Tommy Amarant
Shuffle
Tommy Amarant  | ||||||||||||||
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| Portrayed by: | Adam Gregory |
Contents
Reputation
Neither Thomas or Shuffle are very known at all. He just showed up in Metropolis one day and took off flying away. Since then, Shuffle has been seen a few times...flying around, putting on small shows for petty cash, and stopping little crimes.
Allies
Seth Olsen has served as Tommy's magical apprentice to help gain better control over his powers.
Background
The Amarants were a small, middle-class family. Just Thomas, his parents and his two younger brothers. They lived in an apartment and seemed relatively normal. They weren't at all. Both of Thomas' parents were super villains?they met in prison and got married, escaped, and started a family together. Thomas, their first born, showed signs of metahuman ability early on and they started training him in how to control and use his powers as well as in the arts of thievery and crime. Thomas thought it was just all fun and games. At age thirteen, he was given his first costume and codename?'Cobalt Kid'.
Thomas' time as the Cobalt Kid was short. After about three 'jobs' with either of his parents?a bit of a Super Hero-Super Villain war began. Many times, Thomas heard his parents arguing about letting Thomas 'join them'. Eventually the decision was made for them when the fights were brought right outside their front door. Thomas saw his 'playmates', grabbed his costume, and went out to 'play'. His parents saw him out there and rushed out as well. During the fight?Thomas' father was captured and arrested while his mother managed to escape with him and his younger siblings. One night?she explained to Thomas that she was going to be going away for awhile and that she had a new game for him to play. He had to work on getting as much money as he could and give it to their 'grandfather'?the man she was leaving them with while she went to try and break Thomas' father out. She never explained to Thomas that she and his father were both wanted for crimes a lot worse than thievery?murder, terrorism, kidnapping?they weren't as nice to the rest of the world as they were to their kids.She told Thomas one last thing before she left?Thomas had to think up a new codename to go with the new costume she left for him.
The man she had left them with was not their 'grandfather'?but a powerful mob boss that agreed to protect the children as long as Thomas brought in cash. For one and a half years he did just that under the name of 'Gametime'. He wasn't nearly as successful as he had been before?often failing and getting beaten up?the while time thinking it was all just part of the game. Unfortunately ?his 'grandfather' didn't like the game very much?and when one of Thomas' younger siblings got sick, he wasn't given proper medical care and died. Then?while Thomas was out on a job?the 'grandfather' betrayed him and had some of his men attack the boy. He was saved by some of his 'rivals' but they soon got into a fight as well. He was allowed to leave the scene of the battle despite being outnumbered and vulnerable to capture for one simple reason?Thomas was a 'nice' villain. He never killed anyone?always made an effort not to hurt people?and even tried to refrain from fighting the heroes out of actual concern for them. There were times when he was 'defeated' simply by an older hero taking him for ice cream (back when he was younger). He returned in time to see his 'grandfather' shooting his remaining sibling pointblank. Enraged?Thomas beat the man until he started to reveal the truth behind the scenario?just what Thomas was and who his parents really were. Not willing to believe it?Thomas retreated further into his delusion and fled.
For a short while longer, 'Gametime' continued to steal with very little objective. Everything he stole just ended up piled up in crypt he was living in. During a job?Thomas came into conflict with an older villain with cosmic energy based powers as well as one of his 'rivals'. An accident during the fight sent them spiraling into an alternate future. It was one where the world was run by fear after another Hero-Villain war ruined things. Most of the 'heroes' had been killed?leaving the younger generation to develop into twisted and corrupt visions of their former selves. In the pursuit of justice and heroism?they'd become as bad as the villains the attacked. This?as well as seeing what the world might become was rather traumatic to Thomas. He was forced to shatter his delusion and 'grow up' very quickly in order to survive there. He was further shocked to discover that the entire start of the war had come when one of Thomas' 'rivals' was killed.
After Thomas and the other two that had been transported returned to their own time?Thomas set about on a plan to prevent the world he had seen from happening. In a move that really surprised the other villains, Thomas joined their plans for world conquest. When it came time to battle the group of heroes containing the one that was killed?Thomas attacked his 'teammates', ruining their plans and saving his 'friend'. This move was a sacrificial one. Thomas already didn't have a place among the heroes?as much as they liked him; he was still one of the 'bad guys'. Now he'd ruined his chances of finding a place with the other villains. Depressed?the then sixteen year-old Thomas tried to cheer himself up by stealing some gems. During the theft?some other villains found him?and beat him up, leaving Thomas for dead. Luckily, he was found by some of the younger heroes he considered 'friends'. They took him in and their healer fixed him up. The boy was then locked in the heroes' holding cell. For several days?he talked with the ones that came to visit him?told them everything?why he did what he did, who his parents had been, and about the future world he had seen. One sympathetic ear left the cell open?Thomas escaped, leaving behind all his villain gear as well as a map to all the hiding spaces he'd used. He also left a note saying that he was thankful to the heroes and that Gametime would not be coming back.
Months of wandering and searching for himself eventually led Thomas to a change of fortune. He entered into training with an old mage because he believed the training would lead him to answers as to what he should do in the world. He took quickly to the magic, seemingly possessing a natural talent for it. A few months into his training?Thomas was sent on a hike. A small accident sent him falling into a cavern?and right into the Shuffle powers. Instantly flooded with power, knowledge, and understanding?Thomas knew what he would do. He would return to the world and be a Hero. After telling his 'teacher' and receiving the man's blessings?Thomas donned the identity of Shuffle and returned to the rest of the world!
While Thomas was away, the Governments had become a lot less friendly towards hero-types but it didn't stop Shuffle from becoming well known and liked. He befriend many heroes and even some of the villains?convincing them to give up the villainous path. He became an effective hero. Sadly?one of his friends wasn't as loyal as Thomas would've liked to think?and revealed his identity?all of it, including his villainous past to the Government. They surged against him?arresting and putting him to a rigged trial. His sentence?permanent exile from the universe and life in a 'Holding Void'...an extra dimensional prison cell devised specially to hold super power 'criminals'. He'd spend a long time there?not needing to eat or drink?barely aging or sleeping?keeping his powers sharp to maintain sanity. One day?something?something big, punched a hole right through his prison?ripping open a dimensional vortex. Seeing a chance for escape?Thomas took it and after being whipped around helplessly for awhile?ended up in the middle of Metropolis. He spent a few moments staring at the confused people on the streets before flying off as fast as he could. Since then?Thomas has spent time learning about this new world, making some money, and slowly getting back into the hero game. He's ready to begin as a hero once again.
RP Logs
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