| “ | Do not forget that your oaths of restraint are a means to an end, not the end itself. Learn to appreciate darkness in its more subtle forms, lest its influence deny you the redemption you seek.
— Doorman to Isaac O'Connor (Chapter 3, Page 37
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” |
Doorman is a spirit that resides in the Slanted Manse. He resembles a concierge, but his head is a doorknob and his jacket is a door. His agenda is a mystery.
Appearance[]
Doorman has an attire similar to a bellhop or concierge, sporting a red collared jacket with yellow trim and shoulder pads and a red cap with yellow trim and a black lid. A door is shown on the jacket, complete with doorknob; this can be used to teleport people and objects to other locations. Doorman's face is also a brass doorknob with a black keyhole in the center. Doorman has long spindly fingers and long stumps for legs.
Personality[]
Doorman has been shown to be a very polite individual, being a sort of mentor and friend for Isaac O'Connor and letting him use his portal ability. He also seems to hold a strong sense of justice and morals, urging Isaac to follow a path of justice and not abuse his abilities for violence. When confronted by a certain spirit possessing Max Puckett, he becomes incredibly scared and intimidated, barely managing to converse with it.
Background[]
Doorman and Isaac met sometime before the events of the story proper began, and Isaac has kept a promise to keep Doorman's presence in the Slanted Manse a secret.
Paranatural[]
Chapter 3[]
Isaac introduced Doorman and Max to each other during Max's third day in Mayview, unintentionally breaking his promise in the process. Having also referred to him as "the shortcut", Doorman admonishes Isaac for this breach in their trust, but forgives him after seeing how genuinely guilty Isaac feels in hindsight. Before Max and Isaac use his power to enter the school, he tries to get Max to make the same promise Isaac had in keeping his presence secret. However, he finds himself conversing not with Max but with a spirit possessing him. Recognizing the spirit's identity immediately, the two exchange words about each other's "factions" before it leaves, leaving Doorman highly disturbed.
Chapter 4[]
Doorman was supposed to have played a pivotal role in allowing the fire spirit Forge past Mayview's border into the town proper. With the use of a locket allowing items to be passed between the two of them, Forge was supposed to create a metal door and matching key that Doorman could use to create a portal into the town. Due to opposing intervention, this plan never comes to fruition and Forge is forced to enter Mayview a different way, with the locket falling into the possession of Richard Spender.
Chapter 5[]
Doorman tries to placate a brooding Isaac regarding Max's refusal to give him information on Agent Day. As Isaac's anger comes to a head and he uses lightning to destroy a chair, Doorman lectures Isaac on how taking his anger out on others is not the course of action that will bring closure to anyone. Doorman attempts to inform Isaac on Max's possession by a hostile entity but is interrupted by Nin advising Doorman to let Isaac go so they can bring Forge into Mayview. After Isaac is taken to school, Nin questions Doorman's mentorship of the kid, mentioning that he endangered the spirit by leading an enemy to their location. Doorman responds that Isaac has a good heart that Doorman can help guide in the right direction. They then receive a call from their master, who Doorman lavishes with praise. At her request, Doorman uses a key in his sleeve in order to retrieve the key from Forge, but instead exchanges glances with Mr. Spender. Doorman quickly closes the connection and panics.
Chapter 8[]
Doorman and Nin have an extended conversation about using Isaac to gain information; Nin wants to use Isaac, while Doorman is vehemently against it. After Doorman wearily says "enough" at Nin's cry for trying to gain info on Max, he decides to simply talk with Isaac about his day and give him tea. Isaac reveals to Doorman that he's been informed about the Consortium and Boss Leader as well as the previous day's events regarding the Sphinx of Games and the Sphinx of Truth. Doorman becomes increasingly anxious during the conversation, as he knows that Truth's predictions always happened in some manner, and becomes especially nervous when Isaac mentions Isabel's plan to talk to her grandfather about the sphinxes. Doorman asks Isaac if he's noticed anything odd about Max, and the peace in the room comes to a sudden halt.
Doorman's admittance to conversing with Max's spirit only serve to make the spectral more anxious about the situation, and Doorman's attempt to tell Isaac that it wasn't his fault backfires. Isaac asks if Max and himself are in danger, to which Doorman tentatively agrees. Isaac makes a motion to try to tell others about the situation, and Doorman attempts to hold him off, telling him that the situation is delicate; upon hearing his passioned plea to not get Francisco and the Consortium involved, the spectral realizes that Doorman knew the entire time and willingly held the information from him, fracturing his trust. Isaac questions if Doorman manipulated him into needing him, and Doorman tries to refute this, only for Isaac to interpret his statement as the spirit seeing him as a weapon. Isaac gives an ultimatum to Doorman to give him all the information he knows if he was truly trying to help and guide him; Doorman is unable to give any sort of response, leading a worn-out Isaac to conclude that Doorman never trusted him. Finding nothing but resignation in the spirit's face, Isaac leaves the Slanted Manse, his trust utterly shattered.
Relationships[]
Friends[]
- Isaac O'Connor- Isaac and Doorman share a friendly bond. However, Doorman refers to Isaac as "master", as the formal term for a young man (usually reserved for boys who have yet to enter society), and will not hesitate to give him a lesson in ethics if he deems it necessary.
Allies[]
- Forge- He seems to be allies with Forge, and is willing to help him. Forge also has a miniature portal inside a locket which he can send Doorman small objects through.
- Nin- Doorman is also in cahoots with Nin, although they work more closely together and serve the same master.
- Muse - Muse formerly collaborated with Doorman before betraying him and being defeated by Francisco Guerra[4].
- Flipflop - Flipflop, along with his sworn brothers Hiphop and Switchswatch were former allies of Doorman, before being "picked off one by one"[5]. Doorman has a low opinion of them, seeing them as "bumbling" and incompetent.
- Candlepin, Facade and Quiz Knight - These allies of Doorman were "eaten by the Witch"[6].
- Fearsay - Fearsay used to work with Doorman before being destroyed by Richard Spender and the Activity Club.[7]
Enemies[]
- Francisco Guerra and Boss Leader - Doorman has previously been opposed by both Guerra and Boss Leader, and is highly concerned by the possibility that Mr. Spender might describe his appearance to them, believing they would recognize him immediately from description alone.
Abilities[]
Doorman has been described by others as impressively intelligent but lacking in raw physical power (Forge being the "brawn" to Doorman's "brains").[8] Doorman has the capacity to speak High Spirit.
Door Portals[]
Given the key to a door, he can turn his body into a portal into the location that door would normally open to. This portal works both ways; given the key to a door, he can turn that door into a portal to his current location through his body[9]. This power is not just limited to regular doors, however; using keyhole-shaped cuff links he can turn his arms into portals to other locked objects, like lockets[10]. His spirit power also grants him the privilege of letting others sneak past the Mayview barrier, if given the key to a door on the other side.
Trivia[]
- Doorman has a tendency to use weather metaphors when speaking to Isaac, much to the latter's annoyance. [11]
- He is the first character to be seen speaking High Spirit.[12]
Quotes[]
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Gallery[]
Official Artwork[]
Comic[]
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 Doorman's first full appearance. (Chapter 3, Page 36 ) Isaac hugs Doorman after being forgiven. (Chapter 3, Page 37 ) Isaac using the Doorman's power. (Chapter 3, Page 37 ) Doorman's power creates a shortcut to the Activity Club Room. (Chapter 3, Page 38 ) Isaac walking through Doorman into the Activity Club Room. (Chapter 3, Page 38 ) Doorman's shocked expression upon realizing what he's conversing with. (Chapter 3, Page 39 ) Doorman showcases his fluency in High Spirit while conversing with the malignant spirit. (Chapter 3, Page 39 ) Max uses Doorman's power to get into the Activity Club Room. (Chapter 3, Page 39 ) Doorman and Isaac discuss Isaac's information ban. (Chapter 5, Page 10 ) Doorman looms over Isaac after the latter uses lightning to destroy a chair. (Chapter 5, Page 10 ) Isaac talks to Doorman about the latter's weather metaphor abuse. (Chapter 5, Page 11 ) Doorman's jacket flies upwards in a nod to Marilyn Monroe's upskirt shot when Isaac huffs out lots of wind. (Chapter 5, Page 11 ) Doorman tells Nin that he wants to do right by Isaac after she questions why he keeps the kid around. (Chapter 5, Page 14 ) Doorman lavishes his master with praise, to Nin's irritation. (Chapter 5, Page 15 ) Doorman being subdued by multiple Nins in the background. (Chapter 5, Page 15 ) Doorman can also use his arms to open small portals. (Chapter 5, Page 15 ) Richard catches a glimpse of the Doorman through Forge's locket. (Chapter 5, Page 15 ) Doorman sees an image of Spender when he opens the portal to the locket.  Doorman panics with the realization that the plan to bring Forge into Mayview has gone awry. (Chapter 5, Page 15 ) Doorman and a young Francisco stare in awe at something offscreen, possibly the Great Sphinx.(Chapter 8, Page 6 ) |