Player Name: Lucifine
Age: 26
Contact: love_struck
Timezone: EST/EDT
Other character currently in game: Mia Fey

Character name: Spike Spiegel
Age: 27
Canon: Cowboy Bebop
Canon point: Post The Real Folk Blues, Part II after killing his rival.
History: Wiki link

Three key adjectives: Brash, softhearted, smooth

Influential Events:

ADOPTION

Though we know little about Spike's child hood, we do know that he and Vicious were brought under the wings of the Red Dragon Crime Syndicate's then Capo, Mao Yen Rai. The Syndicate, despite teaching Spike and Vicious to be, well, vicious killers, also gave them a better life than they had before; they were genuinely admired by Mao Yen Rai, especially Spike. Members of the syndicate grew to admire Spike, even to the point of his helping to instill Mao Yen Rai with a need to reduce the amount of killing as well as to start making amends with their rival syndicate, The White Tigers. Friendly and charismatic despite his penchant for gang crime and killing, Spike earned the respect and love of many associated with the Syndicate, including his best friend Vicious's girlfriend, Julia. He also won her love, of course, as no story is complete without an ill-fated love triangle. Spike (as he describes in the movie) feels for the first time as though he might be afraid to die, to lose what he has while living.

LOSS

But when the only way of leaving a crime syndicate is death and you're in love with your best friend's girlfriend, you do stupid shit like fake your death except for when your girlfriend actually tries to make you dead. Spike survived, however, leaving the syndicate with his eye compromised. A confrontation in a church, foggy, with no Julia to speak of, and Spike has to make his way out alone and simply wait for her. Time passes, and she doesn't reappear, but Spike is sure she's still out there. He grows cold again, feeling as though his fake death was a full death of his spirit.

AND GAIN

Saddled with heartache and a doctor's bill for a new eye, Spike sets out to become a bounty hunter. It keeps him on the move (meaning none of the Syndicate will be sure he's alive, at least not for long) and occasionally brings in the money- but more than that, he's found a companion in the form of Jet Black, former cop. It seems like Spike's heartache hadn't destroyed his charisma and want for companionship, no matter how much Spike would complain about hating kids, dogs, and women with attitudes.

Aaaand of course, one of each joins the crew and weasels their way into his heart; Ein, the genetically enhanced super-smart Corgi Spike is sure he and Jet can drop off or sell but always seem to keep fed and safe; Ed, the bouncy and vivacious super-genius hacker known throughout the galaxy not as the small child she is, who Spike and Jet damn near cry over when she leaves to start a new journey; and Faye, the recently cryogenically-unfrozen gambler with little memory of her life 70 years ago who when threatened by the Syndicate during a hunt is referred to as a 'friend' by Spike-- and who Spike kills an offending Syndicate member ruthlessly for. Crabby as he is, Spike forms a dumb little family with them and somehow? They actually get kind of good at catching bounties, when they decide to work together instead of against each other.

TO AN END

But the danger surrounding them doesn't draw to an end. Even as Spike tries to stay out of Vicious's path (and even when he tries to intercept it), Vicious is working on his own plans to take over not just the capo role of the Red Dragon Syndicate, but also the counsel that leads it called the Van. While Faye, Ed, and Ein leave for their own reasons (some of Faye's being frustration with Spike's 'I-have-to-do-this-alone' attitude), Spike becomes increasingly concerned for their safety as well as the safety of many when Vicious's plans to take over the Syndicate come to fruition. Spike's near-mother Anastasia is killed, and after Julia dies in his arms just after he's found her again, Spike is faced with the fact he can't keep playing this running-away game until Vicious is gone, even if it takes him out too. Despite even Jet protesting, Spike sets off to destroy not just Vicious, but the whole syndicate, once and for all.

After collaborating with fellow syndicate member Shin, Spike is able to infiltrate the Syndicate and pretty much go on a killing spree of anyone and everyone loyal to Vicious, before their final showdown is held. Though Spike is able to best Vicious, he is exhausted and takes damage. While it's debated by fans (and even Watanabe has voiced support for various interpretations) as to whether or not that damage to Spike is fatal, one thing is sure; he ends his story going out with a Bang.


Link to Samples: Link to Sample 1; Link to Sample 2;

Chosen path: Dancer
7 Abilities: Hidden Gun Knife, Quick Employment, Acrobatics, Allure, Hex, Shocking Grasp, Calm Emotions
Why this path?: Many paths suit him, but Dancer relates specifically to his expressive use of kung-fu in a dancing like manner, often 'choreographed' to music by the episode. His smooth movements, described as being like water (another kung-fu mindset), are reminiscent of capoeira as well, even when he's gun fighting-- just not when he's too angry.