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

Buggy

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Thu Jul 09, 2009 4:22 pm

Buggy says... · Thu Jul 09, 2009 4:22 pm

**It's fine Lauren. The 'decent person' thing sounds like something Elena would say, though she'd probably have Keta sit down with her more out of wanting to make sure she's all right than any want for company. But it's really not a big deal.**

**Also, due to a plot point I've worked out with another writer, Elena's parents were killed when she was 15 instead of when she was too young to remember.**
-------------------------------------

"Elena Rathbone," the girl said a little more shortly than she meant to. "Why are you blushing? Keta's not a bad name by any means."

"N-no, it's not..." Her words trailed off, and she blushed even more.

Elena frowned. "You all right? He didn't hurt you did he?" Her eyes roved over the dancer in a preliminary search, looking for blood or bruises.

Keta shook her head. "I'm fine," she said hastiy.

Ah. She's just shy. Understandable. The other girl was quiet for a moment. "You shouldn't go places like this. A lot of people with bad intentions." She fiddled with her wrench for a moment. "Maybe we could get you a knife or something to defend yourself with." She paused. "What do you do for a living Keta?"

"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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Lauren2010

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Thu Jul 09, 2009 7:01 pm

Lauren2010 says... · Thu Jul 09, 2009 7:01 pm

Keta

I know I shouldn't go places like this. Keta stared at the girl for a moment, it was hard to tell, but Elena couldn't be too much older than herself. She may have been even younger than 21 year old Keta.

"What do you do for a living, Keta?" Elena asked. Her tone suggested it wasn't the first time she had asked.

"I-I dance." she said.

Elena's eyebrows raised, suspecting the same anyone did when Keta explained what she did. Dancers were typically low life addicts who wore skimpy outfits and danced in crumy clubs for creepy old stringers to gawk at.

"Not like that." Keta assured. "I'm a respectable dancer. An artist."

Elena nodded. She watched Keta, or more examined her, as if she wondered how someone like Keta could surive being a 'respectable' dancer and if she was even safe doing so. The incident with the drunken man couldn't have helped her impression either.

Keta stared at the table for a while, not saying anything.

"Aren't you going to even ask what I do for a living?" Elena said.

"Oh," Keta said. "Sure. What do you do for a living?"

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thefireinmeisJC

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Thu Jul 09, 2009 8:36 pm

thefireinmeisJC says... · Thu Jul 09, 2009 8:36 pm

Oh noes. I've been gone for a few days and it seems I'm in need of someone bringing me back in. Anyone care to do Willow a favor?

JC

Give hugs not bombs or whatever that saying says

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Buggy

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Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:38 pm

Buggy says... · Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:38 pm

"I fix things, like my grandfather." Elena stiffened, ready for a scoff, a smirk, something. That's what they all did.

"Oh. That's nice."

Elena looked up with a frown. "Nice? You're not... put off by it?" She looked slightly confused.

"Should I be...?"

"I'm not an artist," Elena replied dryly. "We're all supposed to be artists, right? That or magicians." The way she said the word made it sound like a curse.

She glanced over at a woman in a grey cloak. She stuck out like a bat in a flock of doves, hanging out in a club like this. Elena vaguely wondered why she was there.

"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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Lauren2010

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Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:58 pm

Lauren2010 says... · Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:58 pm

Keta

"I suppose it's an art to fix things." Keta said.

Elena wasn't paying attention to the conversation anymore though. She was staring at a woman across the room. She looked like she belonged in this club about as mych as Keta did.

"Do you know who that is?" Elena asked after a moment.

Keta stared at her a minute longer. "I don't know a lot of people." she said at last.

Before Elena could respond in some sort of patronizing or condescending manner like many others had in the past, the woman they had been staring at noticed them and walked over. She sat down at the table and stared directly into Keta's face.

"Who are you?" she asked.

Keta leaned backwards, trying to put distance between herself and yet another person who wished to socialize with her. What was with people today?

When Keta didn't respond, she turned her attention towards Elena. "Who are you?" she asked.

-----
Yeah, it's kind of lame. I'm braindead right now.

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Rydia

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Fri Jul 10, 2009 12:07 am

Rydia says... · Fri Jul 10, 2009 12:07 am

Lorcan

Being seated away from the bar wasn't any better. Lorcan didn't like it. The music was loud, the space crowded with bodies and the air was so hot and stiff, conjealed by the sweat and alcohol fumes. He kept wondering what the hell he was doing there but realistically a man had to eat and that was all there was to it.

“I sing,” she said. “Well, I suppose that isn’t fair to say. I intend to sing- to be a musician.” Lorcan watched her eyes flicker to the stage. Ah yes, the wonderful thrill of being the centre of attention. It was something so few gained and it left the others behind choking on the exhaust fumes, twisting smiles into bitter creases.

"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." The way Nora talked made Lorcan want to listen. She seemed a very honest girl. Lorcan only wished theat they were doing this in better circustmances but supposed they wouldn't be doing it at all anywhere else. Whatever it was they were doing.

"It's amazing," Lorcan agreed quietly, his words swallowed in the music. He wasn't sure if she even heard him. The waitress came and went and the ordering of food allowed Lorcan to relax a little more. Perhaps he had not trusted her to keep her word until then. A silence began to settle but just as Lorcan was getting comfortable, Nora shattered his perception of her.

“Why do you do what you do?” Nora asked. Lorcan said nothing at first, merely standing quietly, his hands clenched in a silent fury. A fury at himself. He looked at her, one long, drawn out intake of sight. He tried to see how he could have missed it but there wasn't anything there to miss as far as he could see.

"I see," Lorcan said quietly. "You make me agree to not talk about it and then ask me about it so that whatever I say you'll have every right to refuse me that meal. You're just like all of them, no better than the rest of the scum. Stuff your food, I'd rather starve than eat in this wretched company." Lorcan didn't want to look at her anymore. He could feel himself about to die. He'd been such a fool, taken in by a pretty face and a few pretty words. When was he going to learn or was it time for him to realise that he was no stronger than his father. But no! He would not be the prey of such beasts.

"Good day my lady." Lorcan spat the words out and turned away from her. He was shaking. He should just run for the door and not look back but he didn't think he could do that. He took one slow step away and then turned.

"Why do I do it? Maybe I like it. Maybe it gives me pleasure to wreck people's lives or maybe, just maybe it's the only way to live."

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~Previously KittyKatSparklesExplosion15~

The light shines brightest in the darkest places.

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Buggy

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Fri Jul 10, 2009 5:40 am

Buggy says... · Fri Jul 10, 2009 5:40 am

"I suppose it's an art to fix things."

Elena snorted slightly, though her gaze was still on the woman in the grey cloak. Fixing things wasn't an art, not by a long shot, but she was still grateful. Keta obviously meant well.

"Do you know who that is?" Elena asked, nodding at Willow. Who knew what the woman was doing there? If it came to that, who knew what any of these people were doing here? It was so stuffy and crowded and dark and... and disorganized. She was only here to work on the pipes in the bathrooms, which was why she had her wrench on her. On a good day, she avoided clubs the way she would a backed-up toilet.

Keta looked a little hesitant. "I don't know a lot of people."

Don't know a lot of people? Mm, that makes two of us. She was about to tell Keta so when the odd cloaked woman approached, sitting down at their table.

"Who are you?" she asked Keta. The dancer seemed completely taken aback at being addressed, so the woman turned on Elena. "Who are you?"

"Elena Rathbone," she replied, crossing her arms. "You?"

"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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RayneChild

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Fri Jul 10, 2009 8:17 pm

RayneChild says... · Fri Jul 10, 2009 8:17 pm

HELLOOO!!!!!!!!

I'm back from Cali!!! Sorry to those of you that didn't know I was gone :oops:

I'll just finish this up and I'll catch up on EVERYTHING and post, I PROMISE!!!

It's good to be home ^^

~Rayne

Singing: It's more than my forte; it's my fortissimo
---
They say "Guns don't kill people. People kill people."
Well, I think guns help. If you just stand there and yell BANG I don't think you're going to kill too many people...

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Babanuuk

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Sat Jul 11, 2009 4:38 am

Babanuuk says... · Sat Jul 11, 2009 4:38 am

NORA

The moment the question had left my lips I could sense Lorcan’s mood darken.

"You make me agree to not talk about it and then ask me about it so that whatever I say you'll have every right to refuse me that meal. You're just like all of them, no better than the rest of the scum. Stuff your food, I'd rather starve than eat in this wretched company." His words are quiet and carefully measured, but there is no disguising his hostility. I wince, as if in pain, and in reality, his words do sting; but even as he lashes out at me I can only see the wounded boy that he hides behind his single, pale eye.

“Good day my lady,” he snaps and stands to leave. Feeling as if I have backed an automobile over a puppy, I stand as well, desperate to apologize, to reassure him I am not like everyone else, though I couldn’t explain for the life of me why it matters so much. Lorcan, however, doesn’t leave quite yet. Instead, he turns to make a final defensive remark.

"Why do I do it? Maybe I like it. Maybe it gives me pleasure to wreck people's lives or maybe, just maybe it's the only way to live,” and with that he turns away. In some strange intuitive way I know that if I allow him to leave without hearing me out, I will never see him again.

“Lorcan, wait!” I cry out, and my voice is shrill with desperation. “I forgot about the deal, honest. I would never trick you. I only asked because- because I wanted to give you a chance. I want to believe there is a reason- that you are more than a salesman.” As true as it is, I already know he will not believe my explanation, and it is with a sense of defeat that I cover my face with my hands and fall heavily into my seat. It seems no matter how good my intentions are, how pure my motives, I fumble the splint and forever cripple the flightless birds I long to save. Cursed are the softhearted and the naïve! I cannot bear to fail another or myself again.

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

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Rydia

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Sat Jul 11, 2009 12:43 pm

Rydia says... · Sat Jul 11, 2009 12:43 pm

My next post is going to be in first person. I might make the switch permanent or just temporary, I'm not sure yet.

Lorcan

Too good. She was too good at this, how had a girl so quickly become a woman? Sometimes I thought there was no difference between the two, so slight was the gap at this age. So slight the gap. I'd be selling wares and a little girl would ask to see a magic trick. Women used to ask my dad that. 'Show us a magic trick then,' they would coo. He'd reach behind their hair, his hands groping amidst golden coils or raven feathers and he'd catch hold of the hidden straps. 'This is the best of magic,' he'd say in his quiet, cloud of a voice. I always turned away as he revealed their faces. Little girls would ask to see a magic trick but I could only see the ghosts of women in their eyes.

I was standing still with the music awash around me. I could feel her presence at my back. I thought that if I turned around quick enough I might catch the scars of truth on her face but it was covered by her hands. I searched for the lies in the drop of her shoulders, the curve of ehr legs.

"I'm not a salesman, I'm a stringer and we don't all have redeeming natures that forgive us this position." I spoke in a whisper. I only wanted her to hear but I made it firm so as not to be drowned out by the music. I could only say this once. "We're dangerous people and we are not to be pitied. Take more caution in your next dealings with us." Slowly she moved her hands away from her face but any lies to be found cowered behind her mask. For just a treacherous moment I wondered if I might see them were she to remove that covering. I reached up and tightened mine with shaking hands. No. Never would I look on another woman's face. One was enough for a life time.

"I'm going to leave now. I hope you don't have the bad luck of meeting me again." I really was ready to go. I was starting to think that if I stayed much longer I would break the instrument of every person on that stage. The waitress returned before I could even take a step.

"Leave sir? I beg your pardon that you was so long waiting for your food but if sir would sit down I can serve your meal now." It was the reminder of my hunger and empty fridge that forced me to take my seat.

"Is your singing paying for this meal?" I asked.

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The light shines brightest in the darkest places.

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Mandorelute

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Sat Jul 11, 2009 5:53 pm

Mandorelute says... · Sat Jul 11, 2009 5:53 pm

{OOC: ATTENTION KITTY AND SISTANUUK - I'm joining you lovlies this post, give me a que how you want this to go.}

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

Jude shook his head. "I really don't think you understand my goals, Christian. I'm not the unskilled oaf you knew so many years ago. When I offered you a job, it was for you to help me, assist me, as a peer. I have no interest in you tutoring me."
He stood up again, and clapped his hands together several times as if shaking dirt or flour off of them. "I gave you a final offer. You refused. I am not patient to the point of idiocy and I refuse to be puppeted , at least without my consent. While I am sure that it is perfectly believable that you have something worth learning in your arsenal of knowledge, I will not pay the degrading, and frankly juvenile, cost you demand. Thank you for your re-consideration, but it is my turn to decline. Good bye."
Jude turned away from Christian, feeling disgusted and ashamed for his old friend; but compassion only moved him so far, and Jude had taken several steps past it's finish line.
He thought he might have heard Christian say something as he walked away, but he ignored it. The knew the drink could be making him rash, but he knew himself well enough, he would wake up with no regrets in the morning.

~*~

Jude marched into the dining area of Club Effulgence, leaving the bar where he had drunk with Christian, fortunately walking a strait line due to years of experience. Pinchbeck was not an ordinary drink, it had no negative effects unless one dwelled too often in the dark places of their own heart, and while Jude's heart was no bright sun, it maintained a fair and rounded grey; he harbored no pitch black pits. It left no reek of alcohol, and the only obvious sign besides a lively glow in the drinker's eyes was a freedom in movement that could make one a bit too loose, unbalanced.
He sat alone at a table.
At the table next to his, a waitress burdened with a tray of food and drinks delivered meals to a young couple. The young man had sat down around the same time Jude had found the empty table. The girl looked familiar, she could be someone he knew, but he only glanced at them - not long enough to recognize her if if she was. Jude was careful not to stare, especially since the the young man had looked like one to take offense at the gaze of a stranger.
He waited to signal the waitress when she was done with the two at the other table.

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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Babanuuk

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Sat Jul 11, 2009 6:16 pm

Babanuuk says... · Sat Jul 11, 2009 6:16 pm

NORA

My heart skips slightly as Lorcan returns to his seat, and I pray a silent thanks for the untimely waitress.

“Don’t you worry how it’s being paid for,” I say firmly. “And forget our agreement. This meal is my apology.” As I speak, my eyes search to find his, but Lorcan is staring into oblivion and will not meet my gaze. The waitress begins setting the table with aromatic dishes, but even with the promise of a hearty meal wandering into his nostrils, I sense his discomfort growing.

“I’d like the check, please,” I tell the waitress, suddenly, “and could we have this to go?” She nods understandingly, mutters another apology about the wait, and wanders off to return to the kitchen. At last, Lorcan upturns his face, and his expression is wary.

“What are you doing?” he asks, skeptically, and I know he is wondering if I am attempting to cheat him out of his meal.

“Don’t worry. You can put as much as you like in a bag for yourself.” This does little to reassure him, so I continue in a hurry.

“So what if you are a dangerous person? If you intend to convince me you don’t suffer for want of kindness or understanding, I am the last person in this sad little city that would believe it.” Passionate, as always, I can sense myself building momentum and hope I will not be interrupted.

“I know loneliness, I know pain…” I pause, inhale deeply, then continue, “and I’m not afraid of either. The best way to heal oneself is to care for others. So don’t… don’t humor yourself by thinking that I have taken pity on you. It doesn’t take a psychiatrist to see that you are choking on something, some morsel of bitterness or betrayal, and I ask that you eat with me not to unload my pity on you so that I may feel as though I have accomplished some good on these dark streets; I ask because I offer empathy, and perhaps… perhaps I can offer understanding.”

The waitress has returned, bearing Styrofoam boxes and paper bags. She lays them on the table, and hands me the check, which I promptly pay, freeing her to go. Lorcan has yet to say anything, and I am afraid to look at him- afraid to jinx his response with the hope in my eyes.

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

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scd250

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Sat Jul 11, 2009 8:15 pm

scd250 says... · Sat Jul 11, 2009 8:15 pm

((good job Christian, now you got no one to interact with xP))

Christian muttered irritably to himself as Jude turned away and walked from the bar and into the dining hall.

"Good riddance," he said sourly, ignoring his glass and instead taking a swig straight from the bottle of pinchbeck. He had left that life behind and did not care to go back to it. Jude had not been there when the accident occurred. He had not watched the faces of those who had died.

He looked up to the stage to see the musicians taking a break from their set, coming down off and into the room in order to wet their throats and rest before they were to play some more. Christian wished to make himself invisible. In fact he wished to leave. He stood, about to take his leave of the place, when suddenly there was a hand upon his shoulder.

"Christian!" a voice said. "I never thought I would see the likes of you in a place like this."

He turned. Angel. And there was an odd look in his eyes that said the magic he'd given him was still working, though it was fading fast.

"I was just leaving," he muttered.

"Wait," Angel said. "I appear to have lost those little black pills you gave me."

"I don't care, Angel. I'm not giving you more."

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Rydia

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Sat Jul 11, 2009 8:26 pm

Rydia says... · Sat Jul 11, 2009 8:26 pm

I'll see what I can do ^^

Lorcan

I watch as the waitress is hailed by a man at the neighbouring table. She looks relieved to be free of us. I allow my gaze to drift over this stranger with his mix-matched eyes. They are strangely comforting, as if I have found some scrap of familiarity in this awful place. He holds himself with a confident detachment from the world. I think to myself that he is a magician and again take heart. Here is the man I aspire to be.

Turning back to Nora I take in the boxes and the waiting food, her averted eyes and my reflexion in an empty glass. My hand reaches out to pick up the bottle of Wysteria. I pour for both of us. I set the bottle down carefully and pick up my glass.

"To loneliness," I say quietly, tipping the glass to my lips. I drink only a little as the echoes of another time gather at the edges of my mind. There was a time I wasn't lonely.

Nora drinks first, hesitantly and then her eyes lift to mine. She still seems afraid to speak. I pick up one of the boxes and she does the same but neither of us reach for the food. I place my box on the floor.

"The way to understanding is through experience. Tell me, what pain have you felt?" I have little intention of imparting my own pain to her but I feel that this is a meal the two of us should share and there is no suitable place to do it. I would not feel comfortable anywhere in her world and am reluctant to introduce her to mine.

I am surprised when we are interrupted before she has even begun. Looking up, the stranger is standing above us. He has just cleared his throat.

"Might I join you?" he asks. I suspect that Nora is about to say no and cannot allow it. Here is a man who in just one glance I have built up to be my future and I have a desire to know him further. I am stil naively hopeful that there might be something more for me.

"Please do," I say.

Writing Gooder

~Previously KittyKatSparklesExplosion15~

The light shines brightest in the darkest places.

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Mandorelute

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Sat Jul 11, 2009 9:49 pm

Mandorelute says... · Sat Jul 11, 2009 9:49 pm

{OOC: Did you talk to babanuuk, kitty? Either way, thanks.}

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

Jude ordered a small plate of palate cleansing Bitter-Sugar candies from the busy waitress, and while waiting for her to return with them, approached the table opposite. "Might I join you?"
The young woman and man exchanged a look, before the man turned to Jude, almost eagerly. "Please do."
Jude smiled in thanks and sat down, the tension created by the two strangers causing him to feel a tingle of excitement buzz through him. He knew he'd interrupted something, but intuition prompted him and he had trained himself to act quickly in such times. Jude was the type to view challenges, diversity, and tension as a rare opportunity, a small window of time, a portent that indicates a fork in the road of life. Perhaps it was the magic in his blood that caused him to be so keen on the emotions of others.
The one problem was once he leapt, he didn't quite now how to land.

He decided to roll.

"If it's not too strange, please, continue as you were." He spoke with a tone of respect towards both of them, not the sort of buttery respect that is so obviously pretentious, but the humble respect of a peer. "I've interrupted you in the middle of a question."

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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