Profile
A dangerous cybercriminal who might be possessing your at iPhone at this very moment. Saw The Matrix when he was like 12 and is still chasing the high. That tall, dark figure grumbling in the shadows... it's none other than Cybergeist!! This slightly livelier version of Shirley spends his days heisting around with his villainous pals, making for lighter stakes and sillier times all around.
Header art by BlankStorefront
PERSONALITY
Aloof and sullen, yet remarkably devoted - and a little cocky. His cold demeanor and curt responses form what appears to be an imposing, impenetrable brick-wall exterior. To most folks he seems chronically bored at best, or perpetually irritated at worst. This tends to just put people off right out the gate. Which suits Shirley just fine, as it turns out, since he's an misanthropic weirdo with a limited capacity for social interaction. I know you say you're doing it deliberately to "keep assholes away", but it's ok Shirley, we all know it's your maladaptive social anxiety coping mechanism, we understand.
Of course, his little handful of friends & loved ones know that there's nothing intimidating about this big sad sack dweeb. In good company he reveals his embarrassingly dorky sense of humor, his pathetically whiny tendencies, and his surprisingly empathetic nature. On the job - the supervillain job - he brings forth a smug confidence that's almost as charming as it is hilarious. Like, dude, you pass out and possess escalator mechanisms, you are not that cool I'm sorry. At the worst of times, though, he proves himself to be a reliable pillar of emotional support, offering a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on for any friend who's stuck in a bad spot.
His interests include cyberpunk action movies, early 2000's techno, all things computers, and internet memes that're well past their expiration date.
BACKGROUND
As a consequence for his poor grades and general disrespectful behavior (ugh, fuck you, mom), this Shirley spent his sixteenth summer on this godforsaken earth at a disciplinary government-run "summer camp". Emphasis on the quotation marks. In true Superverse fashion, what was advertised to shitty parents as a boot-camp for troubled youths was actually a program for testing experimental super-tech on kids & teens. Though he was never reprogrammed, he did get a cybernetic brain-stem jammed into his head all the same. Deeming his resulting superpowers to be, uh, shitty, the higher-ups decided this kid could be discharged. Not so for his new friend Vivian, unfortunately...
Flash forward ten or so years, and Cybergeist is just one of many cybernetically-enhanced losers who's got a bone to pick with the suits in charge. Alongside Queen Cobra, GR13FR, and Hijack, he's out for thrills & vengeance, committing petty crimes & treacherous sabotage with reckless abandon. As it turns out, though, Shirley's really the responsible older brother of the group. He enjoys the ride, sure - but first and foremost, he's doing his best to keep his daredevil friends from getting themselves killed out there.
RELATIONSHIPS
Elaine - "My wife is a bitch and I love her so much." Elaine & Shirley may be the boringest straight couple ever, but their mutual even keel is honestly sweet and respectable.
Bailey - Who's a good girl? Who is it? Is it you?? Is it Bailey? Is Bailey the good girl?
Vivian - Shirley's longtime best friend turned adoptive sister, as always. Don't let the goons on r/supervillains fool you; Cybergeist is Queen Cobra's sidekick, not the other way around.
Emmy - A close (albeit obnoxious) friend and cybercrime partner. When troubles arise with her android mechanisms, Emmy can confide in Shirley's powers and expertise.
Owen - Shirley begrudgingly tolerates Owen's theatrics. They get along better when drunk or heisting. B^/
