Strys

Babanuuk · 2009-07-02T20:44:20Z

First and most important: All content (setting, names, locations, and ideas) listed below is the legal property of Babanuuk. You steal you die. Second, and equally important: RULES 1. You may chose two characters MAX, preferably one male and one female. 2. You may not change that character's occupation (some characters have a list of choices from which you may pick). Each character must have ONE area in which they are skilled, unless they are a laborer. 3. Yes, punctuation is actually necessary. The easiest way to distinguish yourself as someone I don't want to write with is leaving out important commas/periods/etc. 4. NO GOOGLE IMAGES OR LINKS IN CHARACTER PROFILES. This seems to bother some people, but I'm not backing down. Using a Google image instead of writing a detailed description causes you to miss out on two things: One, the chance to exercise your writing muscles and test your ability to describe an image accurately. (And hey, this is a writing website. That's the goal, right?) And two, the opportunity to create the character yourself and take pride in the fact that it came entirely from your head. Plus, when you spend time brainstorming your character, even small details like hair and eye color, you become attached to it, which makes the story more enjoyable for everyone. Buuuuuuuut it could just be that I'm stinky and old-fashioned. :wink: 5. Absolutely no out-of-character posts. PM with all your questions/comments/ideas. I will respond to you. 6. I reserve the right to expel any writers that fail to follow these rules. 7. Please, be creative. :D I’m intending this to be a very character-driven story, so hopefully everyone will take that into account. I don’t have much of a plot, but what I do have is a very detailed setting (*cough* coincidentally, the same setting as the short story I’m currently brainstorming). SETTING Most of the action will take place in the fantastic city of Strys (pronounced "Striss"), a dream world intended to be the artists’ utopia. The city’s economy is entirely dependent on the entertainment industry. The small, youthful population spends their time attending parties, concerts, and clubs. Generally, people make barely enough to survive, performing on the cobbled streets, selling paintings and sculptures, or entertaining passerby with magic tricks and acrobatics. Those fortunate enough to perform in upper-class clubs are only slightly better off. Highly scorned are those without artistic skills- servers, waitresses, and laborers. The truly desperate may seek out the underground club, Somniferous , home to the prostitute, the strung-out, and the stringers* themselves. Places of interest include the Garden of Misplaced Desire (a place of deceiving beauty where dangerous and mysterious creatures may thrive unseen), the City Park (a breeding ground for stringers and addicts), the City Library, the City Square (where aspiring musicians and artists display their wares), and the Underground (which may be accessed through Somniferous ). There is also an underground entrance to the city that leads to the Ocean. Popular Clubs are Chrysanthemum (a relaxed, indie establishment), Oblivion (a dark, somber club with a brooding following rumored to dabble in the occult), Hysteria (an electric rave club), Hammerhead (a club with questionable origins that borders on a strip joint, it draws a rowdy crowd consisting of intoxicated males and vivacious females), and Effulgence (a exceptionally popular place known for offering fantastic music and luminescent drinks). Please don't name any others. * Drug-dealers. Usually magicians who were unable to make a living on the street, stringers offer the addict and the experimenter alike an enticing selection of enigmatic potions, creams, and pills that may cost anything from a strip-tease to your mother’s scalp. These drugs are not chemical substances but raw magic that inevitably destroys the user. OTHER NOTES Strystin Society: Strys is unique in other ways besides its young and artistically inclined population. The city has practically no external government or law enforcement. All businesses are run independently, all housing sold, bought, or rented by consent of the owner. Competition is evidenced by segregated groups of artists and performers that control different sections of the city. These groups protect their right to display their wares on the street they have claimed by whatever means necessary. Important Note: This is my favorite aspect of my fanciful world: individuals in Strys may display whatever degree of sexuality through their dress as they please, but there is one rule of dress that remains forever unbroken- ALL RESIDENTS WEAR A MASK . It can be ornate or simple, anything from a turban to a gaudy masquerade visage, but no one may see your entire face. Allowing someone to look upon your face is considered an incredibly intimate display and is typically only permitted by lovers. (Prostitutes are the obvious exception.) Showing multiple partners your face would be frowned upon to the same degree as “sleeping around” would have in the 1700s. Nature The majority of the population has never seen an animal or been beyond the city walls. It is common to speak of the outside world as a non-religious person in today’s society might speak of heaven or hell, casually and without faith. This is not truly a fantasy world but neither is it very modern or realistic. There may be unicorns, small dragons, griffins, winged horses, even imps, as long as they dwell within the Garden of Misplaced Desires . These creatures would wish to remain anonymous, but it is all right if your character encounters one. There are, however, dangerous predators that may stalk those who visit the garden frequently enough to merit suspicion or those who are unnecessarily destructive. Occupations Remember, your character should have the skills required for the occupation you choose- Magician (not SORCERY ((meaning fireballs, telekinesis, all that bull shiz)), just simple magic; think potions, discerning the future, interpreting dreams, limited telepathy) Artist (painting, sculpting, portraits, fashion) Musician (singer, drums, guitar, violin, cello, keyboard… you name it) Writer (poet, lyricist, novelist, recorder) Dancer (it's up to you whether or not this is a respectable occupation) Stringer (potions, limited telepathy, charisma is important for this job; remember, you’re the bad guy) Laborer (cook, server, waitress, other) Please Note: You are limited to HUMAN characters. No werewolves, vampires, or elves, PLEASE. Also, this is a society of artists, so no mercenaries or assassins. But don’t let that stop you from being creative! This is a unique brand of fantasy; you can still give your character imaginative attributes (& please do!) as long as you have an explanation (wings, bizarre physique, robotic limbs, etc.) CHARACTERS I think it’s best to start with a cap of eight writers, each allowed to play up to TWO characters (for those of you like me who enjoy playing both a female and a male character). Depending on how the story unfolds and how many people wish to join that may change. Writers so far: 1. Babanuuk (characters 1 and 9) 2. Lauren 2010 (character 12) 3. RayneChild (character 13) 4. Scd250 (character 8 ) 5. *writewatiwant* (character 10) 6. Kitty15 (characters 5 and 7) 7. Billy (characters 3 and 6) 8. WhiteTiger (characters 11) 9. Mondorelute (characters 2 and 16) 10. Buggy (character 15) 11. JC (character 14) [s]Character 1: male[/s] TAKEN [s]Character 2: male magician[/s] TAKEN [s]Character 3: male magician[/s] TAKEN [s]Character 4: male musician/artist/writer/dancer[/s] TAKEN [s]Character 5: male musician/artist/writer/dancer[/s] TAKEN [s]Character 6: male musician/artist/writer/dancer[/s] TAKEN [s]Character 7: male laborer/stringer [/s] TAKEN [s]Character 8: male laborer/stringer[/s] TAKEN [s]Character 9: female[/s] TAKEN [s]Character 10: female magician[/s] TAKEN [s]Character 11: female magician[/s] TAKEN [s]Character 12: female musician/artist/writer/dancer[/s] TAKEN [s]Character 13: female musician/artist/writer/dancer[/s] TAKEN [s]Character 14: female musician/artist/writer/dancer[/s] TAKEN [s]Character 15: female laborer/stringer[/s] TAKEN [s]Character 16: female laborer/stringer[/s] TAKEN Please use this form when posting profiles and avoid using pictures to substitute actual descriptions: GENERAL Name: Sex: Age: Occupation: APPEARANCE Hair: Eyes: Skin: Body Type: Mask: (what does their mask look like/symbolize, if anything?) Clothing: Body markings: (piercings, tattoos, important scars) Likes/Dislikes: Strengths: Weaknesses: Other: (anything you'd like to add that doesn't fit under the other categories) CHARACTER 1- Babanuuk GENERAL Name: Angel Sex: male Age: 21 Occupation: Drummer APPEARANCE Hair: Tight, dusty blond curls that end at the shoulder. Eyes: A calculating blue, riddled with black and gold. They are slanted ever so slightly, making him appear almost feline. Skin: Glows with sun and good health. Freckled slightly along his shoulders. Rough hands that have the feel of suede. Body Type: Long and lean, with the gait of a panther. Powerful arms and shoulders seem to second-guess his thin waist and narrow hips. At 6’2, he is a slender tower of hard muscle. Mask: Dark feathers cover all but his mouth and a narrow strip of forehead. Worn leather strips line the eye holes. The edges of the mask are scraggly with wear, and follow the natural curvature of his facial structure. Clothing: Without variation, Angel wears a large, brown leather jacket, beneath which he dons a tight, faded T-shirt without sleeves or collar. Concluding his ensemble are light, tattered jeans and a pair of oversize steel-toed boots, also brown leather. The only jewelry he wears are the silver, rune-encrusted slivers in either ear and a Celtic cross that hangs from a chain around his neck. Body Markings: Piercings in both his ears and a tribal pattern tattoo that travels down his left side. Likes/Dislikes: Playing shows, the admiration of beautiful women, and the companionship of fellow musicians are his preferred enjoyments. He dislikes crowded places, boisterous crowds, unappreciative audiences, and, well… himself. Strengths: A gifted performer, charismatic speaker, and owner of a stunning smile, he is the ultimate lady-killer. He is a creature of instinct with fast reflexes and incredible intuition. He is sharp-witted and secretly soft-hearted. Weaknesses: It is rumored he may indulge in the occasional drug-binge, particularly the potion “Hercules” (which gives the user a feeling of indestructibility and enormous self-confidence but weakens the respiratory system) and the body ointment “Cupid” (which is said to help conceal whatever you wish to hide, and, when given to some one you admire, make them feel for you what you feel for them). Other: Angel happens to have (can you guess?) wings. (So that's why he takes Cupid... ha, ha.) The result of a drug-addicted mother and a particularly nasty stringer with a taste for “transfiguring” potions, they are not the downy, white Pegasus wings one might imagine, but rather they are strong, slightly scraggly, hawk wings in multiple shades of brown and black. CHARACTER 2- Mandorelute JUDE Jude is a twenty-three year old magician, personally dedicated to his craft. He specializes in herb-lore and spends a significant amount of time within the boundaries of the Garden of Misplaced Desire. He normally retains a fairly large amount of clientele who swear by his teas, tonics, smokes, potions, creams, lozenges, candies, etc. Everything he sells carries the label: “Solomon’s Seal Products are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure disease or any other health issue – but are ensured to make the experience significantly pleasurable.” Jude is five foot nine, and lean of build, with muscular arms and thighs. He does not have perfect washboard abs, he spends just a little too much time reading books. He does not particularly stand out of a crowd, unless surrounded by a field of midgets. With dark nearly black hair, shoulder length and an olive complexion, Jude looks to be of mixed Arian and Arabic descent. To attest for this, he has one blue eye, and one dark brown eye. He dresses in dark colors, normally of a Renaissance or Gothic style. Jude’s mask is off-white, shaped to fit the contours of his face. On the bridge of the nose, an inch before the tip, the mask splits into an upside down triangle which ends on each side at the jaw bone, leaving the mouth and jaw and the end of his nose exposed. On the edge of the mask, where the upside down triangle cuts around his mouth, an Eiffel Tower like scaffold‘s base is painted, rising up to peek at his hairline, tiny perfectly detailed silhouettes of ravens can be seen roosting and flying in and nearby the structure. The scaffold and birds are painted in black acrylic, thickly applied. If you study it a little too long, or look at it out of the corner of one eye, you might just believe the birds have moved, for a moment. But of course, they couldn't have. Jude has a passion for history, literature, language, and high art. He enjoys the company of some people, and abhors that of others, often without clearly being able to explain his reason beyond a “feeling.” Yet even so, he carries no grudges and is a reasonably unbiased person. He is not particularly haunted by his past, nor is he compromised by some great moral dilemma. He is satisfied with his life and social standing. He lightly desires monogamous relationship, but as he has never found someone who he cares enough or trusts to seriously pursue, he rarely dwells upon the subject. One of Jude’s greatest weaknesses and strengths is he is extremely independent and introverted. He rarely sees a need for deeper interactions with other people. His interests and work, and sometimes the subject of dinner, normally take up eighty percent of his thoughts. Yet even so, this does not mean Jude is a boring individual. He is quite capable and well educated, and often enjoys a good conversation, discussion, and debate if those who take part don’t get too emotionally involved. He prefers the words of dead people who have written down their words in books to those who live and speak before they truly self inspect. CHARACTER 3- Billy GENERAL Name: Harrison Orchoa Sex: Male Age: 23 Occupation: Magician APPEARANCE Hair: Amazingly messy, shoulder length brown hair, often described by others as something of a "bird's nest". Eyes: A pale amber with flecks of gold around the pupil. They are often a little closed, due to light sensitivity, giving an appearance of tiredness. Skin: Fair, but not pale. His hands in particular are very rough, and scars cross his palms and fingers from the kind of work he does. Body Type: Slender, with little muscle or fat on him. He has a somewhat sickly appearance to him, seeming too thin for his clothes. He stands at about 5'10". Mask: His mask covers his entire face. Most notably, it has no mouth, only eyes and a nose. It is predominately white, but two long, thick black swirls, edged with gold, trail from underneath the eyes to connect at the base of the mask. Clothing: Usually, Harrison can be seen in a heavy, warm-looking brown coat, which hangs down to his knees. Under this, he wears a dark burgundy coloured shirt. Finally, he wears dark coloured jeans and ankle-high walking boots. He wears no jewellery whatsoever. Body markings: He has no significant body markings such as piercings, tattoos or any significant scars. Likes/Dislikes: His likes include trying new things, the thrill of risk and discovery, the skill involved in illusion (which he practices as well as real magic), and the subtlety of real magic. He usually dislikes those who are sceptical of his work, and always dislikes stringers and grifters, basically anyone who uses what he regards as art to make a dishonest living for themselves. Strengths: He has an immense skill with both magic and illusion, due to an almost singular skill when it comes to both concentration and sleight of hand. Weaknesses: He can be highly judgemental at times, particularly with regard to stringers and even their victims. Also, his immune system is generally fairly weak, and he can come down with sicknesses fairly easily. Other: Harrison enjoys 'inventing' things. These inventions are rarely useful in the real world, and almost exclusively figure in his shows. They range from small and simple in the nature of their purpose, to large and complex, but their appearance always follows the same pattern: they are adorned with highly complex looking 'extra parts' ad nauseum, with their only purpose being to help hide the true genius of the machines. CHARACTER 4- AliceRose GENERAL Name: Annette Sex: female Age: 18 Occupation: musician-guitarist APPEARANCE Hair: long, thick, deep red hair that curls lightly and goes down to her waist. Eyes: bright green that have little flecks of gold in them. Skin: pale, but not a pasty pale. Some have compared it to ivory Body Type: She stands at 5'4 and isn't skinny, but curvy. She has a relatively flat stomach and a narrow waist but wider hips. She's been offered to be a stripper, but she hates that sort of thing and always turns it down. Mask: it's silver that covers her eyes and nose. Intracite patterns of silver glitter move around it and long black ribbons make it so that she can tie it behind her head. Clothing: usually a pair of ripped, faded blue jeans, a pair of either black or red Converse shoes, and a witty t-shirt. She also wears her mothers old locket. Body markings: she has her lip pierced on the left side and she has big, full scale angel wings tattooed on her back that curl around so that if she had her front to you naked, you would see the top of the wings on her shoulders, and the tips curling around to the front of her hips. Likes/Dislikes: She likes to read, play her guitar, listen to music, and write lyrics for her songs. She dislikes being touched by people unless they have her permission. Strengths: She is very smart, and has a sharp tongue that has gotten her out of major trouble. She also considers still having her virginity a badge of honor, especially in the house where she grew up. Weaknesses: Her fear of storms is her ultimate weakness. When a really bad storm goes through, she goes completely catatonic wherever she is and she can't do anything else until the storm has passed. Other: She is up for love, but the guy who falls in love with her needs to be up for a challenge, because she won't give in easily. CHARACTER 5- Kitty15 GENERAL Name: Javen Herbert Fritz Darlton Nickname: Jaye ('cos the e makes it cool ya know) Sex: Male Age: 23 Occupation: Artist, both in the way of painting, sketching etc and tattoos. He's ambidextrous and has a habit of drawing with both hands at once/ drawing with one and colouring with the other. APPEARANCE Hair: Waist-length and black, Jaye usually wears it tied back in a ponytail with a grey leather cowboy hat on top. He's got one strip of hair at the front that he keeps out of the ponytail and it's dyed blue and cropped shorter than the rest, just reaching past his chin. He has a moustache and beard, both neatly trimmed and short. Eyes: Jaye wears silver contacts as he thinks they're very in at the moment but his eyes are naturally dark brown. Skin: Mildly tanned, think Spanish. Body Type: Jaye is a slim and trim man with a well kept body that's perhaps a little on the weedy side. Mask: It covers from his forehead to the tip of his nose and is dark blue in colour with a silver trim and little decoration. In fact the only thing that might be called decoration is notches at the top on the left and right. On the right there are six and on the left nine, all short and tidy, following the curve of the mask. Feel free to ask him about them if your character wants to learn more. Clothing: He tends to wear faded blue jeans and a pair of dark trainers. He deems tops as optional but rarely bothers with them. Body markings: Coiling around his right upper arm is a tribal black dragon breathing blue and silver fire. On his left hip is a black rose, a few petals of which are visible above his jeans line, the rest below. On the back of his right ankle is a celtic ankh and on his left palm an eye of Rah. He did all of these himself. Likes: Painting people, flirting with people, kissing people, people, men, women, children (not in that way!) XD Jaye likes a good joke and anything that's hip. He spends a lot of time at the popular clubs, especially Effulgence but he's an adventurous youth and what he likes best is taking people to the Garden of Misplaced Desire and painting them/ making out with them there. Despite his seemingly high sexuality however, Javen remains a virgin but you'll not hear that from him. He prefers hip and respectable women and men to labourers/ none respctable women and men. Dislikes: The current economy. Strengths: Jaye's a friendly individual who makes a lot of money compared to most people. There's something about his often erotic paintings of nude men/women (they usually have their clothes on when they're posing but he has a great memory for detail and an even better imagination and is not unfamiliar with the female/ male body) that makes people forget they can't afford them. Some of his other clients prefer his paintings of the strange creatures he occasionally sees so he does those too. Weaknesses: He's much too generous with his money and very light hearted where romance is concerned, often courting more than one person at a time and not being serious about any and yet, serious about them all at the same time. Jaye is looking for a good time, not true love though if the latter happens to come around, he might find himself in an awkward situatio that he's not ready for. Other: Up for romance big time and maybe up for love but that depends entirely on character chemistry. CHARACTER 6- Billy GENERAL Name: Samuel de Lacy Sex: Male Age: 19 Occupation: Musician (Violinist) APPEARANCE Hair: Long and shaggy blond hair. Eyes: His eyes are bright green, often described as 'cat-like'. Skin: His skin is lightly tanned, with something of a golden hue. Body Type: He's not tall, standing at about 5'7". He has a fairly slender frame, with light muscle, but his whole body seems to be filled with energy at all times. Mask: His mask covers his face from the nose upwards. It is a gold colour, with an undertone of red that creates an impression of freshly forged metal. Red and gold swirls radiate from around the eyes and twist chaotically over the mask, out towards its edges. Clothing: He wears an olive green jacket over a white t-shirt, with jeans. He also usually wears a pale grey baker boy's cap. Body markings: None Likes/Dislikes: He likes music, and almost everything and everyone associated with it (provided that it is well played). He also thoroughly enjoys just generally having fun, and, as a result, dislikes being told what to do. He doesn't like to stay in one place too long, thinking that if he moves around the city enough, he'll meet plenty of new, interesting people. Strengths: He has a quick, friendly smile that people can't seem to dislike or distrust. Moreover, he lives a charmed life, luck just seems to follow him around wherever he goes. Weaknesses: He's somewhat naive, and always optimistic about other people having a 'better nature' that he can appeal to. While this hasn't landed him in trouble before, that can't last in Strys. CHARACTER 7- Kitty15 GENERAL Name: Lorcan Mason Sex: Male Age: 19 Occupation: Stringer APPEARANCE Hair: Very dark red that appears to be black in the dark but is actually the colour of clotted blood. This unusual trait is a result of his father and mother's drug habits. He wears it at medium length for a male and it's thick and unruly. Eyes: The left is a de-saturated green, what he calls his 'seeing eye' though that's just rubbish of course. He can see perfectly fine out of it and what he sees has a lot more to do with real life than the future. His right is dark green with flecks of blue. Skin: Caucasian, perhaps a little on the rough side. His hands are mildly worn from manual labour. Body Type: Well built and solid, in another society he might have been suited to being a handy man or mechanic, perhaps a builder. As it is, he's naturally good at manual work and has built up some further level of skill in it through the need to fix things at the slums. Lorcan can't afford to live by the method of throwing out anything that breaks. He generally keeps this skill to himself, though he might be willing to do an odd job for others if there's something in it for him. Mask: Lorcan's a man of reality so his main mask symbolises nothing more than that he couldn't afford a better one. It's a plain strip of material with holes carefully cut out for the eyes and it stretches from his lower forehead to the end of his nose. It's grubby white in colour and probably been torn from a shirt at some point. The edges are frayed and he simply knots it at the back of his head. It has to be tightened quite often so as not to slip down. However when he's posing as his other self, the great magician, he wears a fine red mask that's shaped in a figure of eight, covering both eyes. It has black swirls up the left side to frame his 'seeing eye' and these are bordered with silver. The mask itself is also bordered with a strip of silver. Clothing: In this modern world where everyone cares greatly about their appearance, Lorcan tries to make some effort to fit in and be more reputable. His working clothes (when he's selling his talents as a magician) are a red shirt trimmed in frills and neat, black denim trousers. His shoes for this outfit are good, leather boots. Nothing fancy but nice condition. He takes great care of this outfit as it is the only decent looking one he has and he wears it once a week when he's manning his stall on the streets. When customers ask why he is only there weekly he claims that he makes enough money to take the other six days off but really he can only afford the liscence one day a week. His normal clothes are patched brown trousers (the patches mostly grubby white) and white shirts or varying levels of dirty, some with stains that may be dried blood. Body markings: He has none naturally but in order to keep his two identities apart so that his reputation as a magician isn't marred, he paints tribal tattoos onto the back of his hands with a mixture of his own creation that he also sells as part of his stringer wares. He also paints a black tribal phoenix onto his left cheek. Likes: Being centre stage in either profession, the thrill of his second identity, the company of young men, gambling, drinking. Dislikes: Women after the experience with his father's many loves but he doesn't mind those young enough to be thought of as girls. He sees them as still innocent while women are vicious, manipulative creatures. He despises the people who buy his wares as a stringer and any who take drugs, even those in a similar situation to himself. He hates testing his harmful wares and avoids it where possible but has a slightly ironic sense of humour and tells his stringer customers that he takes the drugs daily and that accounts for his fine physique. Lorcan isn't the type to visit clubs and is more likely to be found in his dismal slum home with a couple of friends, a pack of cards and a small pile of coin. Strengths: Lorcan is a very charismatic man and if his poor skill at gambling didn't drain what little finance he makes so heavily, he'd probably be comfortable where money is concerned. He makes more money as a stringer than magician but only because he works the latter just once a week and his closest friend, the only one who knows of both identities thinks that he secretly enjoys the double identity life, the life of struggle and uncertainty. This is almost true but there's more to it than that. Lorcan also feels that he deserves no better. Weaknesses: Lorcan is good at making his customers happy and selling wares but his relationships are mostly one sided. Lorcan encourages others to speak of themselves and reveals little in return. He's a man that likes his solitude as much as he likes people which creates an odd coimbination of socialist and recluse. He's often very rude toward women, sometimes even when they're his customers. Other: Lorcan's mother was a drug addict and his father her stringer. Lorcan only knew his mother for the first four years of his life before the drugs destroyed her entirely. His father brought him up with a firm hand, teaching him the trade of a stringer while he had various women on the go. He died when Lorcan was eleven. The young boy went into trading by himself, aspiring to be better than his father. He worked hard at the stringer business and clawed his way to being able to pay for that magician stall on the street. He hopes to one day be a full time magician and can sometimes be naively hopeful. Lorcan has taken the drugs several times and though it was only to test them, they have already had affect on his body and mind. He thinks and feels like a much older man. CHARACTER 8- Scd250 Name: Christian Smith Age: 25 Occupation: laborer/stringer APPEARANCE Hair: Dark, curly, and slightly moplike. It looks as if he does not brush it often. Oddly enough, it seems to suit him rather well. Eyes: Light brown, almost a honey color. They seem deep, as if he is seeing into your soul. There is a rather obvious disfigurement in his left sclera, the result of an accident that burned part of his eye and nose. The vision in this eye is impaired, though not enough to cause true blindness. Skin: Obviously tanned with the sun, and rough as if he has worked a hard life--especially the hands. Body Type: Strong and handsome, almost majestic. Not long and wispy but muscled with his many years as a laborer. Mask: Simple royal blue, seems to be made out of some sort of enamel. It has a bit of gold flecking over the eyes; it completely covers the left except for a small slit which allows him to see in and out. He has grown accustomed to it over the years. Scalloped edges, goes down to just above his nose and again up to cover a small sliver of his forehead. There is no particular symbolism except for the fact that it is specifically designed to hide the disfigured parts of his face. Clothing: Simple in nature, shirts that are loose-fitting and comfortable; pants that are easy to move and work in. His shoes are often boots, though if he is not doing anything strenuous he is not above wearing sneakers or sandals. Body Markings: Scar over part of his nose, traveling to the sclera of his left eye. Likes/Dislikes: He enjoys working with his hands and the peace and solitude of being by himself. He mostly keeps on his own and does not enjoy the company of others. He dislikes crowds and loud noises. Strengths: Christian is physically strong and agile. He was once a gifted magician, but an accident has taken away much of his self confidence. Weaknesses: Christian is gruff and brusque and often pushes others away before he gets the chance to know them. He has few enemies and even fewer friends. He is unwilling to compromise, stubborn in some ways while weak willed in others. He is a jumble of confusion, most of which arises in his own mind. Other: Christian is a laborer by choice and a stringer by necessity. He was once a gifted magician, but the accident that took much of his eyesight and parts of his face also took much of his confidence. Unfortunately, he does not make much as a laborer and as a result instead makes potions for the weak willed as a means of supporting himself. He is not very charismatic, but his skill at his craft causes him to have many seekers. If it were up to him, he would not have the profession, anyway, but he just can't seem to find the confidence to rise above it. It would be exceedingly difficult to get Christian to fall in love, but if one pushed him hard enough it may just happen. CHARACTER 9- Babanuuk GENERAL Name: Nora Sky Sex: female Age: 18 Occupation: Singer, Keyboardist APPEARANCE Hair: Thick, waist-length curls, dark auburn in color. Eyes: A deep, sensible green trimmed in brown. Skin: Caucasian; smooth, pale, and nearly without blemish. Body Type: Broad shoulders and capable arms. Her sizable bust is accentuated by a high ribcage and short waist, balanced by slender hips and long, well-shaped thighs. Mask: Nora’s mask is classic white porcelain with blue willow illustrations. On the right side of the mask the quaint images become elegant cursive in ocean green ink. However, the porcelain possesses a peculiar chameleon quality and may change color to suit her mood. The shape of the mask covers her face from temple to temple and ends in a curve below her nose, leaving the bottoms of her cheeks and her sultry lips exposed. Clothing: Nora's style is something like "ballroom meets pubescent rebel." She is incredibly fond of veils, shawls, and petticoats, though her skirts are much higher than the traditional ball gown. White, burgundy, forest green, and ocean blue are her best colors. In contrast to the elegance of her dresses, she wears eclectic, inexpensive jewelry, including two studs just below her lower lip. Most of her jewelry is simple rather than showy (flat, engraved rings and steel pendants rather than flashy stones). In addition to the rest of her wardrobe, she owns a diverse collection of footwear, including knee high boots of ermine fur, frog skin pumps, striped leggings, brown leather boots with metal trim, and thigh high lace stockings. Body markings: Her knees and elbows are scarred from childhood mishaps, but otherwise her skin remains unmarked. Likes/Dislikes: Though she often seems shy, Nora enjoys the spotlight immensely. Contrastly, she can also appreciate being a wallflower, as it provides her with the opportunity to observe. She is infuriated when she is unable to understand. Strengths: She is a truly gifted musician, passionate in everything she does, and incredibly insightful. Weaknesses: Typical of those with artistic insight, Nora is truly addicted to beauty and faces huge insecurities. She is also an incurable romantic and easily frustrated by those who would challenge her optimism. Other: Nora has lived alone most of her life. She aspires to perform in one of the major clubs, but her incredible self-doubt has thus far stopped her from auditioning. She lives in a rundown apartment near the city park that is void of furniture and her only valuable possession is her ivory-keyed grand piano. She might have starved to death sometime ago, but fortunately she was "adopted" by a group of mostly male performers who laid claim to the street outside her apartment. CHARACTER 10- *writewatiwant* GENERAL Name: Johanna Levinglade Sex: Female Age: 19 Occupation: Magician (potion maker and predicting the future) APPEARANCE Hair: She has long brown reddish hair. It goes until the middle of her back and has big perfect curls. When the lights hits it, the red reflexes appear. Eyes: She has bright blue eyes, like sapphires, and long dark eyelashes. Skin: She white, near pale, but not ghostly/dead white. Body Type: She's about 1,68 cm and is slim, with some curves. Mask: her mask only covers her eyes and nose. It's gold and simple, on left side, but on the right side, it turns into spiral/feather like shape and goes about two inches up. It's golden, and has some orange sprinkles. It's really sparkly. It used to be her mother's mask, and when she died, the mask passed to Johanna. Clothing: She wears and dark blood red dress. it's fabric is velvet, and has some cetin. Her mother was a known musician and her father a prestigious writer, and they had enough money to buy such fabrics. The dress is adorned by some black details. Body markings: She has a elaborate star tattoo, on her ankle and an inch long scar on her left forearm. The nature of the scar and tattoo will be revealed along the story. Likes: cloudy days, but she also loves to feel the sun kiss her skin, to have some one care about her and to bend and cross rules. Dislikes: Being obedient, staying still and quiet, being called "girl" or "little girl" (anything that refers to her as a child), highs and she can't swim, so she won't like to be in the water alone. Strengths: She's physically strong, fast and has some muscle. She's also very agile, which has helped her over the years. She's a very caring person, and she will try to help people in distress. Weaknesses: She's a bit too trusting and naive. She can sometimes say things she doesn't mean and hurt people. Other: Up for love. Her mother died, leaving with some reputation. Johanna has good business, because of her mother's reputation. Her mother also left her a small shop, on the opposite side of the library, near the central park. Her father is a writer, and is most times away, in research for his novels. CHARACTER 11- WhiteTiger GENERAL Name: Sasha Server Sex: Female Age: 20 Occupation: Magician APPEARANCE Hair: Long, curly strawberry blonde hair. It's down to the middle of her back Eyes: Vivid blue-green eyes Skin: Extremely pale, practically flawless with a few freckles on her nose. Body Type: Small with an hourglass figure Mask: It's black and goes to fit around her nose and eyes. Around the outside edges is a silver line. Black feathers stick up from the right side with silver glitter sprinkled randomly over the mask. Clothing: A gypsy like costume. It ha a short blue skirt that flares out and an white shirt with poofy sleeves the hug the top of her arms. The sleeves are tight all the way down until they reach the elbows and they fan out and hang loosely to her wrists. She wears a silver moon necklace all the time. She also wear a blue (matching her skirt) scarf around her head, tied to the side with the fringe hanging down her hair. She looks like a gypsy - magician. Body markings: Belly ring: Silver moon and stars belly ring to match her necklace Tattoo one: Butter fly tattoo with several butterflies running up her shoulder and to the middle of her arm. Tattoo two: A moon tatttoo on her big toe Tattoo 3: A tattoo that reads Respect in Japanese writing on her hip bone Likes/Dislikes: Likes: Music, her magic, loves with the night (moon and stars), rain, and tattoos. Dislikes: How she has to struggle for money, druggies, and hateful people Strengths: She performs brave acts, and is very passionate with her 'magic.' Weaknesses: Hopeless romantic and pessimistic. If things start going down hill so does her attitude, though normally she's an extremely happy person. Other: Up for love. ^^ Also, her mother and father abandoned her as a child. She lived on the street and learned how to survive. She is self taught and knows how the world really works. CHARACTER 12- Lauren2010 Name: Marketa "Keta" Night Sex: Female Age: 21 Occupation: Dancer (Respectable) APPEARANCE Hair: Curly dark brown hair that ends at her waist, the ends are choppy as she cuts her hair herself. Eyes: Dark green Skin: Tan Body Type: Pretty average; she is almost too skinny and about 5'4" Mask: Plain black mask with one small gold star above her right eye. She does not know the meaning of her mask. Clothing: Plain black sleeveless dress that ends at her knees, the ends of the dress are torn and tattered from wear. She wears gold colored sandals, but usually goes barefoot. She has gold bands that wrap around her ankles and wrists, and also wears a thin gold band around her head. Body markings: Keta has burns around her wrists and ankles that she covers with her gold bands, she also has burns across her back and around her right eye. She doesn't talk about her burns and they are all covered by her clothing, mask, and gold bands. Likes: Dancing, music, happiness Dislikes: Interacting with people (they have done her too much wrong) though she doesn't mind dancing in the streets for them Strengths: Intelligence, ability to dance, ability to survive on little Weaknesses: Lack of bravery, lack of people skills Other: Keta is one of the less fortunate citizens of Strys, she fights hard to support herself but refuses to lower herself to the level of an exotic dancer. Keta was hurt much in her childhood by people and is now almost afraid of interacting with them outside of her dancing (her burns contributed to her dislike of people). She has a hard shell to crack but it is possible if one would show her kindness and patience. Lives in the slums near the entrance to Somniferous. CHARACTER 13- RayneChild GENERAL Name: Azora (Aza) Carrison Sex: Female Age: 19 Occupation: Musician (singer, knows a little guitar) APPEARANCE Hair: Light blonde. It's layered and kind of messy. It ends where her shoulder blades end, around the middle of her back. She never ever ever ever ever ever wears in in any fashion but flat and down; no bun, no ponytail, nothing like that. Eyes: The irises are a sea foam green color and the dark ring around the iris is a dark blue-gray color Skin: Lightly tanned Body Type: Average; she's slender and about 5'6" Mask: A sky blue cat mask that covers from the nose up. It's topped with a pair of elegant cat ears. It's like an entire cat face minus the chin. There are glittery gold accents that look like water droplets and flourishing plants. There are also smaller accents in white and a lighter, pale blue. There is a gold lace fabric running along the entire edge of the mask. Attachable by two silken black ribbons. The eye holes aren't exactly large, but they are by no means small. She doesn't know exactly what it symbolizes, as she's never seen a cat, but it has always given her the feeling of independence and slyness. Basically every characteristic of an actual cat. Clothing: Relevant to a gypsy, kinda. She usually wears a black dress that has gotten very short due to being ripped and torn numerous times. She also wears a long, black hooded cloak and she never wears shoes. The dress is strapless and the cloak sleeves flare out at the end, which is about at her knuckles. Despite this, she wears lots of gold bracelets on both arms, two on her right ankle, and one on her left. She wears one gold hoop earring on her right ear. On the left ear she has a cartilage piercing where she wears a silver stud. Body markings: She has a tribal rose tattoo on the outer side of her left ankle. She believes it shows love and warmth Likes: Nature, singing, strumming the guitar (usually acoustic), rain, friendly people, music of just about any kind, warmth Dislikes: Silence, extremely loud and rambunctious people, conceited people, cold Strengths: Um…nothing, really Weaknesses: She hates lots of silence. She's also very claustrophobic Other: Aza is very sweet and loves to make friends. She makes a little bit of money here and there by singing to passersby. She knows a little about dancing and sometimes does small, amateur ones. She's spunky and fun loving, but she can be feisty and sarcastic a lot of the time. Think Esmeralda from The Hunchback of Notre Dame, if you've ever seen it. A bit of a drama queen, Aza can sometimes take things too seriously. When she gets in trouble (which is rare) she's very clever about getting herself out. That's why she loves her mask so much. Its unique design and style matches her sly, independent, clever, fun-loving personality. She lives in a clearing just outside of the Garden of Misplaced Desire and visits Effulgence often with the money she makes. She's friends with the bartenders up there. Up for love CHARACTER 14- JC GENERAL Name: Willow Raincloud (not her real name but thats what everyone calls her) Sex: Female Age: 20 Occupation:Writer APPEARANCE Hair: If Willow has combed hair, pigs can fly. Willow never takes care of her "personal hygiene". Nevertheless, Willow's hair is a frizzy chestnut brown and flows all the way down her back. It is rarely in a ponytail of anytype or braid; Willow prefers her hair completely down (though because it is unkept, many strands are going upwards). It has a habit of getting into her face so Willow has to sweep it back up every few seconds Eyes: A very pale green--not the penetrating kind. Her pupils in some lighting can't even be seen. Skin: Willow has porcelain like skin--she could be Snow White's sister. Body Type: Slimmest of the slim. Willow hasn't sold a book in months. You can see her ribs if her clothing moves the right way and her arms are like sticks. Willow stands average height though--around 5'7. Mask:Willow's mask is quite simple. It's pearly gray surface covers her forehead and the top of her cheeks. The perimeter is lined with shimmery silver sequins. Hence, her last name: Raincloud. Clothing: Willow wears peasant tunics with simple embroidery on them. She also wears long flowing multi-colored skirts no matter what. Her clothing is never extravagent; the only jewelry she owns is a pair of earrings. Willows almost always goes barefoot. However, in public, Willow wears a long silver cloak covering most of her body. Body Markings: A crescent moon is tattooed on the back of Willow's right shoulder. Its about 3 inches long. A sun about the same size is on her left. Likes/Dislikes: Willow is often alone though that doesn't necessarily means she likes to be. Willow is a very emotional, reflective, and depressed person. She has convinced herself that she is a monster and ugly. As such, Willow spends most of her time up in her small apartment by herself where no one can see her. If she does make a visit to a club, she wears her cloak. Most of her characters are people in Strys. In her apartment, Willow writes and dances. Writing is her first love and what she does best but dancing is a passion she will always have but no one shall ever see. Strengths: Highly imaginative and smart. Willow is also very observant. She can make a good friend once you get to know her. Weaknesses: Shy, secretive, depressed, low self esteem etc. Other: Up for love and needs a friend badly! CHARACTER 15- Buggy GENERAL Name: Elena Rathbone Sex: Female Age: 20 Occupation: She's a mechanic and all-around handy-person, like her grandfather. It doesn't pay well, but she takes odd jobs to supplement her income. APPEARANCE Hair: Her hair is almost too dark to be considered blonde, but it's too light to be called brown. Eyes: Elena's eyes are piercing and deepset. The irises are a light grey. Skin: Her skin is fair. Body Type: She's 5'6" and a little slighter than average. Not much, but a bit. Mask: Her mask is simple and covers from the bridge of her nose to three-quarters of the way up her forehead. The background is dark grey and overlaid with a complex white design resembling filigree. She chose it because it seemed understated and tasteful; she cannot stand gaudiness. Clothing: Usually she dons a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. Body markings: There are dark chemical stains on her right arm from an accident involving a magician. The same accident killed her parents, but she was too young at the time to remember it happening. Likes/Dislikes: Elena likes the Garden of Misplaced Desires, storms, fixing things, solving problems, her grandfather, and drawing. (Her pictures are accurate but have little artistic value.) She dislikes people who overcomplicate things, having to be around people she isn't familar with, magicians, stringers, injustice, and incompetence. Strengths: She's a bit bolder and braver than you would think, given her generally quiet nature. Elena isn't afraid to stand up for herself or others if she feels that they are being mistreated. She is clever, competent, resourceful, and very good with her hands. Knows a bit of first aid. Weaknesses: Elena isn't necessarily a friendly person. Often times she can come off as abrasve and cynical. She tries to convince herself that she doesn't need the company of others to be happy, but underneath it all she's a fairly vulnerable person. She's got a bit of a Jekyll/Hyde temper. One minute she'll be quiet and seemingly fine, the next she'll be tearing down someone with her acerbic tongue. It is almost always to defend her non-artesian profession. She is also curious to a fault, spending so much time in the Garden of Misplaced Desires that it's a wonder she hasn't been killed by now. Other: Elena is open to love, but she's come to grips with the idea that it will probably never happen to her. It'll probably take a while to break through her defenses. Character 16- Mandorelute

scd250

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Tue Jul 07, 2009 2:03 am

scd250 says... · Tue Jul 07, 2009 2:03 am

Christian eyed the glass warily for a moment before tipping some of the liquid into it and drinking it down, not due to challenge but for the fact that he rather liked both alcohol and magic. He looked at Jude curiously through his good eye, wondering how long it would take the man to recognize him or, alternately, how long it would take for the drink to loosen his tongue enough to cause him to tell Jude that they knew each other.

Christian knew the brew well. As a matter of fact, he and Jude had once partook of it years ago, while studying under the same magician's training. However, Christian was different now. He did not want to bring that to light. Instead he just watched the smoke come off the carnival and said nothing.

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Mandorelute

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Tue Jul 07, 2009 3:19 am

Mandorelute says... · Tue Jul 07, 2009 3:19 am

----JuDe----
[s]```~*~```[/s]

After quaffing an undignified amount of their drink, Jude spoke. "Ah. This stuff is a fool's gold, a man could spend his whole life trying to feel like this. Too bad it doesn't last."

Jude, with his eyes still closed, took another long drag from his carnival. The band had started up another song and the sound was rapidly increasing to a crescendo. Jude ashed, and propping his elbow up on the table, rested his chin on his fist.
Christian had forgotten how Jude had had this disarming air about him. He always, always, gave the impression of being relaxed. People relaxed around him. He was the type of person who could walk amid thieves and murderers and not be touched. Christian had always assumed that it had been confidence, but the truth of it was that Jude was just nice. And being nice makes people embarrassed, nervous of themselves.
Christian looked around the room, back at Jude, and sighed. With the expression of a hermit throwing all caution to the wind, Christian drained his glass in two swallows and poured another. A brilliant glory filled him from his toes to his head. A powerful, satisfied, a lusty feeling of life and strength.
Jude smiled, pushed his glass towards Christian's, indicating for him to top it off. "Would you be interested in helping me?"

Where there is No Love, there is No Question.

A dream shared becomes reality, a dream alone is a nightmare.

"She tastes lyke raiyn
and sumtimes kiwi-fruit;
and wunce...
she tasted lyke a pen-ny." <3

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scd250

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Tue Jul 07, 2009 3:33 am

scd250 says... · Tue Jul 07, 2009 3:33 am

Christian gave him a wary look. All the strength and glory in the world would not take away his suspicion.

"With what, exactly?" he asked as he topped off the other man's glass.

Jude smiled.

"I need you to sell me something," he said. "A concoction. One only you can make."

Christian looked at the man for a moment before answering. Somehow he knew Jude wasn't talking about his stringer wares. So the man did remember him after all. Remembered him from the days where he was one of the most talented magicians his generation had ever seen. He would have been legendary, had it not been for the accident.

"...No," Christian said flatly. He gave a glance back up on the stage, still checking to make sure Angel hadn't fallen over yet. He was not in the mood right now for bringing the man back from the brink yet again.

Angel noticed the man briefly but was too lost in his music to care. It still felt as if his drumset was moving of its own accord. He briefly thought of asking Christian what he was doing at a place like Effulgence, but the notion was quickly banished. Chances are he would not remember in the morning.

Jude looked back at Christian.

"Christian, my friend," he said, still flashing that disarming smile. "Do I daresay you have lost your touch?"

Christian's look was like daggers. He would have punched the man, had the atmosphere allowed.

"I don't wish to discuss it," he said bluntly. "Now drop it. I won't help you."

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Lauren2010

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Wed Jul 08, 2009 12:59 am

Lauren2010 says... · Wed Jul 08, 2009 12:59 am

Wow, been gone a long time.

Keta

The club was crowded, full of people. There were too many people, almost wall to wall hot, sticky, sweaty bodies that danced to the strange music. Effulgence was Keta's least favorite place on earth.

Only one positive stuck out now. She had managed to get herself out of dancing with the street band, and had long since lost every member of the group.

Keta now stood in a dark corner of the club, forced there from the sea of people. It probably wasn't the safest place but it was where she had ended up. She so desperately wanted to leave the club and go home, but at this time of night the club was packed and the streets were swarming with drunken addicts and desperate stringers. If she were to even make it out of the club she would likely be put in unfavorable situations in the streets.

"Hey there pretty lady." a drunken man slurred beside her. He reached a hand up and stroked the black velvet on her mask.

Keta ducked away from the man but he grabbed the back of her dress and pulled her close.

"You're a pretty lady," he said again. "Let's see what's under your pretty lady mask." His breath washed over Keta and she nearly gagged on the putrid odor of some nameless concoction that had, until now, been washing down his throat.

"Please go away." Keta whispered, almost unable to bring words to her lips.

The man brought her face close to his, sending more of his unsavory breath washing over her face. Keta gagged and tried to push herself away.

"Keep here with me." the man demanded.

Keta pushed herself back from the man, but was still unable to break free of his grasp. It seemed that Keta was doomed to whatever this terrible man wished to place on her night.

-------
Someone rescue Keta please. =)

Got YWS?

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Mandorelute

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Wed Jul 08, 2009 2:53 am

Mandorelute says... · Wed Jul 08, 2009 2:53 am

----JuDe----
[s]```~*~```[/s]

Jude nodded, pulling his glass back towards himself across the table. It left a wet streak, which he began drawing spiraling designs in with a finger. Then he sighed, shook his head, and glanced at the band's drummer on stage.
"You know him? I've seen you eye him more than once now. He's talented."
Christian looked down at his hands, grinding his teeth angrily. "We've met."
Jude looked past him, in the direction of the stage. Behind the mask, his eyes distant, staring off into nothing.
When he spoke again, he wasn't smiling, and his voice was somber. "I'm not asking for you to share your soul and the dark side of life with me, Christian. I just need someone who actually knows what they're doing to help me complete an experiment of mine. I'm not going to ask again, and you don't have to answer me now. I need someone I won't have to teach, who can keep up with me. That is all."
He sat back in his chair, and after taking another sip as his drink, remarked, "They really are rather good tonight."

Where there is No Love, there is No Question.

A dream shared becomes reality, a dream alone is a nightmare.

"She tastes lyke raiyn
and sumtimes kiwi-fruit;
and wunce...
she tasted lyke a pen-ny." <3

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scd250

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Wed Jul 08, 2009 3:53 am

scd250 says... · Wed Jul 08, 2009 3:53 am

Christian looked at Jude carefully, no emotion present on his face.

"Give me one good reason to help you," he almost snapped. "I have left that life behind, Jude."

Jude's expression was unchanging.

"I am not asking you to go back," he said.

"Yes you are," Christian said. "I cannot even possibly hope to help you." He winced. Just the day before he had gone back, in order to help Angel. What was so different now? Nothing. Well, something. This time no one was at risk of dying. "You know my history, Jude. You know what happened." He shuddered thinking about it. Those other people watching the demonstration...he pushed it from his mind.

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Buggy

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Wed Jul 08, 2009 4:35 am

Buggy says... · Wed Jul 08, 2009 4:35 am

**Already cleared this character with babanuuk. At least, I think she cleared it... if not, I'll just delete this post**

"I think she asked you to leave her alone, sir," came a voice, cold as ice.

A woman with blonde hair so dark it was almost brown put a firm hand on the arm of Keeta's assailant. There was a wrench in her other hand. "Please stand down."

"And what are you gonna do about it?" the man slurred. Keeta shook her head, not wanting the woman to get hurt by the drunkard.

The woman's mouth was a straight firm line beneath her dark grey mask. "You're going to have enough of a headache in the morning with the amount of alcohol you've consumed. Do you really want me to add to that?"

The man leered and took a step towards her, Keeta still in tow. The girl tried to wrench away from his grip. "Fiesty, eh? I like 'em a little fiesty. Maybe you could join us." He reached to grab her arm.

WHACK! "I warned you," the woman said with a smirk as the man crumpled at her feet. She hefted the wrench, the weight in her hand satisfying. She glanced at Keeta, light grey eyes piercing. "Are you all right?"

"Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one-- the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts." --The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis

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Mandorelute

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Wed Jul 08, 2009 3:12 pm

Mandorelute says... · Wed Jul 08, 2009 3:12 pm

{OOC: Welcome Buggy, I'm pretty sure you can write here confidently, I know Babanuuk would be picky only because she wants competent writers.}

----JuDe----
[s]```~*~```[/s]

Jude leaned back in his chair, staring up into Club Effulgence's dazzling crystalline ceiling. It's light reflected in his eyes, making false twinkling stars appear in their depths. His shoulders hung with a weight of care that cannot be expressed in words. He pulled another cigarette from behind his ear and lit it with a match from his breast pocket. He sat there puffing quietly for a minute before he spoke.
"It is not something I would forget. I am disappointed to find the event still effects you so, but who am I to judge, it was not me." He puffed a few half-hearted smoke rings.
"I do not mean to press a closed matter, Christian, but I do not think it would be fair to you for me to let this opportunity pass without letting you know that all the work would be executed within the privacy of my studio. I would supply everything you needed to, ah, dabble in work of your own."
Jude picked up the bottle and refilled both of their glasses with the fine, golden liquid. "Maybe it was no accident we chanced to meet one another again; by the look of things, this is not the sort of place one would normally find you.
He frowned thoughtfully. "And, Christian, I wasn't going to bring this up with you for fear of driving you away, but I haven't forgotten you. I have never stopped practicing the magic of our trade, and although you were the better between us, my approach is different. I have gone down some very, shall we say, unique paths. I have broadened and mapped some roads which were, before very recently, quite unexplored."
Jude took another hit of the cigarette. The care in his eyes was clearly evident, and he was fielding his words, not wanting to scare Christian off. "I am not a man of charity, and I know you wouldn't receive it anyways; but if you helped me, I could help you."

Where there is No Love, there is No Question.

A dream shared becomes reality, a dream alone is a nightmare.

"She tastes lyke raiyn
and sumtimes kiwi-fruit;
and wunce...
she tasted lyke a pen-ny." <3

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scd250

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Wed Jul 08, 2009 5:50 pm

scd250 says... · Wed Jul 08, 2009 5:50 pm

"I said no, Jude," Christian said. He sighed. "Why are you so stubborn? Why do you feel the need to push me? That life is behind me now and I am glad of it." As the words left his mouth, they had the sting of a lie.

"Are you?" Jude responded, sensing that something was amiss.

Christian hesitated.

"...Yes," he said. "I am glad of it. Magician's folly is something I am no longer interested in, Jude. It is a but a curse. Eventually it consumes the heart and soul of those who practice it, if it does not kill them first. It is the same as less savory trades. I'm done with it. I don't wish for the magician's life any more than you wish for mine." The words held all the conviction in the world, but Christian's voice could not.

"Is that why you became a stringer, Christian?" Jude said. "So you could destroy the hearts of others instead of yourself? Like that man up there." He looked to Angel.

Christian's mouth opened, then closed again.

"That is a closed matter," he said flatly.

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Babanuuk

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Wed Jul 08, 2009 6:30 pm

Babanuuk says... · Wed Jul 08, 2009 6:30 pm

NORA

“What do you want to talk about then?”

I glance sideways at him and break into an amused smile. It seems my offer has turned him from a charismatic salesman to an insecure child. In that regard at least, we are equals.

“Well,” I begin, attempting to sound self-assured, “one usually starts a conversation with an introduction.” I halt our progress beneath the orange glow of a streetlight and turn to face him.

“My name is Nora Sky, and you are?” Along with my name, I extend a gloved hand and anticipate his response. For a moment he only looks at me, eyes bright with skepticism. Normally, this would have discouraged me terribly, but for some inexplicable reason I view his unwillingness to engage as a challenge, and in my impulsive, stubborn way, I accept.

Dramatically, as if we are actors surrounded by a tough audience, I lean forward and whisper,
“Humor me, please?”

Your beliefs define your character... I believe in LOVE.

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Rydia

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Wed Jul 08, 2009 7:09 pm

Rydia says... · Wed Jul 08, 2009 7:09 pm

Lorcan

Introductions hadn't been part of the deal and Lorcan wasn't sure that he wanted to get involved in anything quite so serious. It wouldn't be long before the girl matured and tragically succumbed to the vices of her gender. Lorcan stared at her. To what purpose was she seeking his company?

Slowly she leaned forward and he could feel her breath hot against his ear. He went rigid, his body tingling with nerves, his mind screaming fear. But she only whispered in his ear. Lorcan smiled a little. He was wrong to be afraid, she was just a child playing foolish childhood games.

"It's Lorcan Mason," he said quietly. Nora looked left and right as if searching for people who might be hiding around the corner, closing in, tracking them.

"Well Lorcan," she said. "Shall we?" They started walking again, they entered the club and made their way to the bar.

"What do you do?" Lorcan asked as they waited in line. That seemed the safest of questions and it boosted his confidence a little. It was the sort of question he was always asking his customers.

Writing Gooder

~Previously KittyKatSparklesExplosion15~

The light shines brightest in the darkest places.

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Mandorelute

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Wed Jul 08, 2009 10:22 pm

Mandorelute says... · Wed Jul 08, 2009 10:22 pm

----JuDe----
[s]```~*~```[/s]

Jude nodded curtly. "As long as we are understood. It is truly closed." He stood up, and made a small bow to Christian. "I am saddened to find you in this state, it sickens me. But if it is your choice, and it is a choice, I cannot help you." Jude put out his carnival in his empty glass. "Keep the Pinchbeck, I see a fool's gold is to your liking. Good bye."

Where there is No Love, there is No Question.

A dream shared becomes reality, a dream alone is a nightmare.

"She tastes lyke raiyn
and sumtimes kiwi-fruit;
and wunce...
she tasted lyke a pen-ny." <3

Quote

scd250

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Thu Jul 09, 2009 1:17 am

scd250 says... · Thu Jul 09, 2009 1:17 am

Christian sighed.

"Wait," he said.

Jude turned back.

"What?"

"I will help you, but on one condition. I refuse to partake in any of the magic that you produce. I will guide you by instruction only, understood?" Christian's body language was stiff. This was not a deal he liked to make, but Jude was well connected and he felt that if he did not it would come back to haunt him later.

Jude nodded.

"Very well then," he said, sitting back down.

"Now what exactly is it that you need my help with?" Christian sighed.

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Babanuuk

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Thu Jul 09, 2009 5:38 am

Babanuuk says... · Thu Jul 09, 2009 5:38 am

Nora

Effulgence is especially crowded tonight. It is as if the floor has grown a thousand legs and is tearing itself apart while attempting to go in every direction at once. I scan the room for an empty table and am fortunate enough to find one not far from the stage. Hurriedly, I motion Lorcan away from the bar and begin making my way through the crowd.

“What do you do?” he asks over the general roar of the club. I laugh, but wait until we are seated to answer.

“I sing,” I tell him, and I can hear the passion in my voice. Then a whisper of insecurity drifts into my ear, and I hesitate. “Well, I suppose that isn’t fair to say. I intend to sing- to be a musician.” As I speak my gaze travels across the room to the five young people already performing. The vocalist is a fabulous blond girl, and as I watch her pour her heart and soul into the microphone, I suddenly feel very small and homely. Forcefully, I return my eyes to Lorcan and attempt a smile that probably looks more like a bitter snarl. It takes a great deal of effort to recompose myself.

“Imagine what it must be like- to stand on that stage and know that your words are being heard, that you have the power to give someone empathy, even guidance.” I shake my head, allowing the dream to fade for now. And then I begin to wonder.

I have always been alone, "one but one by choice." When I was younger, I would watch the other children toy with one another, and decided that humanity, with all their ornamental affection and double edged expressions, was not the salve to ease my loneliness. Instead, I focused on building my own character, exercising my strengths, and discovering my passions. Despite all this, I am far from a misanthrope. Rather, I love humanity. I find all of their odd habits, wounds, and addictions fascinating, like the pieces of a puzzle that compose a person. It's just that I don't want to be dependent on someone who is as confused and broken as I am. And yet, I invited this stranger to eat with me, gave him my name and my attention, and now, even though he is sure to be uninterested, I am blabbering on about my passions.

Embarrassed, I lift my eyes and gaze at Lorcan across the table. He looks more uncomfortable than a cat in a birdbath, and it is hard not to laugh. Fortunately, a waitress in a colorful kimono appears, and I order for two, including a bottle of Wysteria as an afterthought.

Once she disappears, I again feel the weight of silence and the responsibility to fill it, only I am unsure of proper etiquette. I would ask him the same question he asked me, but I already know the answer, an answer that would have disappointed me in other circumstances. Finally, I decide to risk insulting my unusual guest and pose the question:
“Why do you do what you do?”

Your beliefs define your character... I believe in LOVE.

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Lauren2010

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Thu Jul 09, 2009 2:35 pm

Lauren2010 says... · Thu Jul 09, 2009 2:35 pm

Edit: Hmm..I just read through the profile for your character Buggy...and this might be a little out of character for her. I apologize and will gladly fix it if you want. Just let me know.

Keta

The woman who was my savior now stood in front of Keta, the man who had intended to do terrible things to her now lay on the ground. I am safe, I have been saved.

"Are you alright?" the woman asked.

Keta nodded weakly. "Thank you." she said, though with the noise in the club it still came out as a whisper. I can't even manage to thank one person who has actually been kind to me.

The woman smiled. "Any decent person would have done it." she said as if it was no big deal that she had saved Keta from certain disaster.

Keta tried to push her way out of the crowd but the woman held on to her shoulder. "Come sit with me." she insisted.

Keta almost had no choice. Leaving was still going to be a difficult task and that unconcious man must have had friends somewhere in the club. Besides, this woman had saved her life. It was the least Keta could do to join her for at least some time, even though she would eventually bore of Keta and her inability to be social.

Eventually Keta decided to follow the woman to a table and sat down.

"So what's your name?" the woman asked.

"Keta Night." Keta managed to say loud enough to make herself heard. The sound of her voice caused her to blush and look to the table. Luckily most of the redness was covered by the mask. "What's yours?" she then managed to say.

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