Crucial Stats:
Name: Alexander Stirling Scarlet
Age: Late thirties, born April 17th
Height: Five feet nine inches
Weight: One hundred and forty pounds
Hair: Dirty blonde
Eyes: Blue
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Sexuality: Demisexual, grey-aromantic
Religion: Agnostic
Relevant biographical information:
Born in Herne Hill, London, England
Orphaned after his parents, Paul and Claudia Scarlet, were killed in a car accident. Raised by his neglectful high society aunt, Isolde Blackburne.
Graduated from Oxford with a degree in literature and spent years afterward trying unsuccesfully to get his own novels and short stories published. Constantly rejected for “unoriginality.”
Immigrated to America and started his criminal career at the age of twenty-five. Lasted two and a half years as a prominent Gotham rogue before having a glass display case dropped on his head during an altercation with Batgirl (Barbara Gordon).
Spent a year in Arkham Asylum after his hospital stay, where he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Was the victim of medical malpractice at the hands of Dr. Penelope Young, who would repeatedly verbally abuse him during psychiatric sessions and deliberately give him wrong medication doses. Also bullied cruelly by Jonathan Crane, who took pleasure in “breaking him by talking.”
Burned the palms of his hands in a self-harm attempt to the point of permanent nerve damage during his criminal days. Now wears leather gloves to cover them.
Found work at Gotham Academy a year and a half after his release with a clean bill of health and rehabilitation funding. Now works there as a professor of English and drama.
Married Lydia Scarlet nee Limpet after five years of living with her. Now has four children with her—Isabella, Catherine, Amelia, and Jeremy.
Also considers Hayden Ayala and Samuel Robonico as part of the family, as well as Lydia’s extended family on her adopted father’s side.
Good friends with Kira Drake, Elsie Khalii, and Jervis Tetch. Frenemies-leaning-toward-friends with Edward Nygma. Sitcom nemesis of Edgar Heed. Sworn enemy of Jonathan Crane, Batman, and Gotham’s police force.
Still keeps his Men of Letters (his henchpeople from his crime days) as backup if he needs it. Printer’s Devil is the sniper, Typesetter is the medic, Pressman is the muscle and electrician, and Footnote is the gopher and undercover agent.
Does not get along at all well with Headmaster Hammer and will go out of his way to disboey him behind his back. Still very protective of the Academy’s students and trusts the members of Team Detective implicitly—he’s basically the Giles to their Scooby Gang.
Personal trivia:
Can whistle and read music, but not sing.
Always makes a little tutting or “oh!” sound when he’s annoyed, usually accompanied by rolling his eyes. Also makes a lot of “thinking noises” when he speaks and talks with his hands. Almost never uses slang.
Impeccable posture and a cat-like sense of cleanliness.
A very skilled gadgeteer as well as his eidetic memory and speedreading skills. Incredibly well-read and inventive.
Has terrible eyesight, but refuses to wear thick bulky glasses as a professor.
Never loses an opportunity to whip out a pithy literary quote, but gets very frustrated when people misquote things and will instantly correct them.
Has an abysmal sleep schedule and will normally stay awake into the wee hours of the morning. Very restless sleeper who tosses and turns a lot.
Owns three cats–two long-haired tuxedo cats named Ernest and Hercule and one ginger tabby named Lloyd. Also gets along surprisingly well with birds.
Is liable to consume himself with work or fly into a screaming rage over the smallest slight during manic episodes, but usually sits at his desk without moving from it or speaking during depressive ones. Extremely dilligent about taking his medications because he despises losing control.
Has post-traumatic stress reponses to prolonged discussion of Arkham Asylum or anything that reminds him of his time there.
Is the absolute living embodiment of the Superiority/Inferiority Complex and delights in being cheerfully passive-aggressive.
Favorite drink is English breakfast tea or Arabian coffee. Favorite food is roast chicken. Also snacks on peanuts when he’s anxious. Favorite sweet is cherry Danishes.
Has a specfic cafe in the academic district he and Lydia like to order from.
Often underweight as a child because of his aunt’s ill treatment.
Favorite books are Great Expectations, Jane Eyre, and The Time Machine.
Favorite movies are the original Universal Horror canon.
Favorite singer is Nat King Cole.
Disdains a lot of modern rogues and bemoans the needless violence and lack of “class”.
Can be a bit classist and elitist, especially in academic settings.
Walks everywhere if he can help it, only drives if he’s heading out of Gotham altogether.
Scrimped and saved to rent a small cabin for himself, Lydia, and the children whenever they need to get out of the city’s hustle and bustle.
A fairly strict, but still patient and fair teacher as well as parent.
First met Lydia in Blackgate Penitentiary after he was arrested the first time–she kicked his ass in a game of chess.
Once tried to discover Dream of the Endless’s secrets and ended up getting knocked out for a week of nightmares for his trouble. Is very cautious about magic ever since.
Very overly protective of the things and people he loves, tends to be distrustful on their behalf.
Owns basically no casual clothes, always dresses in his Academy attire (the tweed jackets and dress slacks, not the pleather Bookworm suit).
Very self-conscious about his thinning hair and thus will not take off his hat unless it’s for someone he trusts.
Likewise doesn’t like to be touched unless it’s by someone he trusts, will swat your hand away otherwise.
Usually shows verbal affection more often than physical affection. Can be extremely emotionally constipated, especially when he’s just starting to forge a relationship with someone.
Greatest fear is alienating his loved ones or making them afraid of him.
