The ideal situation for Tyson would then to be paired with a small team of people he knows. Though they would never end up working together naturally, Tyson would ideally be part of a five-man team alongside Sebastian Moran, Lex, John Watson, & Levi McCullum.
When there isn’t an apocalyptic level event happening to force them all to unite towards a common goal, the best bet is to pair Tyson with somewhere between three to ten people who all bring a unique - and necessary - skill to the table and to put him in charge of that group.
That way, Tyson is forced to utilise the people at his disposal as each one is essential and cannot be dismissed by his skewed sense of fair play. He is forced to step up and trust his instincts as a leader and there is a reasonable number of people for most tasks.
The last person Tyson would have slept with would be Sebastian or Lex.
He isn’t fond of one night stands and whilst fooling around with Lex seems like the more likely last time, Tyson has been known to tumble into bed with Sebastian once more during temporary truces between the two of them.
Corruption!Verse and Redemption!Verse are the exceptions, where Tyson’s last time would be sharing the bed of Levi & Sienna McCullum. Naturally, Sienna was the one to suggest this and - as always - Levi & Tyson shared a shrug, then nodded along with her plan.
Whilst Tyson has shared their bed in every verse where he knows them, that has only ever been for sleep. Corruption/Redemption!Verse are the only places where Tyson is consistently confident and comfortable enough in himself that Sienna would feel comfortable propositioning him.
Beyond not trusting strangers enough to touch him, and his usual suspects consisting of someone who keeps trying to beat him into near death and someone who’s ego does not need any fluffing, Tyson tends not to have sex that often because he doesn’t feel as though the reward is worth the effort.
Tyson is more than happy to go along with whatever will bring his partner pleasure and he certainly enjoys sex, but he is prone to sensory overload after sex and his drop from climax is more often than not a harsh drop back to reality, which can end up overruling whatever pleasure he might have felt.
A mercenary? A pilot? A prostitute? A realtor? A solicitor? Sure, if you’d like~
A man of many talents, Lex is whatever he is needed to be. So long as that thing is a smartarse. If he can’t provide what is being asked of him, he’ll either find someone who can from a seemingly endless list of people who owe him favours, or he’ll learn to provide it next time.
He’s loyal to his next pay check, nothing else. Until the web stops providing that pay for him, that is where his loyalty lays. Though Lex has no love for the Moriarty Mirrors, he sings theirs praises and flirts with them at any opportunity, but if left alone with a mop, Lex would start flirting. And likely succeed.
Though Lex usually isn’t Tyson’s first choice to fulfill a mission for the web, preferring someone who has mastered the one specific trait he needs for the job at hand, the former Lieutenant and - supposedly - former Major have ended up working together many times. One man of many talents who actually enjoys his company is better than bringing along half-a-dozen other employees, who largely dismiss him as the second-hand pet.
Tyson knows to keep an eye on Lex, that as soon as someone is brazen enough to offer him a better deal Lex would betray the web. However, Tyson genuinely enjoys Lex’s company. At times his constant need to fill silence with jokes can get on Tyson’s nerves, but for the most part it’s reciprocal; throwing quips back and forth, using barbed insults as compliments, flirting as a first line of defense and because it’s simply fun.
After getting paid, fun is Lex’s main priority. He want to have fun, he wants to be fun, and that is how Tyson thinks of him. He is an explosion of jokes and smiles, and damn near costing them multiple undercover jobs because he broke character into waves of laughter mid-con. In return, Tyson is a lot more fun around him. He’s willing to let his hair - if not his guard - down. Tyson’s behaviour and morals reflects those around him, and Lex is a kaleidoscope of fun.
When Lex says he needs a hand, Tyson nods and agrees; then sends a flurry of texts to make sure that it’s a job for the web, or at least not damaging to the web if it’s an independent contract. When Lex says he is in deep water and desperately needs Tyson’s help or he’ll die, Tyson rolls his eyes, orders take-out, and makes some coffee to bring with him for whatever stake-out Lex is currently bored out of his mind on.
When Lex is riding high from a job well done and runs his hand up Tyson’s thigh, Tyson doesn’t falter. He nods and threads his fingers through soft greying hair, pulling Lex closer. Knowing that it’s just fun, that there are no consequences to agreeing or declining. There will always be another time, whether its just fooling around or rolling between the sheets. It’s all in good fun, just blowing off steam.
Knowing that Lex is infinitely less annoying when his mouth is busy, Tyson goes out of his way to buy ice-lollies for Lex; specifically Rowntree’s Fruit Pastille Ice Lollies, because of how perfectly they match the colours Tyson’s Synesthesia projects onto Lex.
His name is Liam Edward Xavier. Or was is Lewis Eliot Xavier? Or perhaps, Leonard Elijah Xavier? Lex may even be short for Alexander. He’s pretty consistent about Xavier, so that’s properly true and when he’s half-awake or drunk, there’s no mistaking that his Irish accent is genuine. He consistently comes back to the rank of Major in his cons, so Tyson suspects that part may also be true.
Ultimately, Tyson isn’t concerned about what the truth is around Lex. He’s harmless. He wouldn’t hesitate to slit Tyson’s throat if someone offered a better deal than the web, but - as no one can offer Lex something better - he remains utterly harmless.
Whenever he’s on a job with Lex, Tyson has two options: let Lex go smoke on his own and get into trouble or to keep an eye on him. Needing his wildcard in hand to be useful, Tyson nearly always chooses to accompany him. Then one of two things happen, he’ll accept his offer to share a cigarette or he’ll decline and end up shotgunning the smoke from Lex anyway.
Lex is useful in his role as a wildcard. He can mix up the deck and disrupt the web in a way that keeps the Moriarty Mirrors entertained, without causing too many problems. Naturally, he does end up causing problems here or there, but Tyson has his wildcard in hand: be that the metaphorical hand on his wallet, or the literal hand cupping him through his jeans.
Lex has a pet caramel carpet python called Toffee. She was originally called caramel, but Lex grew frustrated by the inevitable debate about how that word was pronounced and changed the name to Toffee instead. He genuinely loves Toffee and her terrarium takes up an entire wall of his apartment.
Allegedly: Major Liam Edward Xavier, a.k.a. Lex
UNIVERAL TRUTHS
Blood Type: O Negative
Date of Birth: January 17th 1970 – Capricorn - Rooster (Earth)
DnD Alignment: Lawful Evil
Dominant Hand: Left
Ethnicity: White, Irish
Myers Briggs Type: ENTP-A | The Debater
Orientation: Pansexual
Religion: Catholic raised
Signature:
FAVOURITE
Favourite Animal: Bush Viper
Favourite Author: Neil Gaiman
Favourite Colour: Red
Favourite Film: Dungeons & Dragons
Favourite Food: Mango-Mint Smoothie
Favourite Plant: Moon flowers
Favourite Poem: The Charge of the Light Brigade - Alfred Tennyson
VERSE DEPENDANT
Avatar Element: Water
His Dark Material’s Dæmon: Chameleon
Hogwarts House: Slytherin
Hybrid!Verse Pairing: Leopard Gecko
Mass Effect Species: Drell Biotic
Pokémon Team: Girafarig, Serviper, Shuckle, Camerupt, Kecleon, & Zorua.
Tyson attended Atlas Academy, and later chose to remain with the army, to spite his father: the late John Delaney. He trained as a fighter at a smaller hunter school before joining the army, to spite his father: the late John Delaney. He made it to the rank of Lieutenant, before Sebastian forced his hand into abandoning. Now, he uses his skills in his work for the Moriarty Mirrors.
In this AU, Tyson is a faunus; specially, a (Roe) deer faunus, not that most people could tell. He shaves down his antlers regularly and hides the slight stumps under a beanie. Though he misses his antlers and shaving them down can hurt if he’s not careful, Tyson thinks that it’s worth while to keep his identity hidden. Even in the criminal world, faunus aren’t always welcome.
Tyson’s weapon is a shield that transforms into a combination [fencing] sabre/estoc. When out of combat, it’s usual resting position is a circular shield that straps onto Tyson’s back, typically over his rucksack. His shield is silver with purple details, while the estoc has a silver and purple striped blade and a silver hilt/handle with purple accents. His weapon’s tertiary form is a glock-style handgun, primarily silver with purple accents; and uses the same hilt/handle of the sword form. He uses a variety of magazines each with a different type of Dust.
He uses Dust explosions to hide his strikes, thrown from vials kept on his belt. Tyson, also, uses rocks and earth for cover in fights; such as hitting up dust* with the sabre to blind opponents. Though being part of the web means that Tyson has access to any type of Dust he desires, Tyson tends to only keep three types on his person at any one time; liking the ability to adapt on the fly, without being weighted down by too many vials or magazines: that could be struck and explode accidentally. Largely he uses earth, ice, & gravity with water, steam, & lightening substituting where necessary. *real dust, fine dirt.
Tyson rarely uses his semblance. To effectively access it, Tyson needs complete concentration and to stay perfectly stationary; rarely possible mid-combat. His semblance is a shockwave that pulses out of his aura in all directions. Primarily it exerts forces against anything it contacts, but - providing that Tyson is aware of his surroundings - he can make it pass through/over something without damaging it; such as a team mate. It will sustain for as long as Tyson can keep still and focused, and has aura remaining; more powerful shockwaves will shake him too and break his concentration.
In his RWBY AU, Tyson has his emblem tattooed between his shoulder blades. He had it done - alongside his teammates having their own tattooed - when he was in a team with Captain Samson, Hal Malone, & Bùi Kimiko; before meeting The Colonel and before the dent in his torso was formed.
Tyson’s original team was ATHK (Artichoke), led by Andrew Samson. Now, Tyson is the leader of TCLD (Stormcloud) with Charlie Hotchner, Lex, & Dick Gannon. Though he and Sebastian were partners in the Atlesian army, they were never on an official huntsman team together.
Tyson’s emblem represents a (digital) map pointer, a compass needle, & a compass rose. A compass pointer/rose rotates, as his weapon does, and resembles a shining sun; with one falling silhouette, who flew too close.
A motif continued in some of the other emblems. His mentor, Andrew Samson, has burning wings, or Roman-esque laurels, too close to the flames. Hal and Lex - who Tyson could have been, and who could have been Tyson in another life - have wings: Hal, as doomed to fall in glory as Tyson, and Lex with his false Caduceus; harming, rather than healing.
Kim, golden and glowing, has her arrows; fallen feathers, ready to shoot Tyson - and anyone else - completely out of the sky. Charlie’s favourite flower is Foxgloves, and here she is a fox who fights with her fists. And lastly, Dick: simple and to the point, he’s a salty old guard dog who has a trident and a shield. Simple.
Team ATHK - Artichoke
Andrew Samson - Atlas - Flint & Steel || Tattoo on the centre of his chest Weapon: Fire-Dust infused parrying dagger & scimitar/SMG & Hunting Rifle Semblance: Practically immune to fire damage, redirects fire into his weapon.
Hal Malone - Atlas - Aether & Fortuna || Tattoo on his left upper arm Weapon: Javelin/Spear/Wind and Fire Wheels & Off-hand Revolver Semblance: Never discovered before death.
Bùi Kimiko - Mistral - Neith || Tattoo on the back of her neck Weapon: Recurve Bow/Twin Dao/Double-Barrel Automatic Shotgun Semblance: Quickly travel/teleport as a burst of gold-aura that leaves a trail of smoke.
Sebastian Moran - Vale - Vae Victis - Tiger Faunus (Tail) Weapon: High-Caliber Sniper Rifle/Zweihänder with removable Rapier core Semblance: Can activate his aura to boost his strength to tiger levels.
Team TCLD - Stormcloud
Charlie Hotchner - Vale - Glamour & Valour - Fox Faunus (Ears) Weapon: Dust-infused knuckledusters & Bladed-Tonfas/Kusarigama/Shotguns Semblance: Can manipulate her aura to appear invisible.
Lex - Vacuo - Midas Weapon: Revolver Dust-infused Bo-Staff/Escrima Sticks/Nunchaku/Blow Dart Semblance: When touching another’s aura, ‘saps’ its energy to enhance his own aura.
Dick Gannon - Mistral - Bulwark & Corvus Weapon: Expanding Scutum Shield & Trident/High-Caliber Sniper Rifle Semblance: Can repel liquids, from redirecting rain off his aura to ‘walking on’ water.
Originally from Atlas, Tyson works in Mistral & Vacuo within the web.
In this verse, the Delaney family is notable for making a place for themselves as a faunus family within the Atlas elite; a place they fought tooth and claw to secure, and continued to ruffle metaphorical feathers by primarily hiring other faunus.
Anne Samantha Williams - Marsh Harrier (Wings)
James Delaney - Rabbit (Ears)
Jasmine Dartmoor - Persian (Ears)
Jethro Andrew Delaney - Brown bear (Ears)
John Delaney - Gemsbock (Antlers)
Richard Delaney - Wolf (Ears)
Rosie Delaney - Mountain Lion (Tail)
His aura is maroon and his semblance manifested at a family ball, when a drunk patron began tugging on Tyson’s antlers and threatening to snap them off. When using his semblance or activating his aura, the remaining stumps of his antlers glow like beacons under his beanie, alongside any red in his clothes; like the red in his gloves and the red stripe of his beanie.
Alongside his actual weapon, Tyson keeps a secondary/back up weapon on hand: a store-bought dust-powered pistol/dagger - Pale Sigil that doesn’t require him to carry additional ammo. His weapon is called Triumph, because it uses three separate forms:
Throughout all three stages of Triumph, the handle/hilt with its dual-triggers (and open end for ammo magazines/dust vials) remains the same. To change between the three forms, Tyson rotates the handle in a particular direction. From the sword, rotating clockwise changes the weapon into a pistol and counter-clockwise goes to the targe-style shield.
As a pistol (Tres), Triumph has three modes of fire further augmented by the type of ammo that Tyson is using: single shot, three round burst, and fully automatic. The scope uses a red circle-dot sight and he can turn the guidance laser on/off as desired. Largely Tres is used as a mid- to long-range distance closer.
As a light-weight finesse sword (Trois), Tyson can load in a vial of dust to affect the strikes: typically with ice to freeze opponents once a strike lands. The tapering blade is shaped like an estoc, but has slightly less length; the length of a fencing saber. Tyson generally uses Trois as one would a fencing sword or rapier to fight in his preferred close- to mid-range.
As a targe-style shield (Drei), Triumph’s handle becomes the front grip for his hand and a second securing strap appears behind it for use on either arm. Typically Drei is only used to defend against a particularly strong attack, but he will use it with his backup weapon and vials of dust when he knows he’s in a tricky position.
The purple pattern on Drei is the central part of Tyson’s emblem, based on a compass rose and the sun. Having partially based each form of Triumph off of weapons his family used in the Faunus Rights Revolution & Great War, Tyson decided to keep the traditional family purple rather than matching his own maroon aura.
To keep the element of surprise, Tyson can spin Triumph through several forms before pausing on the desired mode. When not in use, Triumph stays as Drei and attaches to the metal plate on the back of his rucksack. It can stay in any form, but Tyson finds a shield safer to carry around than a gun or a sword.
As mentioned here, Tyson’s ideal Pokémon team is as follows.
Within his Pokémon AU, Tyson has, used to have, or someone he cares about deeply/could have been in another lifetime has one of these Pokémon.
His Pokémon AU isn’t about Tyson having his ideal Pokémon. It’s Tyson working with a squadron of many Pokémon as his needs change, often working with Pokémon he isn’t as close to in order to achieve a specific thing or training Pokémon for other people.
He has many Pokémon on his team that don’t particularly suit him, but Tyson came across them injured and couldn’t bear to leave them. Unlikely friendships made along the way. It’s a more ‘realistic’ ensemble and, as such, some of the Pokémon that would be perfect for Tyson are not on his team.
Tyson used to have his perfect match Pokémon, Raichu, until it was gifted to his nephew James; now nicknamed Rai.
If Tyson could only have one Pokémon, it would be Raichu. Raichu is Tyson’s perfect match, which is why Tyson needed to give away his own Raichu to his nephew James.
Beyond wanting to avoid too closely paralleling Ash and his Pikachu, it made more sense with Tyson’s sense of rivalry/competitiveness to have Lucario as his partner than the too complimentary Raichu.
A buddy-cop system, rather than two identical idiots running around together.
Raichu was the perfect Pokémon for Tyson to have previously. To be a lingering sense of nostalgia for him, even as he proudly watches Rai grow with his nephew James.
A sense of what could have been, had he walked a different path, away from The Colonel and the Moriarty Mirrors.
Raichu represents something of a core-tenant about Tyson’s personality.
Regardless of verse or thread, Tyson is loyal, he is a mathematical prodigy, he is an anxious ball of stress held together by a stubborn refusal to die, despite that our little Icarus is completely self-sacrificing, despite that he refuses to take ‘unnecessary’ risks, and Raichu is Tyson’s perfect partner Pokémon.
Tyson’s view of Sebastian’s Gyarados are rather similar to his view of the man himself; simultaneously adoring and in awe, and utterly, bone-deep terrified of her.
Tyson has always adored Gyarados as a Pokémon. Racing between islands on Leviathan’s back, his arms wrapped around Sebastian from behind, Tyson felt as though anything was possible. The same feeling he feels with his Steelix. Untouchable.
The only reason Tyson doesn’t have a Gyarados is that it suits The Colonel better. It’s that simple. Even with their similarities, there are enough differences between them that Tyson could reasonably have both a Gyarados and a Steelix.
If only one could be chosen, then Tyson’s strength as a Ground and Steel trainer would give Steelix a heavy bias, but on his ideal team, Tyson’s Ground-type bias is already heavily covered by Pokémon that suit him more than Steelix. That raw strength that Gyarados invokes, it resonates with Tyson.
Gyarados pairs fantastically with Tyson’s favouritism towards large Pokémon and his love of the water. On his ideal Pokémon team, Gyarados was an obvious choice. Whilst argument could be made for other Pokémon, there was no other choice that could have taken Gyarados’s place.
In many ways, Gyarados is perfect for Tyson. However, at the end of the day, it made more sense for The Colonel to have a Gyarados and Tyson to be in awe of them both. That will always be his lot in life.
The reasons for excluding Aipom from Tyson’s Pokémon AU are much simpler: Ambipom does not suit Tyson as much as an Aipom.
His verses are not completely static. Like his main!verse, things can change and develop. His team’s move set can change, their level can change, and they can evolve. Locking only one of his Pokémon into never evolving wouldn’t make sense.
When it came to making Kimiko’s team, Aipom was an obvious choice. It matches her to a T. They share that untameable free-spirit that Tyson was so enamoured by. There is an energy to Aipom that perfectly matches up with Kim.
Those qualities were what made Aipom an obvious choice for Tyson’s ideal team, an embodiment of the things Tyson cares about and his refusal to be caged, and what made it so difficult to exclude an Aipom on the bases of a less ideal evolution.
Though he no longer has it, Lex used to have a Torterra. Tyson could never have been Lex, but Lex could have been Tyson.
Torterra was excluded from Tyson’s team for the same reasons that Raichu and Gyarados were: they were too perfect a match for Tyson to have.
Ground Pokémon are ideal for him. He favours large bulky Pokémon (or small very fast Pokémon, see Aipom, Lycanroc, & Raichu). He favours kind and gentle Pokémon that can still pack a punch. He adores Discworld and the concept of world turtles as a whole.
He already has two of the starter Pokémon, two grass starter Pokémon even, and thematically those made more sense for Tyson to have in his Pokémon AU where things aren’t ideal. Snivy as an Unova starter, with his father trying to force Tyson into the upper-class family legacy, was a necessity.
Where Torterra matches Tyson’s personality and the things he cares about better, Chespin made more sense for him to have as a way of reflecting how sweet precious Tyson built up armour and defences over time. Tanking every hit that’s thrown at him and remaining standing.
In so far as Torterra being Lex’s Pokémon, in another life, Lex could easily have ended up where Tyson is today. Tyson could never have strayed onto Lex’s path, but the reverse would have been all too easy. Lex isn’t the opposite to Tyson, but an alternative. A slightly twisted, carnival mirror reflection of Tyson.
The man who Lex is today would not suit a Torterra, but before then, when he was younger and stumbling to find his footing, Torterra matched that Lex. The less jaded one, not hiding behind bravado and endless lies because it was easier than hurting, but the one that would plant his feet and tried his best.
Hippowdon
Hal had a Hippowdon called Cain. If chance had worked out differently, Tyson could have been Hal.
Hippowdon makes Tyson’s ideal Pokémon team for almost all the same reasons that Torterra does.
It just makes perfect sense for Hippowdon to be on Tyson’s team. Too much sense.
If Tyson has a Hippowdon, it wouldn’t have worked for Tyson to have a Steelix or a Donphan: being a comfortable middle ground between both for Tyson. However, the point of Tyson’s Pokémon AU is that he uses not perfect Pokémon and a wider array of Pokémon to suit specific needs.
There is more variety for him, more versatility, by having Donphan and Steelix than merely Hippowdon. Hippowdon may be a 10/10 match for Tyson, but two 9/10s is better for him in the end.
Hal and Tyson are - purposefully - very similar. In another life, that could have been Tyson. The tragic soldier who died doing his duty, no matter what, rather than dragged off by Sebastian Moran and tangled up in the Moriarty Mirrors’ web.
The Pokémon chosen for NPCs within Tyson’s world are their ideal teams. Tyson cannot have his ideal team, but Hal can and Hal suits a Hippowdon perfectly.
Lycanroc
And Tyson currently has a (Midday form) Lycanroc, called Remus.
Tyson and dogs go hand-in-hand.
Lycanroc (and Ruffrock before it) are rock puppies.
Of course, Tyson was going to have a Lycanroc.
The very second Lycanroc was revealed in generation seven, the first thought was: that Pokémon belongs to Tyson.
For every other Pokémon from Tyson’s ideal team, with the exception of Raichu, a clear argument could be made for why it would be better utilised on another character’s team instead. In the case of Raichu, the perfect match was 10000% too perfect to use.
In the case of Lycanroc, it wasn’t better suited to anyone else and Lycanroc wasn’t too perfect for the Pokémon AU either. Make no mistake, Lycanroc (regardless of form, but especially Midday form) is perfect for Tyson.
However, Lycanroc comfortably fits into a niche in Tyson’s team in a way that means, when appropriate, he can be substituted for other Pokémon on Tyson’s team rather than being an unmoving always; which wouldn’t suit his constantly rotating team of Pokémon.
Donphan provides things that Lycanroc cannot, yet the reverse is also true. Steelix and Lucario provide things that Lycanroc cannot, and yet the reverse is also true. Lycanroc comfortably fits around Tyson’s 9/10 matches in a way that doesn’t feel forced as making space for Raichu would.
