Lao Cooper

Lao was born twenty years after The Melding, long after people had gotten used to how things worked and well into where all schools had manipulator-oriented clubs. Manipulators, spirits, and non-humans were a normal and common part of daily life by the time he came into the world.

His childhood was as normal as it really could be in the new world, and he was raised well by loving and honest parents, Amanda Cooper and John Cooper. His mother wasn't a manipulator, a normal woman in all regards, but that didn't stop her from getting a job and contributing to the household.

However, John Cooper, Lao's father, was something of a hero. One of the first generations of manipulators and a prime example of a human doing what they think is right in a world in upheaval, John often spearheaded rescue and recovery efforts to help people affected by the Melding. On top of that, he was someone who was always seen fighting against the new dangers that had appeared with the new changes to the world, and he had a stellar track record for rescues and monster suppression. And he did it purely because he thought that, since he could help people with his powers, he should. An honest and good man... who met an unfortunate end on one mission and never came back home.

The loss of his father hit the young Lao pretty hard. He was only 12 at the time, and he felt like his worldview had been destroyed. In the eyes of the boy, his father had been invincible, an unstoppable paragon of goodwill. But... it destroyed his mother even more. That was her husband, and she had always feared this outcome given John's personality. Having her worries verified in this way was the worst outcome. Even as the years had passed, she never really got over the loss, and her fear for her son came to light soon after... seeing how he was growing up a lot like his father in many ways.

Though she also had other concerns regarding her son.

Lao had manifested powers as a Manipulator when he was a child. But it was mostly formless, and it hadn't properly manifested yet. Which brought up many questions from the boy's school and his parents for a long time. But... it was only recently that he had properly manifested something. After losing his father.

A simple pair of black fingerless gloves. And that was all.

Amanda had concerns for her son going forward... knowing that he wanted to be like his father. Knowing that he wanted to live up to his example... she could foresee troubles in her son's path with a weak aspect.

Troubles indeed did arise. In middle school, Lao struggled with any sort of aspect training, and the teachers didn't really know what to teach the child. So the boy instead focused on strengthening his body, honing his muscles and his form. He studied martial arts of several forms, participated in several non-manipulator sports, and really just dedicated himself to physical training. He had to... what was he supposed to do with a pair of gloves?!

But it was when he got to high school that despair really began to set in for the boy. The school had a ranking system for the students, their aspects, and even combat rankings. The students had 'grades' based on their physical capability, and a similar 'grade' on their aspect. The students were also all registered on a leaderboard, where they could view how they stacked up against the rest of the school. The combat ranking.

Lao was ranked A in physical capability while his aspect was ranked... F. The absolute worst grade, that was actually extremely rare. Several categories were used to grade an aspect, but Lao's aspect was so dull, simple, lackluster and useless that they could only give him the lowest rank. He HAD an aspect, but they were... a pair of gloves! They didn't seem to do anything at all! F was all they could give him.

His mother was just as heartbroken as her son was, after having gotten an official ranking for his aspect. But she chose to support him anyway. He dreamed of being a hero like his father, so she should support her son's ambitions, right? She chose to be the one person to believe in her son, even if nobody else would. Even if everyone else looked down on him and mocked him, she would always be there to support him as he chased after the bright figure of his father, and her late husband.

It was largely thanks to his mother's support that Lao continued to carry his ideals and dream, and despite the warnings of his 'betters' and his teachers, he continued to stay in a Mainipulator's School... to fight, train, and take steps forward, even if it was only a little at a time.

His aspect might be bad, but so what? He would compensate for it with grit, soul, and a whole lot of physical training!