A seeker of greater enlightenment and a truly tender soul, Jasper studied at the
Gardens of the Moon to enrich himself and to bring comfort to others. After a few years at the Gardens, the disaster of Planet X motivated many there to apply their unique skills to soothe the physical, mental, and emotional stresses the tragedy caused. Now aboard the Artful Venture, Jasper continues to try and bring relief to all he can, as well as acting as the ship's doctor.
Personality
Jasper is the perfect host and the perfect guest, charming and easy to like. He seems patient, kind, giving, loving...but just as easily, he can also seem insistent, assertive, imperious, and with lofty standards. The true Jasper is some combination. He's not perfect, but he knows how to cultivate a good image. He doesn't let his hair down, so to speak, with just anyone. But those who get to know him will find he's a good person and, deep down, chiefly wants to help others, especially to heal them. It is a deep desire of his to spread healing and understanding through the universe, as much as he is able. If he has to go through hardship to accomplish this, then so be it. He has tremendous dedication and focus, but he also struggles at times with the state of things and his life. So it goes, and he knows he's not alone in finding his meaning and his still point in the cosmos.
Background
Jasper would never say he had an easy life, but his life wasn't entirely fraught with tragedy or despair. After scraping by for some time, unfulfilled and taking positions in ports and stations and the occasional colony, he made the decision to study at the Gardens of the Moon, a sort of temple dedicated to sensual healing and enlightenment. After some years there, learning their craft and enriching himself, the disaster of Planet X motivated him and many others at the Gardens to venture out into the universe. Initially, they concentrated heavily on supplementing existing treatment of survivors and victims of the disaster, but as time passed, Jasper and many others ventured out farther and spread out to offer more healing to a wider range of people in need.
SKILLS
COMBAT - Competent: Unfortunately, love and intimacy cannot solve all the problems of a universe in the midst of a multifaceted power struggle. As such, Jasper is trained in hand-to-hand combat and also proficient with an array of armaments. He prefers weapons that he considers more honorable (or just more fun, such as whips) but is a very good shot and can handle firearms better than the average person.
COMPANIONSHIP - Expert: Jasper is an excellent companion and skilled at conversation, being a gracious host, and virtually any element of entertaining. He is conversent in many traditions, knows what is considered polite and what is not in all major cultures and a diverse selection of certain less widespread ones, and picks up on new information readily.
EXPRESSION - Expert: Jasper is very good at certain types of artistic expression, but he can at least appreciate art that he does not personally create. He knows enough about art and expression that he can also provide intelligent commentary and critique, as well as contribute constructively to the creation of something.
FIRST AID - Competent: Jasper is trained in first aid, and he can make do with what he has in order to treat wounds, injuries, and disease.
MEDITATION - Competent: Jasper is extremely good at focusing his mind and highly self-disciplined through a number of meditative methods.
MEDITECH - Competent: Jasper is fully-trained in the operation of medical technology that typically fills a medbay on any ship. While this tech is meant to be easily-operated and generally accessible, Jasper has the knowledge to diagnose and skip some steps that those without his knowledge and training would have to go through. He is also able to perform simple medical procedures using the machinery provided to him, and he can of course use the standard items of a medbay on a professional level.
PILOTING - Competent: Perhaps the lower side of competent but nonetheless in that level, Jasper is trained in piloting and can pilot most vehicles if he has to. He is best at piloting with technological assistance and is lower level without it, but he can generally be trusted to make something move from point A to point B without endangering people's lives even in that case.
PLANTS - Competent: Jasper is not only well-informed about plants and their roles in healing and treating people, but he is also very good at raising them. Although a controlled environment such as a greenhouse is ideal, he can raise plants almost anywhere with a strong likelihood of success. A few plants, mainly those he uses regularly in his work, are easier for him than others may be.
SENSE HEALING - Expert: Jasper is excellent in a number of methods of healing and comforting through sensory input. Sensuality, to him, is a broad and deep subject, with a range of approaches. He understands color therapy, aromatherapy, touch therapy, and so much more. Jasper typically tries to employ as many methods of sensory engagement and healing as possible, for optimal effect.
SOCIAL - Expert: Jasper can read indications of other things in social situations. Social tells, hints at people's relationships, and of course what a person likes and dislikes are all fairly simple for him to pick up on. It's easy for him to tell when someone's being genuine and when someone's lying, most of the time. He is also especially talented at telling what people like in more private, direct circumstances.
POWERS
EMPATHY - Basic: Jasper has a fundamental ability to sense the basic emotions of others. Typically these are most accurate readings within his immediate area, but he can, with focus and effort, extend this range to the size of a decently-sized building. The farther someone is from him, the less reliable the impressions may be, and the less exactly the feeling is conveyed.
HEALING - Enhanced: Jasper has the ability to enhance the systems of the body, resulting in the ability to heal injury and disease. His own system is naturally very quick to heal and gifted with strong recovery, but he is also able to extend his remarkable recuperative powers to others. To do this, however, he has to be in physical contact with the other person and essentially shares his very essence with them. Because of that, it also causes Jasper to experience what they are feeling, which is usually unpleasant. The bond can only continue as long as Jasper maintains physical contact, though that contact can be established through fabric or other thin materials.
ADVANTAGES
MEDIC In areas of conflict, Jasper is identifiable as a medic. This makes him, with most who would be concerned about the repercussions, someone not to be harmed.
PRESTIGE To those who know the truth of Jasper's profession and his background, he is regarded as one of the most prestigious and upstanding VIPs that they could ever encounter. He may, in certain circumstances, choose to use this impressive sway to influence others and accomplish goals more easily.
WEAKNESSES
DISTINCTIVE Jasper is good at costume and makeup. He's definitely not bad at disguise. But there's a quality about him that makes going unnoticed more difficult than it is for some. He is usually memorable, especially in the face.
EMPATHY Jasper's healing requires him to both be in physical contact with the subject, and to experience their feelings through empathy. Since most situations that require healing are ones where the subject is feeling unpleasant, it is generally an unpleasant experience. Because of this, his healing is usually regarded as something other than the first option.
HEALING In some less enlightened areas and with some less enlightened people, Jasper's superhuman abilities may be frightening, or equated with evil powers. This could lead to sticky situations, especially if he is forced to use them due to dire circumstances.
PROFESSION Because of the power struggle and many various groups vying for influence and authority in space, perspectives differ on Jasper's profession. Some think he's just some prostitute, and others just don't take him seriously. Some imagine he's a member of some weird, dangerous cult. He has to be careful and discrete, and it can add difficulty to him doing what he does best.
