#sleepwalker hank hc

[oil-bh]

(Note: I'm using the pronouns I headcanon for the characters. Hank: they/any, they/them preference. Jebediah: he/him. Tricky: it/any. Phobos: He/Him. The Auditor: any. 2B: he/it)

THIS MAKES ME SO HAPPY... I think about the Sleepwalkers a lot. My self insert is also Sleepwalker (who managed to keep their sanity and be found by some people and brought back to health) because that project specifically just rots my mind so so much. Like it's actually fucking horrifying when you think about it for more than 20 seconds.

I think it makes a lot of sense in the worldbuilding for madcom if Hank was formerly a Sleepwalker - Hank's shown repeatedly to have very high-level combat skills and to be able to survive things that would kill other grunts, like that train sequence with Tricky. Additionally, in the game, Sleepwalkers get better at combat every time they die, and Hank seems to do similarly, improving and developing after each instance of dying. The only difference is that Hank isn't connected to the self-destructing head gear, and their sanity is very much debatable, like the Sleepwalkers.

Sleepwalkers were created by Jeb as a means to get Project Zed shut down or at least abandoned, but Phobos trained them to be His private army instead. I feel like that point especially could explain some of Hank's relationships with other characters:

Jebediah - Jeb and Hank have a long history of absolutely hating each other. Jeb hates how violent Hank is, and view them as a threat to the armageddon that he thinks he needs to bring about. However, in the Sleepwalker Hank HC, I think this can be expanded on a LOT. Jeb has a long and negative history with Phobos, the Zeds, etc. I think that seeing Hank running around and killing people would lead to Jeb viewing Hank as a remnant of Phobos, even after the events of MPN. I think that could be a key motivating factor for his behaviours of targeting Hank and his brief alliance with the AAHW. I think it could also feed into how his character is pretty implied to be delusional and how he might be having stress/trauma responses to seeing Hank, thinking that Hank could be a Generation One grunt with the ability to ascend like Phobos tried to do.

Tricky - Formerly being one of the Nexus Scientists and now being a Zed itself, I think Tricky has a hell of a lot of motivation to hate Hank. I think it'd also be interesting if Tricky sort of like... projected? onto Hank. It has a history of saying things like "you don't kill clown, clown kills you" and while that could be brushed off as a rivalry dynamic or something, I think it'd made more sense if Tricky's former status as a Nexus scientist has rendered its mind more intact than other Zeds, and therefore intact enough to feel a sort of self-loathing or twisted perception of feeling inferior as a Zed and how Sleepwalkers were presented as so much better than Zeds were.

AAHW - Okay, hear me out on this one. I mentioned briefly that I HC the AAHW as a branch that split off from Nexus Core, and I want to elaborate on that. I think Nexus/Phobos realized how dangerous the Sleepwalkers could be if they weren't controlled, since they're always being fed combat data. That said, I think that after Hank somehow got loose or otherwise separated and no longer under Nexus'/Phobos' control, they started training people to seek out and hunt down Hank. Those people then later formed the AAHW and then fully split off from Nexus either due to Phobos' death or due to the Auditor inserting himself into their ranks, eventually twisting some of their morals to suit her ideas.

SQ and 2B - I really, really think that 2B was a former Nexus scientist and not just an ex-AAHW member. I headcanon him to have overseen some of the experiments in Nexus Core before being transferred to what would later become the AAHW. I think it never had the same Hank-centric plans of capture and/or destruction, but that he still had a lot of interest in Hank. Enough to possibly be connected to experiments like them to have gotten loose or escaped. I really think that he was behind these sorts of things as one of the original Dissenters and with its early ideas that would later found Status Quo.

Anyway hehe... that's my little ramble. I should seriously doodle more of this HC and the other HCs that take place in my personal AU/interpretation of Madness Combat. Have some extra little tidbits for this HC!! :

Hank is semi-verbal (like me!) because speech wasn't prioritized in the Sleepwalker Program.

They also don't have many general education skills (reading, writing, math, etc) for similar reason as above.

Hank goes into a dissociated autopilot state sometimes during combat.

The goggles and mask feel comforting and familiar to the mask that they wore during the experiments.

Hank has an interest in non-combat things such as guitar lessons and volleyball tryouts, but has a difficult time picking them up because they're so accustomed to combat.

They're somniphobic and will often push themself as far as physically possible to avoid sleeping; often 2B is the one relaxing them into resting. This is why Doc is stated to be the only one to know Hank's soft side, their weaknesses.

Hank developed DPDR as a result of the Sleepwalker Project, since that half-awake and half-asleep state suspended their brain into dissociative states and experiencing reality in a foggy way.

Can you tell that I think about this ALL of the time...

I need to figure out how to draw Hank 😭😭 my headcanon for them is that they were a Sleepwalker and somehow managed to get separated from the Nexus stuff, and that because they were a Sleepwalker, it’s the cause of all their combat skills and why they just randomly started killing in the first episode, and also the general violence… and then maybe that led to a faction of Nexus Core becoming the AAHW (also a headcanon that the two groups were affiliated at some point if not from the same original group and later divided) to take Hank down because they are watching the consequences of their actions via Hank. I’m very tired and in a time cramp so this isn’t very cohesive but Imve been thinking of this headcanon for years

[zy-murge]

Hc: one of the reasons why hank loves 2b is that he's just as unethical and bloodthirsty as he is, its just his way of doing it is through experiments and pushing the body to its limits, but no one would ever know if they weren't on the wrong end of his scalpel [or if they were close to him to the point where he'd show it to them] because he's just that damn good at hiding it

AGREE im not denying at all that 2bdamned's a sick freak btw. hank's probably incredibly useful for getting new subjects for 2bdamned to toy with, especially ones that'd be difficult for a guy who doesnt Like To Die very much. Imagine the scientific progress of all the zeds, mags, and sleepwalkers you can find... a dream come true for a sicko, plus hank gets praise for it so there's a lil incentive for him

[saltymongoose]

Anon that request Project Nexus arena mode reader: YES YES, i want to see the main 4(aka Hank,Deimos, Samford and Doc ofc) reaction when Reader meets Phobos and other :3c

Alright, here's another part of those hcs with the rest of the characters. I split this one up again because The Auditor and Tricky's sections weren't long enough for my liking, but these two were finished and I didn't want to make y'all wait for more stuff. The finale will be out tomorrow. As always, thank you for your patience. 😅

[Part 2] They Find Out About the Unarmed Character's Player ft. Phobos & Sheriff (+ The Main 4)

(TW: Yandere, Obsessive Behavior, Violence.)

Phobos had first come to know about your character from reports by his own agents. It seemed they'd attacked one of the Nexus Core's facilities closer to Nevada Central, accompanied by others from the "Status Quo" organization. He'd never heard of anything like this happening before, the only other group he knew of that had any power was the AAHW.

But this wasn't what originally made him interested. The security footage from the attack had shown the enemy's forces breaching the facility with a great amount of efficiency, lead by one of the most unassuming grunts he'd ever seen. Though any doubt about their abilities was thrown out the window when he saw them fight.

The sheer strength they exhibited was shocking; blood splattered the halls of the facility as they crushed, ripped, and tore through his agents like they were nothing. Any and all weapons were disregarded or passed to the other grunts they arrived with, instead they used their bare hands. They didn't even wear gloves, how was it so easy for them to bust through the Nexus agents' protective armor?!?

Within the entirety of the massacre he only saw the grunt pick up a gun to use once, and they didn't even shoot it. Instead, they grabbed it by the barrel and proceeded to bludgeon someone's skull in with its stock, and quite easily at that. It was terrifying.

Although, as Phobos scrutinized the footage, he noticed something very familiar about that grunt. While they didn't use weapons, their evasion style and the way their accuracy was always on point reminded him of someone. Subject 1v02P_6.

He knew it was impossible for the two to have had contact, Subject 1v02P_6 was kept under close watch (as a direct order from him). He was completely sure that they hadn't talked to anyone from outside the Nexus Core at any time. But their maneuvers were still far too similar to ignore. Even if they had acquired one of the Sleepwalker beds and implanted Subject 1v02P_6's memories, none of the patients had ever been this successful (or really sane enough to pull off such complex strategies). There could be only one logical explanation for this.

You must've been involved. His beloved Player.

But this just made more questions come to his mind. Why were you in Nevada Central instead of in Nexus City? What made you join with the Status Quo instead of remaining with him the Nexus Core?

After gathering more intel, he decided that he'd deal with this himself. The other agents didn't deserve to experience your presence before him, and he was the only being really capable of understanding you anyway. One cannot expect lowly grunts to comprehend the matters of Gods like yourselves.

Your character was just minding their own business, having just jumped out of the Helicopter with the boys (who still hadn't left their sides). Apparently the Nexus had decided to try and take the facility again, so it was only natural that they'd be sent to beat them back another time. However, unlike last time, there were no Nexus Agents. They had turned to the others, a warning sitting on the tip of their tongue, but the sound of a door being slammed open jolted them out of their train of thought. Your character and the four who accompanied them faced the doorway, weapons (and fists) held up.

A tall grunt ducked through the entrance, straightening the crimson cape around his shoulders before walking confidently in the direction of your vessel. 2BDamned, who'd been pointing his rifle at him from the moment the door opened, faltered for a moment. What the hell was the Director of the Nexus Core doing out of the city?!?

(You were just talking with your chat before this new "cutscene" happened. "Wait, what? Phobos is here?" You asked, completely unaware of how the grunt visibly brightened at your open acknowledgement of him.)

Grinning widely underneath his bandages, he tried to close the distance between him and your current vessel. He could already feel an inkling of that comforting warmth he'd read about in the Auditor's reports, and heard about from Subject 1v02P_6. He'd been worshiping you for so long, perhaps experiencing your presence in full would be your reward for his devotion? He was already giddy at the thought of it.

Feeling quite exasperated, your character looked up at the Director's lens blankly. "Who're you supposed to be?"

But, to their displeasure, he ignored their question entirely, instead choosing to bow lowly in their direction.

"It is an honor to finally be within your presence, my Player." Oh god, not again.

The others bristled at this, hands tightening to white-knuckled grips on their weapons. Deimos and Sanford were quick to huddle up to your character's sides, the latter putting an arm out in front of them as a protective gesture. They already had to fight amongst themselves for your attention, there's no way in hell they'd let some Nexus Core bastard try and take you from them!

Hank had taken a more direct approach, stepping right in Phobos' way with his gun pointed right at the grunt's head. He knew the others weren't as good at fighting as he was, which was all the more reason why he should be responsible for defending your vessel. He didn't know a thing about who this guy was, but he was fully willing to put himself on the line. (Perhaps you'd show him more attention than the others if he took care of this problem himself?)

They were all itching to put a bullet through his skull, even Doc was gritting his teeth, almost trembling in an effort to keep himself from doing anything too drastic as he weighed his options. (Perhaps starting a war between the Nexus Core and Status Quo by ending the Director would be worth it. If it was for you, he didn't see much of an issue.)

Your character just sighed. They were getting tired of this trend.

Sheriff first "met" your character after taking a job from Phobos, who'd originally tasked him with tailing one of the Nexus scientists, Crackpot. He didn’t know what to expect as he followed him far to Nevada Central, but he was shocked when the doctor pulled up to a fence beside what must be the base of a militant organization (why else would there be armored guards outside?). Although, it’s not like he could openly confront him at the moment; this little venture was supposed to be a stealth operation.

Deciding to stick around and watch, he saw a rather plain-looking grunt step out from the building, the guards giving a nod of acknowledgement to them. They calmly strolled towards Crackpot, looking as if they knew he’d be there. (How long had he been doing this?) A voice echoed through the air, but their mouth didn’t move? “Yo, Crackpot! Got anything new for us?”

He had a dumbfounded expression on his face when the grunt spoke immediately afterward, saying “We'll take that red thing” while pointing to something in the back of Crackpot’s van. Their voice sounded completely different from what he heard earlier. Were they like an insane ventriloquist or something? (And was that Phobos’ cloak?)

Sheriff watched from behind a corner as the grunt swung the cape around their shoulders, freezing when they paused in the middle of fastening it and looked directly at him. Their eyes narrowed in suspicion, and Sheriff felt a cold sweat building up.

“What the- is that Sheriff? I thought he wasn’t in Arena Mode?”

He heard that voice from before speak, and was confused even further when the grunt cocked their head, looking oddly befuddled. “Who?”

Taking this chance to flee, he darted away, disappearing into one of the Alleys as the grunt was preoccupied with asking "themselves" about who he was. Once he was away (and alone in a place where it would be very difficult to shoot him) he reflected on what had just occurred.

There's no way the person was just doing a voice on their own. They wouldn't have been so utterly confused about who he was then. Plus, while Sheriff did like to boast about his notoriety, not many knew of him outside of Nexus City's borders. That was the entire reason Phobos sent him in the first place.

He hummed in thought. Didn't Christoff mention something about some all-powerful being before? "The Player" he called them. They spoke out loud to their "vessels" on occasion. But that was incredibly unlikely, right? Christoff compared coming across you to be like finding a needle in a haystack. And why would you be with this group instead of the Nexus?

The next time he found himself in your character's presence was on yet another mission related to Crackpot. Except this time his job involved observing your character as well.

After mulling over what had occurred last time, he was oddly excited to encounter them. Sure, finding the Player was rare, but what if it was really the Player? He wouldn't pass up a chance to meet you. Maybe you'd even help him out, you did that with Christoff, after all.

Eventually he was led to the First Neveadan Matter Bank. It seemed he was a bit late to the party, the windows were shattered, and gunfire and shouts echoed through the air.

It was easy enough for Sheriff to blend in with the PrivSec forces, all he had to do was keep his head down and pull his hat a bit further over his face so they wouldn't recognize a new person. But as he hesitantly poked his head through the threshold of the doorway, he was struck by the notion that maybe this entire operation was a very bad idea.

The gore that painted the walls was the first clue. Then there were the choked gasps of a Lawman who was desperately clawing at your character's arms as their hands tightened around their throat. Sheriff grimaced as he heard a sickening crunch, blood seeping through the grunt's fingers as they finally loosened their hold on the PrivSec operative before nonchalantly dropping the body to the floor. In an instant they were back in the middle of combat as if nothing had happened; as if they hadn't just crushed the esophagus of someone with their bare hands.

The longer he watched them fight, the more horrified he grew. He was ready just to call it quits and head back to Nexus City when he saw them kick someone so hard they legitimately flew out of the window. (It was actually pretty impressive, given the fact that they were carrying several bags of stuff from inside the vault at the time. His terror was paired with awe. If you were involved, just how powerful were you?).

Before he could commit to running away (again), he was startled by the feeling of someone gripping the back of his duster and yanking him backward. He actually screamed as he scrambled back, eyes darting up to find a red gaze leering down at him. Shit. How bad was his luck for Hank to be here as well?

As he stared up at the barrel of the merc's gun, he gulped, a cold sweat starting to build up. Was this the end? Killed in a bank of all things, in a position where he couldn't even try to fight back?

As Hank's finger started to tighten on the trigger once again, he paused when he heard you.

"Oh damn, another Ranger? No wait, the hat's not right...fuck, wait a minute Hank, is that Sheriff?"

Your vessel had walked outside at your instruction (you'd been curious about why Hank hadn't returned yet, thinking he'd been caught up in another fight). They gave a suspicious look to Sheriff, recognizing his getup from last time. While ordinarily your character couldn't care less about who showed their face in missions, they knew to be cautious whenever you mentioned them. Apparently you knew some powerful (and annoying) grunts. This guy probably wasn't any different.

The cowboy immediately noticed the slight change in temperature once your character made their appearance. It felt like a blast of hot air had erupted out of the doorway, but faded into a slight warmth. His mind was racing. This was exactly what Christoff had described!

As Sheriff was internally freaking out, Hank was still keeping his gun trained on him. But he didn't shoot him. While he loathed the fact that he had your attention, he would follow your orders regardless. Meanwhile, the others had also shown up, appearing behind your character and peeking out from behind them. They knew your grunt would have it handled, but hearing their Player refer to someone else raised their ire. They'd take care of this issue, if you wanted them to.

Sheriff turned to you your character, giving them a shaky, pleading smile. He knew how dangerous those criminals with them were, and he'd rather not end up in a ditch somewhere. Plus, you were rumored to be kind. Maybe you'd help him?

Before your character could really do anything, you spoke once again.

"No, let's just leave him. I'm feeling nice today, chat. Plus you don't get xp from kills in this mission so there's no point anyway."

He let out a relieved breath once Hank begrudgingly lowed his gun. This erased all doubt, it must've been you. He didn't know anyone else who could've made these murderers stop from adding him to their list of victims.

"I-uh, I thank you for this, truly. And, it's a pleasure t'meet you, finally, Player. I've heard good things." He even added a little hat tip in your vessel's direction, how gentlemanly.

Hank's head whipped back around to look at him, and he shrunk back. His already white-knuckled grip on his shotgun tightened to the point he heard a creak from the thing. Now he had to deal with more competition for you?? (He was considering returning once the others left. If he decided to handle this on his own after the fact, he wasn't technically defying your orders, right?)

Doc huffed. Another enemy knowing about your presence wasn't a good sign. He'd never had to worry about others trying to poach your character, given how the SQ was the dominant force in Nevada Central. But if others from across Nevada had an interest in them, how could he make sure you stayed with him them? Perhaps eliminating all other threats would help? He's sure the others would assist him in that.

"Wait. He knows about them too?" Deimos muttered to Sanford, who grumbled in response. This was supposed to be a routine mission. Why must other people insist on interrupting their time with you? Perhaps they'd have to figure out where this information about you was spreading. If they managed to get rid of it, perhaps they wouldn't have to deal with more fools believing they have the right to interact with you.

Meanwhile, your character just gave Sheriff an immensely tired look. He just gazed up at them with complete awe, which they felt like sneering at. They felt a headache coming on. "Please tell me this one isn't going to be a problem too," they mentally pleaded. They just wanted to do their job without dealing with all this drama. Was that too much to ask?

[oil-bh]

I need to figure out how to draw Hank 😭😭 my headcanon for them is that they were a Sleepwalker and somehow managed to get separated from the Nexus stuff, and that because they were a Sleepwalker, it’s the cause of all their combat skills and why they just randomly started killing in the first episode, and also the general violence… and then maybe that led to a faction of Nexus Core becoming the AAHW (also a headcanon that the two groups were affiliated at some point if not from the same original group and later divided) to take Hank down because they are watching the consequences of their actions via Hank. I’m very tired and in a time cramp so this isn’t very cohesive but Imve been thinking of this headcanon for years

[ihavenoideaofwhatthisis]

that's actually such a cool hc what the hell??? Them being a sleepwalker prior actually makes sense 2 me HOW'D I NEVER THINK OF THIS!!

this art is awesome btw I'm staring wide eyed at my screen right nows

I need to figure out how to draw Hank 😭😭 my headcanon for them is that they were a Sleepwalker and somehow managed to get separated from the Nexus stuff, and that because they were a Sleepwalker, it’s the cause of all their combat skills and why they just randomly started killing in the first episode, and also the general violence… and then maybe that led to a faction of Nexus Core becoming the AAHW (also a headcanon that the two groups were affiliated at some point if not from the same original group and later divided) to take Hank down because they are watching the consequences of their actions via Hank. I’m very tired and in a time cramp so this isn’t very cohesive but Imve been thinking of this headcanon for years