Nickname: Echo (he only forgives the CEO and some rare friends to call him by the first name)
Age: 26
Gender: male
Appearance: Echo is a tall, slender man with massy black hair, sharp gray eyes and pointy nose. He's rather pale, with thin fingers, and he has a tattoo of a clock on his chest (where his heart is). He always wears black, in memory of someone he almost never mentions, and likes somewhat old fashion (think 19th century), including hats.
Personality: He doesn't like people much, except for the few proud individuals who call themselves his friends. He mostly keeps for himself, though knows his way with people when needed. He has great love for drawing (he draws every person who's greatest treasure he takes), and a passion for classical music. He also loves night and the stars. Despite being a serious, closed and cold person with a dark kind of job (he picked it himself), he always gives his clients a moment of happiness and peace before he takes what now belongs to the Company. Yet he tends to be rather sarcastic, and often plays with people's minds, rarely in a good or pleasant way, especially when he sees the trivial dreams they give everything for. He loves doing things his way and doesn't care much for the laws, but is loyal to the company and always makes whatever he promised happen.
History: Born and raised in a village near London, UK, Echo first heard of Dreamers, Inc. when his mother made a deal after her husband's death. She realized her mistake when they took her baby daughter, and though they erased her memories, she could never carry on any task properly, and she died a year after. Echo, however, never blamed the company for ruining his family. He blamed his mother for making a deal without thinking, and desired to become a part of the company from moment one. He unofficially joined in the age of 16, following the Soulstealer who took his little sister until he promised to put in a good word for him. The CEO didn't care much for a kid bothering his employees, so young Echo made a deal of his own: they will make his dreams come true, and, when he turns 25, take what he values the most - his freedom. Surprisingly enough, as his dream was to work for them, the other employees and the CEO eventually decided to keep him, under obligation to obey every order and finish every task they put in front of him.
Position : Soulstealer
How long have they worked for the company: officially, a year
Up for love: Sure, but you'll have to be special to catch his attention
Other: Echo never dreams. Perhaps it's because he's still, in a way, living in his dream, or perhaps because of everything he's seen. He carries flowers to the grave of the Soulstealer who took his little sister, wondering if he'll ever meet her somewhere in the company.
Spoiler
TaylorLove, I hope I didn't say anything wrong when mentioning your character ^^ One more thing.. I see everyone's talking in first-person, but I prefer the third for Storybooks.. I hope that's okay..
• previously ChildOfNowhere - they/them - literary fantasy with a fairytale flavour
Echo sighed as he entered the building. For a company that deals with such unusual business, it was awfully crowded, but at least silent enough for him to hear his own thoughts. People mostly walked alone, as if they don't want the company or want to be left alone with their thoughts. Echo could guess how they felt, doing the same thing over and over again, knowing that once they may have been the clients - he didn't feel it, though, nor he cared too much for the others. If they couldn't handle it, they shouldn't have been so reckless in the first place - nothing is ever as perfect as people trying to sell it tell you.
"Hey, look who's back!" A strong arm pulled him in a short hug, letting him go as he frowned. Two men came to bid him welcome; George Nelson from the Consultations and always nervous Damian Lucas from Advertisement, holding a sketchbook in his hands as if his life depended on it. George was the eldest, in his forties, wearing short beard, long hair tied with a small bow, a tie and suit made especially for him, a living image of the friendly neighbor Devil when he'd take out his notebook with names and speak in low, strong voice about how happy he is to be making a deal with the customer. Damian, however, whom everyone called Lucas, was a year younger than Echo, a recently employed graphic designer who thought seven times before every step he made, with rectangular glasses on his long nose, spiky blond hair and spots of ink all over his tie. "How was in London?" "Beloved England", Echo replied with a half-smile. "I thought of staying forever." "What stopped you, besides the wrath and revenge of the soon-to-be the most important company on the planet?" "Why, your coffee of course, Lucas. What else? Truth to tell, Echo would never even think of thinking of leaving the Company, but that had nothing to do with fear of wrath and revenge. "I thought you British people only like tea." "I do prefer tea", he replied seriously. One must take tea seriously. "To the important issues, is there anything new? I was away for almost a month, after all." "Business is good", George said, flattening his already perfectly ironed suit, "as you see, we both still work here." "Not for long if they don't like my new designs", Lucas muttered, and Echo smiled an evil grin. "I heard they tend to take the souls of the employees who'd disappointed them, put them under experiments and leave the body go around as an empty shell." Lucas froze, standing in the middle of the hallway, as George chuckled and Echo nodded seriously. "Trust me, I deal with souls."
"Is that experience talking?" A voice called from behind his back. "Not that anyone would notice yours is missing, eh, Julian?" He performed a little bow, not letting his eyes leave the woman who approached them. She was another Soulstealer, five years older than Echo and the only one he knew who was close to the first Soulstealer he ever met. She was a complete opposite of Echo, from the tone of skin to the way she thought about her job, but they shared the memory of a very good friend. "Tara. What a joy to hear you think I'm soulless." "Never said that. Oh, look, the dragon's checking us out."
They all looked up, George still smiling and Lucas still with fear in his eyes. Ms Hawkins, the Company's CEO, observed the room with nothing particular in her expression, for a moment before some of the Managers approached her to talk. Echo did nothing to announce his comeback - but nevertheless, he knew everyone in the room noticed. Tara claimed he had that kind of aura. *
• previously ChildOfNowhere - they/them - literary fantasy with a fairytale flavour
Katelyn Barton... Girls her age almost make it too easy for me. Thought Tristan. 'So many social networking sites to pick from. Each with less security than the last.'
He sighed. He had already found out all the basics. He had the balding one work on 'un-editing' her profile picture to get a better look at her. Photoshop was worse than make up. It made it hard to find blemishes and identifying marks. There had to be something more exciting. He knew about her part time job and her unending stream of siblings. One is one too many. Three is insane.
His computer bleeped. It was Echo's GPS. He was in the building. Hah, mused Tristan, he took his time in returning. Echo had been back for four days, but he only just graced the office with his presence. Still, at least he came back. He would, of course. Every SoulStealer knows to research his own colleagues. The Head SoulStealer especially needs to research his underlings - pardon him, employees. On Echo returning, however, Tristan needn't have done his research. One thing every SoulStealer had in common - especially the ones without families - they had the same Souls: Their jobs. If they ever came to the Corporation for a dream to be realized, the thing they'd lose is their jobs. The thing most precious to them.
Despite his inability to be politically correct with certain terms, Tristan's unde- employees were important to him. The closest he had to friends. Josh excluded, of course. The sap. If there was anyone who Tristan would communicate with based on want, not need it would probably be Josh. Although, he has not yet - and does not plan to. He did, however, plan on sending Echo a message.
Echo - one of the potential prodigies. He was a good egg, though a bit too social. And his accent was nerve grating. Bloody Brit. Still, Echo was good at his job. Echo was a good person to have back.
'Good to have you back, agent. You're four days too late. I've sent most of the boys back, I'm sure you know. Now stop wasting time by the gate and help 11 un-edit a simple picture. Why we hired the Goddamn idiot I have no idea.'
He knew all their names, he did. He just liked to pretend he didn't. To keep distance. If he treated them like people, it would be unfair to all the clients he treated as only numbers and names. Hypocritical. He was nothing if he was hypocritical. At least, this was the theory he employed two years into his 'rule' as Head SoulStealer. Over the years, reasoning and fairness lost meaning to him. Numbers, the numbered agents - they were just how they were known. It was second nature to call them by their numbers not names. He couldn't call Echo 'Echo' to his face if he even tried. He would forever be 16. It was how he was imprinted. It was only in front of the CEO that he used names.
He turned back to his computer screen and conducted an experiment on Katelyn. He sent her friend requests from five different profiles: one as an attractive female, one an attractive male, one as an unattractive female and another as an unattractive male. These four were within her age-group. The last was an attractive, but considerably older, male.It wouldn't really have results relevant to his research, but he was bored.
Well, this is kind of long. Sorry for that, I do it often xD
'Good to have you back, agent. You're four days too late. I've sent most of the boys back, I'm sure you know. Now stop wasting time by the gate and help 11 un-edit a simple picture. Why we hired the Goddamn idiot I have no idea.'
Boss's voice, as always, had the kind of tone that sent an untold message of him being the boss and slightly bored by his own superiority. Echo couldn't say he disliked it, though - that tone of voice told the truth, after all.
"I have to go", he told Tara. "Do you know where to find a number 11?" "No", Tara frowned. "We don't have a number 11. We have a Milo Brent. Don't you be all Tristan Azreal on me. We're people, you know." Echo opened his mouth and closed them again, deciding it's not worth fighting for. "Fine. Where do I find him?" "You could have gotten to know your division by now, Julian." "I know all I need to", Echo muttered, his voice approaching a tone one could use for life-threatening. "I just don't know the people. Will you tell me or not?" "His office is just across the hall from mine. He's a computer freak too, deals with making clients recognizable, I think. I'll be heading the other way. Unlike you, I actually have a job to do today." Echo resisted rolling his eyes, heading to that Brent guy's office.
Before knocking on his door, Echo looked in the way of his own workplace. His was the last office in the hallway, but one of the first ones built for the purposes of the Soulstelers' offices. It had a whole wall of windows, blended so he could see out but no one could see in, overseeing the building's backyard. He had no idea who took care of the small garden set there, but he was pretty sure that was where the guests could feel comfortable enough to say yes to anything. The best part of Echo's office was a small room accessible through his closet. He doubted anyone but the building's constructors still knew of it, it was empty and with no windows, useless as the part of the office but useful for hiding when he didn't feel like talking to anyone who came to see him.
Milo Brent, a guy in his forties with grays in his brown hair, took him in with a strange expression. "I didn't know you came back." I didn't know you existed until a few minutes ago. "Just recently", he said instead. "Boss sent me here to assist with some picture." Milo didn't look pleased. "I can do it myself, I'm trained for it. He just thinks I'm an idiot!" Waving his hand to express his dissatisfaction, he turned over a mug and coffee spilled over some files. He cursed silently. "Damn.. These were clients' information, he'll kill me if I ask him to print them for me again! What should I do?" Echo furred his eyebrow, wondering why it took them so long to hire him if this guy got the job with no problem. "Switch to tea", he said finally. "With no milk, it's easier to clean up." Milo gave him a strange look again, as if he's not sure if Echo is making fun of him or actually giving an advice. Echo's face stayed straight. "Fine, eh.. So, here's the pic." Echo took a look - it was a pretty girl, but not quite what he would call his type. She had smart eyes and rather symmetrical face features, but she still had a look of a teenage American girl. At least she didn't use much makeup, so her face was actually recognizable. "So?" He asked, taking Milo's chair. "I'm just here to assist, what do you think?" "She looks pretty natural to me", Milo shrugged, and Echo frowned. "She's too pale." "You're paler than her." "I'm me," Echo said. "She does have light complexion, but is probably also hiding something. A spot no one really notices but her, I think. Do you have a picture of her siblings?" "How the hell can you tell if she has siblings?" Echo sighed, not for the first time wondering why he never payed much attention to computers. He was good with the programs he needed, but not educated enough to be sure he won't mess things up. Perhaps he should learn more about it. That way, he'd get this kinds of jobs to do himself, and wouldn't have to explain every word. "Why, look at her," he said. "She's dressed like a girl who still, in her own ways, likes to have fun, yet obviously doesn't quite follow the fashion trends from magazines. That said, she takes care of her looks, but not so much to put clown-like makeup girls nowadays like to wear. But the main thing? Just look at her eyes. They're screaming I had my share of bad stuff going on, don't you agree? Best guess I have, their parents died or didn't do their duty properly. She has at least two siblings, one probably older, as she's too young to have been the head of the family for long enough to get that look in her eyes."
"Why aren't you a cop?" "Because I don't like the outfits they wear back home." "If you love it so much, why did you leave London?" Milo asked, clicking something and slightly changing the girl's photo so she looked more natural. "Why, this building isn't in London, is it? I would hardly work here if I stayed there." "This job makes us evil in the eyes of the people." Milo was careful enough not to mention anything about his own eyes, but Echo could guess what he's thinking. Not much Soulstealers liked their jobs. "If I could, I'd retire. But I have a family to take care of. You're lucky to be alone, you know."
Echo was used to his story being known to others. He was also used to different interpretations of it, but he rarely heard anyone envying him. "It has it's benefits." "I have a child not much younger than you", Milo said, and Echo wondered why is he telling him that. "And a daughter. She's twelve. She said once that her biggest wish is to have me home. She dreams about it, Echo." Oh, so that's what this is about. "I don't get to pick who make deals with the Company", he said. "When she finds the money.. When she comes.. Don't take away her soul and let the others take her life. She has such a bright future." "She chooses her future." Milo grabbed his hand. "Kill me instead. Talk to the CEO and to Boss, they like you, you can ask for favors. I know you can. I couldn't stand seeing her work here once, without her memories.. Say you couldn't find her. Take someone else instead. I will owe you everything." Echo got up, pulling his hand from Milo's fingers. "That would break the Company's rules", he said, his voice sounding cold and cruel even to himself. "That would put me in danger and make someone else an innocent victim. We don't do that. You should know, we don't work like that. Let me make something clear. I like my job, but I'm not some kind of a demon people see me as - I'm not going to hurt one person for the reckless decisions of another. And you already owe me everything, because you'll get your death wish fulfilled if I say a word about this. Hope Mr Azreal hasn't caught it on the cameras and make sure to not make him mad. Send the picture as soon as you can, and have a nice day."
He left the office with those words, somewhat proud of himself for never raising his voice. He could understand Milo's wish to keep his daughter safe. But not good enough to go along with it. He could have stayed silent and told him he's on his side - that would probably make Milo confide in him again - but this way, Echo was sure Brent won't be mentioning it anymore. *
• previously ChildOfNowhere - they/them - literary fantasy with a fairytale flavour
After school and band practice, I went back home and got on the computer. Naturally, I went on Facebook, and saw to my surprise that I had five different friend requests. That was odd. Not many people knew me, let alone wanted to be my friend. Curious, I look at the requests. One was a stereotypically hot guy, a nerdy guy, a girl and an older man. I didn't know any of them. Then again it wouldn't hurt if I approved them. At least, not one of them. The stereotypical guy was too jockish, and he had a smirk on his face showed that he thought he was better than everyone else. No thanks. It would be awkward to friend a girl I didn't know. And the older guy just creeped me out. But the other guy...
Before I could change my mind, I clicked confirm, and quickly logged off as I heard my parents clopping drunkenly down the stairs. Great. I quietly slip out of the room and out the back door before they even see me. Going around the back yard, I unlock the gate and went around front, where I had his a key under the mat. Grabbing it, I unlocked the door and went up to my room, avoiding my parents completely. Crisis averted.
Now to prepare for the appointment at Dreamers Inc. tomorrow. Maybe then I won't have to do this anymore.
"Look out! He's got a daisy!" - Making Money by Terry Pratchett
Chuck Norris- worshiping gnomes, undead pandas, pet chupacabras and undead Keanu Reeves-what could possibly go wrong?
It was the next day and I had to start the day for my boss and she hated coming in early.I looked at the computer and saw the GPS. Echo was back. Oh, how wonderful. I wasn't very fond of the guy, I'll give you this much. But Tristan always spoke with him every time he came in.
So yeah, me... Not so excited.
Getting back to work, I looked through some folders that Klaudia wanted me to check. Folders of people that signed up to get their dreams to come true. There were many young girls. You'd be shocked at what they chose to be their ultimate dream. Jesus. They either wanted to marry their favorite celebrity or get the guy or to become famous.
Sickening. Wasting your dreams like that. When my sister made her dream, it was at least logical. She wanted us to stop being poor because we never had food. We lived on the south side of town, the most dangerous place. So, she didn't want us there anymore either.
But let's not talk about her.
I took a deep breath and picked up the phone. Dialing a Chinese places' phone number, I called. After a minute someone answered.
"Hong Fu's, how can I help you?"
"Hello, I would like a number four with a side of white rice."
"Alright, we have a special for tapioca smoothies, would you want one? They are half off with any order."
I looked at my empty coffee mug for a moment. "No, it's fine."
"Okay, can I have your name had address?"
Telling them, they said my order would come in twenty minutes. Damn was I hungry. I placed the phone back down and scrolled through the computer. She had a meeting tomorrow at seven in the morning. That was strange.
Klaudia hated taking morning meetings. Maybe it was someone important or had no other times and she took it. No, not possible. I looked at the profile, no picture. Strange.
A young male, in his twenties. No approximate age. What the hell? I would've said no to him. Works at an office near mid-town. Status, single. What an odd character.
Hermione Manning Spoiler
I don't know if I should say anything for her yet. I'm waiting for Aidan to respond.
"If I look like a monster,' he says roughly, 'then no one will be surprised when I do monstrous things." - A.B. Poranek
