to be a prejudice. He also adheres to the British code of fair play. He would never attack an opponent when he's down or strike below the belt. Bad form, and all that.
He is a voracious reader, with immense stores of knowledge stowed away in his brain. Basil is continually seeking to add to that store, in order to be prepared for anything that might come up in a case. For example, Basil can currently identify 14 perfumes, 29 poisons, 32 brands of tobacco, and 65 cheeses, all by scent alone.
History:
Basil's mother Adelaide came from a good family which had fallen on hard times. A life of trouble and sorrow taught her to be patient, frugal and industrious, but also infused her with a fretful personality no amount of joy could ever truly efface. Basil's father Lionel was the scion of a noble family, and in line to inherit a title. But as a young man, he was sickened with the dissipation and degradation he saw in the upper echelon of British society. Turning his back on all around him, he was disinherited and began life anew as a common shopkeeper. He became a strict parent with high standards, but he was always fair and approachable.
Into this family, Basil was born, the youngest of four children. His genius displayed itself at a very early age, astonishing his parents when he taught himself to read at the age of two. His young brain craved stimulation, and the family had great difficulty keeping the boy supplied with books, which he read again and again until he learnt them by rote.
Even more distressing was Basil's ability to deduce volumes about others by simple observation. It was frightfully embarrassing to have a child blurt out to strangers details of their occupations, medical histories, and who knows what all. So Basil was taught to keep his thoughts to himself, particularly where his elders were concerned. But the lad was obedient and eager to please, and family life was generally happy, until he reached the age of six.
Basil yearned to attend school with his brothers and sister, for what could be more wonderful than learning new things every day? The reality, when it finally came, however, was a wretched disappointment. The rigid, unimaginative schoolmaster had no idea what to do with such a child prodigy, and attempted to force him into the standard mould. Never mind that Basil had already read and reread the textbooks of his elder siblings, he was expected to spend hours copying the alphabet and other such tasks far beneath his abilities. Little wonder that the lad was bored beyond measure and derided by the schoolmaster as lazy and uncooperative.
The older Basil grew, the more unlike his schoolmates he seemed to be. None of them cared for the odd boy very much, and, except for his own brothers, Basil had no real friends. He came to dread school, so much so that the very thought caused him nightmares. But through this dark period of his early years, Basil's family remained affectionate and staunchly loyal, and his home life was his haven.
His brightest joy during this time was the periodic trips to the great library in London, where his father would let him roam for hours, trying to quench that insatiable intellectual thirst. Although he devoured books on every subject, Basil's favourite tales were of medieval times: knights and quests and chivalry.
When he was still quite a lad, Basil witnessed an unusual incident in the quiet village: the arrest of a housebreaker who had been hiding in a nearby wood. Telltale mud on the felon's shoes spoke plainly to the young mouse of the criminal's recent whereabouts and aided the local constabulary in recovering the stolen goods. Basil was even called to appear as a witness in the trial. For once, his deductions were more than a peculiarity to be ashamed of. Indeed, they were a source of pride.
From that day, Basil determined to use his abilities to fight crime. Everything he read, he saw as potentially useful toward that end. He studied those about him more than ever, learning to tell their past, their occupations, almost their very thoughts from a mere glance. His parents attempted to steer their boy into a law career, but Basil's plans were set: he would attend a university to learn all he could possibly learn, then join the London force and work his way up to the rank of Police Detective. After all, prosecuting criminals would not be half as interesting as catching them.
When the village schoolmaster resigned, he was replaced by a new schoolmaster, or rather, mistress, a clever and vivacious spinster who saw Basil's potential and encouraged it. Basil blossomed under her tutelage, and was promoted beyond his years until that good lady declared she could teach him nothing more. Even a severe case of pneumonia that kept him home for months could not prevent Basil's completing school years before the other boys his age. As no university would accept him yet, Basil worked for a bit, saving money until, at the age of sixteen, he easily secured a full scholarship to one of the lesser-known universities.
Traveling up to London, Basil threw himself into academics. He took impossibly heavy class schedules, studying everything he thought would be useful in his chosen career. Chemistry, botany, law, anatomy, geology, besides the requirements of literature, history, and Latin...Basil tackled them all and acquitted himself brilliantly. He learnt fisticuffs and fencing. He joined the chess club and even the dramatics society, believing that acting ability would be helpful in undercover work. And he made friends for the first time in his life; some of the fellows were more intrigued than repulsed by his peculiarities. And for those who resented his brilliant mind, Basil didn't care a rap what they thought. He had a goal and he pursued it with single-minded fervour.
When one day, quite by accident, he encountered the human detective Sherlock Holmes, Basil suddenly realised his true calling was to become the rodent world's first private consulting detective. No need whatever to join the official police force and work one's way up through the ranks. Here was a chap...a human, it's true, but a successful man who was accountable to no one but himself, to whom clients came, bringing intriguing problems and paying for the solutions. Here was a career filled with excitement and infinite variety, a true stage for Basil's powers of observation and deduction.
Graduating the youngest man of his year, Basil moved to Baker Street (his poor landlady Mrs. Judson had no idea what she was getting into) to better study the methods of Mr. Holmes. He kept his family name a secret and adopted the nom de guerre of Basil of Baker Street, certain that, as he solved case after case, the underworld would soon be clamouring to do away with him and his loved ones.
Alas, there is more to starting a business than hanging out a shingle, and clients were not plentiful at first. A few modest successes paid the rent and put cheese on the table, but Basil needed some way to fill his too-abundant leisure time. He spent his days studying the environs of London, observing everything, and adding to his store of knowledge. He also put in an appearance at many a crime scene, attempting to prove his abilities to Scotland Yard, who thought of Basil as a meddler and a general nuisance.
At this time, Basil also tried his hand at dog-training. He believed a dog would be useful in tracking down criminals, but the task proved to be more difficult than anticipated. After several disasters that nearly ended in his being devoured, Mr. Holmes's assistant came home one day with a pup named Toby. The young animal proved a good deal more tractable than those other dogs, and Basil managed, with patience and endless treats, to train Toby to assist the mouse without eating him. Basil is quite fond of the hound, and considers himself the dog's true master.
Gradually, Basil became aware of a great brain behind much of the underworld activity in London; thus he encountered his greatest enemy, Prof. Ratigan. Whenever he had no case in hand, Basil delved deeper into the seemingly-respectable professor's affairs, seeking to uncover solid evidence to have the crime lord arrested. Their paths crossed on several occasions, and Ratigan soon shared the official police force's assessment of Basil.
After two highly-publicized cases, including solving the Trupshaw disappearance, Basil began to see his name in print at last and had truly arrived in his chosen profession. The pinnacle of his career thus far has been rescuing the Queen (God Save Her) and putting an end once and for all to Ratigan's evil machinations in the case that introduced him to his friend and biographer, Dr. Dawson. Now Basil has hopes to see his name in the next honours list and to be knighted as Sir Basil of Baker Street.
Ambitions:
-to be the greatest detective in the world (except for Mr Sherlock Holmes)
-to solve challenging, interesting cases
-to earn a comfortable living in his chosen profession
-to receive all the accolades he feels are his due
-to be knighted
-to constantly hone his detective skills
-to learn more about everything and anything
Strengths & abilities:
-genius-level intelligence
-expert in observation and deduction
-master of disguise
-knowledge of science
-mathematical wizard
-speaks French, Italian, Latin, Greek, and some Mandarin Chinese
-fencing
-boxing
-can fire a pistol, but is by no means an expert marksman
-plays the violin tolerably well
-plays chess, darts, billiards
Flaws:
-gigantic ego
-manic-depressive tendencies
-oblivious to the feelings of others
-sometimes rude
Likes:
-mysteries
-puzzles and cyphers
-cheese
-tea
-darts
-chess
-science, especially chemistry
-books
Dislikes:
-crime and criminals (ESPECIALLY Ratigan)
-cats
-children
-boredom
Fears:
Basil has no phobias, and is only as afraid of cats and other predators as prudence dictates. An uncommonly brave fellow, the closest thing he has to a true phobia is a fear of failure.
Anything to add?:
His prodigious intellect, coupled with his numerous character flaws, make Basil is one of the most well-rounded personalities in the Disney canon.
RP SAMPLE:
<<This is just my old RP sample--I hope it will do. If not, I can write something else.>>
Basil of Baker Street had never been to America before. What better place to observe that intriguing nation than in its largest vacation complex? He arrived at the TTC keen with excitement, absorbing every detail.
Taking a map from the brochure rack, he spread it on the sidewalk. "To explore a land as large as this, one needs information. What better place to find it than a map?" he said to himself. If only there was someone to talk to; observations were much more fun to make with a sidekick about to share them with.
Several areas of the Park immediately appealed to the diminutive detective. Innoventions promised an entertaining look at science, one of Basil's hobbies, and Adventureland sounded intriguing (he was always up for an adventure). Of course, World Showcase boasted a section about Dear Old England, but perhaps he would save that until he began to feel homesick.
He finally decided to begin with the Magic Kingdom. Main Street USA sounded like the best way to get a taste of typical American life, and there was a medieval castle at the end of it.
Basil left the brochure, never realizing that he was littering, so eager was he to begin exploring. Off he strode to board the monorail for the Magic Kingdom.
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