Welcome, reader, to the latest Character Development Thread! These shared story exercises help budding writers develop their characters alongside the characters of other budding writers. No formal sign-up is necessary; one can simply jump right in. Just make sure to review the OP and the last few pages first.
If the length of the thread has become a bit daunting and you need a recap, or if you simply need another question about the threads answered, just post in the discussion thread
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This particular thread focuses a bit more heavily on character interaction than usual. It is recommended, though not required, that your characters come with specific goals in mind.
Many thanks go to nrjxll, Killer Clowns, SolipSchism, Corvidae, electronic-tragedy, Darkblood Carnagefang, Strix Obscuro, Gault, Night, and gameknight102xx, among others, for helping to prepare the thread.
◊Somewhere in the vastness that is the multiverse, there lies a great city. Born from a mix of modern technologies and ancient magic, it has become a crossroads between many different realities, resulting in a wonderfully varied populace and a mostly near-futuristic cityscape.
This shining Capital prides itself on being a place of opportunity. It’s up to the inhabitants to make something of it.
- Current Time: Night (~10:00 PM)
- Current Weather: Cloudy
edited 12th Oct '15 12:20:03 PM by Yomegami
[OLD CITY > MUSEUM PARK]
"Whatever it is..." Lara continued, "it's a weird read."
They Museum Park slowly began to come into sight. In the far distance, they could make out the towering monolith.
"Stonehenge, eat your heart out." She muttered under her breath, awed by the height.
Visitors Terminal
Midori thought about it for a moment. How else could Sophie carry her that would be less...awkward? She couldn't think of anything else except maybe around the waist but that would probably be just as weird so she gave up and replied with a blush, "Bridal style is fine I guess. It's probably the easiest way to carry me anyway."
Museum Park
Kyana continued to chase the man, making sure she didn't lose him but unfortunately managed to until she heard his voice. It sounded close by and she tried to make out the direction and answered, "My name is Kyana. Who might you be?" She was hoping to make him continue to talk so she could find him, all it would take was to get him to trust her. If he did she wouldn't harm him unless he harmed her, after all it could have been a huge misunderstanding about the item he carried being something possibly evil.
edited 3rd Sep '15 5:01:35 PM by Sphinxyness
"Can you imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie?"
Visitor's District - Outside Visitor's Terminal -> New City - Skyscraper Roof
"Yeah, I can't think of anything better either," Sophie said with a shrug, "At least we're going to be going fairly high up, so I doubt anyone's going to comment about it or anything."
At that, she gently scooped Midori up again in the same manner as before. Once she was sure she wasn't going to drop her and that she was as comfortable as possible, she took off. Once again, she ascended fairly slowly, but once she was clear of the rooftops of the Visitor's District she picked up just enough speed to move fast without the wind being too bothersome.
It took her a little while to decide on a building. She glanced at the towers of the City Center on their way past them and considered one of them, but ultimately decided that she didn't want to fly up that high. At the same time, those same buildings could block the view from one of the New City buildings.
Eventually, she did settle on a New City skyscraper; one positioned just well enough that it offered not only a good view of the sunset, but also of the rest of the city. She flew up to the roof, before making a quick yet gentle landing and gently putting Midori down.
"Well, what do you think?" she asked, turning towards the sunset and sitting down. She opted to remain transformed this time; besides the fact that she was going to need to transform again anyway to get them down from here, no one was really going to notice the two of them up here. Besides, by now she did feel comfortable enough around Midori to not feel too flustered about her appearance.
New City - Meiko's Cafe
It took Samantha a few moments to realize just what the being was referring to.
"Oh, you mean my pendant?" she asked with a motion to indicate it, before raising an eyebrow. "I have an idea, but before I respond to that I want to ask you this: does the word 'Bleaksteel' mean anything to you?"
She was fully expecting a negative answer, but by now she wasn't sure if she'd be able to trust it regardless. Bleaksteel drones were the only things she knew of that'd be able to tell that her pendant was something beyond ordinary jewelry without being told, and this being was capable of doing just that.
Icon by Civvi the Civilian!
[Waterfront - Experience]
Qrlil smiled at Angua's reaction, though the expression was just slightly less sincere this time. She was a bit concerned that she had gone over the kasuar's head again. She mentally admonished herself - as long as Angua wasn't actually bothered by it, and in this instance she didn't appear to be, it wasn't her place to worry about that sort of thing.
She turned in Zerrimus's direction, listening to him with careful attention. She'd heard a little about his home city before, but only in flakes and shells, not in any detail. One of the details, in particular, stood out to her. "I should, in turn, very much like to see your city someday," she said, "but I must admit, I am a little puzzled by the idea of a spacefaring civilization still constructing its buildings out of stone."
As she waited (for both a response and their meals), she decided to not ask Angua to complete the conversational pattern by describing where she'd grown up. From what little she knew, it hadn't exactly just been one place, and the memories weren't happy ones anyway.
[New City - Meiko's Cafe]
The cloaked being tilted its hooded head, its gaze shifting from Samantha as a whole to the pendant. "I recall one meaning for it: the translation of the name given by zaran explorers to an exotic material they recovered from certain precursor ruins first beginning in the year 1588 of your species's Common Era. Undoubtedly I could recall others with more time." The alien's voice, while remaining somewhat hollow and reverberating, nevertheless contrived to take on a sardonic tone. "However, I am fairly certain none of them are the meaning you were referring to. I cannot assure you of much, young lady, but I can assure you that my ability to recognize your nexus is a personal one, and not related to any... force from your reality."
[Museum Park ~ East (Headed South)] (Buso, Akira, Miyuki)
Buso's mask lingered on Miyuki for several long moments, still and statuesque. He barely moved to let out a low, airy sigh, though his mask did wobble a bit.
"Well. All right." he said, his words coming off somewhat sharp and terse, with little pause between them. "We'll just hope she's not in any danger. We'll just hope the purchaser of that rock isn't one to hold a grudge. Or to take a hostage. Or to demand a ransom. Yes, here's hoping."
His mask turned to Akira and the rock, and he sighed again, shaking his head. "Who knows. I'm honestly not entirely convinced that it holds any significant value to Luíseach. More likely, this entire scheme was hatched out of her acute distaste for myself and the seller of that rock. She does so tend toward obsession, Luíseach."
[Museum Park ~ Northwest (Near Central Canal)] (Buyer, Kyana)
The man ignored her question for the time being, though her voice was disconcertingly close. Taking great care with every movement, he knelt down and picked out a few small rocks—scarcely larger than pebbles—from the grass and twigs. Making sure to keep his arm tucked behind the tree at an angle that he hoped was keeping him out of Kyana's view, he quickly catapulted the three or so rocks in three different directions. One struck a tree a few meters ahead of him. Another hit the undergrowth a little further out and more to the man's left. The third rustled its way into a bush, and as soon as he launched it, the man broke away from his hiding spot and rushed ahead.
Within the dense maze of trees, the man ran in a very odd fashion, spacing his strides greatly and leaping to the left and the right. He did this for less than ten seconds, but perhaps it would be enough to leave the fire girl disoriented and unable to properly track him. When he pulled himself behind another tree, he could once again hear the water running through the canal, and the quiet hum of cars and commerce from Old City. He didn't waste any time enjoying these pleasant evening sounds, however. Instead, he sucked in a quick breath, and called out as quickly and collectedly as he could possibly manage, "Alright, hey, Kyana! This ninja friend of yours—the one who-"
He hesitated. Phrasing, phrasing.
"...the one in all black! Do they have a name?!"
this place needs me here
It's a bird.
Old City -> Museum Park
"Yes, that is rather impressive," Moreena said, looking up at the monolith. She decided not to ask Eliza about any further details. It was clear that some quite unpleasant memories had been brought to the surface.
"It reminds me a bit of my home, oddly enough."
Waterfront - Experience
Garkin shrugged. "It's a very old city," he said. "Our modern towns and colonies are usually made from fancier stuff, though we often tend to stick to a similar look. Traditions and such, I guess."
Still a great "screw depression" song even after seven years.
[MUSEUM PARK]
"'Oddly enough?'" Lara repeated, "I'm kinda not surprised it does. Do you not have a lot of these things?"
New City - Meiko's Cafe
That indeed wasn't the meaning Samantha knew. One part of her wanted to keep pushing the being until she got a clearer answer and to make absolutely sure that it had nothing to do with the Bleaksteel, but on the other hand that just seemed like a waste of time. False confessions helped no one.
Instead, she opted to give it the benefit of the doubt. If it turned out she was mistaken, it shouldn't have been too much trouble to rectify the mistake.
"These other people you speak of...did they happen to be a pair of girls, one with brown hair and the other with purple? Both pretty easily...embarrassed? Or was this pair somebody completely different?"
Old City - Museum Park
Eliza polished off her sandwich as she took in the sight of the monolith.
"That's a little out of place," she said, "From what I've seen, this is a pretty advanced city. Yet that big chunk of rock over there looks like it was made by tribal peoples." She scratched their head. "I'm surprised the city founders decided to keep it around. Our world was a lot less respectful towards such things."
Icon by Civvi the Civilian!
Attitude is prohibited
[Museum Park - East]
"Kyana's not helpless, she can take care of herself." Miyuki said, flatly, still looking out towards the direction she'd come from a short while ago. "Even if she's fine, it would still take her at least a full minute to run back here from the ambush location. Longer, if she's chosen to walk." She paused, and her visor reappeared. "Nevertheless, I will search for her shortly."
Akira kept turning the rock around in his hands. "Seems like a lot of trouble to go through just to harass you and the seller..." He muttered.
Not entirely dead.
[New City - Meiko's Cafe]
The cloaked alien sucked in a breath at the description, though there was something slightly artificial about the sound, as though it was merely mimicking a reaction it had seen in others. "Ah, you do know them. Yes, those humans are likely the same as the ones I refer to. They were rather kind to me, though unfortunately they were not able to grant me all that I wanted."
The hood tilted again. "I am curious... how do you know them, exactly?"
It's a bird.
Museum Park
The group stepped of one the bridges leading to the park, and followed a winding path into the greenery.
"Well, the previous god of my Domain did have a fondness for such things," Moreena replied. "Giant rock spires, crudely carved statues, huge crystal shards floating in the air... I just wasn't expecting to see a thing like that in this place."
She turned to Eliza. "Tribal people?" she said skeptically, glancing up at the almost skyscraper sized monolith. As far as she could tell from this distance, it was all a single, solid piece. "That would be really impressive."
Still a great "screw depression" song even after seven years.
Laugh and grow dank!
[Waterfront - Experience]
Angua seemed to hesitate before saying to Garkin, "Uh- I hope yo don't mind me bringing this up, but is that whole thing with it being okay to have multiple partners also a tradition? Or is it something that developed more recently? I ask because it's not really something that exists where I'm from- at least, as far as I know. And Qrlil didn't seem much familiar with it either..."
yey
[Waterfront - Experience]
Qrlil leaned back in her chair, looking in Zerrimus's direction and listening. She confessed inwardly to some curiosity about his answer, and not just for personal reasons - while she did in fact know of a number of cultures where polyamorous relationships were considered normal, she wasn't certain she had ever heard of one where they were the only type known.
It's a bird.
Waterfront - Experience
Garkin was somewhat surprised by the change of topic, but actually managed to keep his head spikes still for once. After all, it only made sense that they'd eventually ask.
"Well, um, I'm not sure if I'd call it a tradition as such..." he began. "We've just never really had any reason to set up any restrictions, I guess. If everyone involved is okay with it, what's the problem right? Now, there where a few historical societies were things worked differently, of course, usually because they had some kind of special hereditary tradition and wanted to keep everything a bit more organized, but none of them lasted, obviously."
Still a great "screw depression" song even after seven years.
New City - Meiko's Cafe
"They're associates of ours. They're off doing something for us while we're working here trying to earn some money," Samantha explained.
She scowled slightly. "If you did meet them, I'm wondering why they didn't tell me about you. I specifically asked if there was anything I should know when I called." She shook her head. "Well, whatever. Since they're not here to comment, mind if I ask you just what all they did for you?"
Museum Park
Before stepping onto the bridge into the park, Eliza parked her mech next to its entrance before hopping out. While one part of her said staying in it was a better idea, the point of all this was just the chance to act like a normal civilian for once. Besides, she highly doubted there'd be anything here that would require her mech to deal with.
"Well, maybe not tribal-tribal," she said to Moreena once she'd caught up with the other two, "I was more thinking of the ancient Egyptians with the pyramids." She looked up at the Monolith again. "Though the pyramids were made out of many stones, while this just seems to be just one massive hunk of rock." She tapped her chin in thought. "Back home most people laugh at the suggestion of aliens, but here that seems kind of plausible."
Icon by Civvi the Civilian!
[Pub]
The moment Howell made that response, Adam knew things were not going to go well.
Oh no. he thought.
Sensing trouble as well, Nick gently pulled Howell the side, then said, "Kid, that wasn't the best response. I think you offended them a little. Why don't you try introducing yourself instead?"
Adam, meanwhile, decided to explain as best as he could. He cleared his throat and gave a slight bow.
"His name is Howell." he said, "S-Sorry about that! He honestly means well. O-once you get to know him, you'll see!"
Marie turned to Jackson and whispered, "Has he always been like that?"
"Yes." Jackson said, "At least he has been when I first met him. You're in for a ride."
[Waterfront - Experience]
Qrlil felt a mild, uncharacteristic urge to reach out and tweak one of Zerrimus's head spikes, and smiled to herself at it.
"I suppose that makes sense," she said, still smiling. "And yes, if nobody actually involved has a problem with it, I do not see why anyone else should." Her smile went away. "Though most of my people wouldn't agree."
She glanced away, looking out the window again at the sunset-tinted ocean, wanting to avoid showing too much of her expression (such as it was) to the others. After a moment she looked back, putting on a more cheerful facade. "I actually have heard of societies with similar rules for relationships," she said. "I suppose it is just that I never imagined myself involved in one. It is hard to get used to, especially because..."
She hesitated, then continued, "Well, because, to be honest, I have always had something of a self-centered element in my personality, which includes a tendency to jealousy. It is a little difficult to adjust to a situation where that is not a concern."
[New City - Meiko's Cafe]
The alien being kept its red gaze fixed on Samantha's pendant. "Nothing very much, just a simple act of kindness," it said. "I found myself unfortunately lacking in this place's currency, and needed help to travel on the bus. They gave me some spare change."
It let out a hissing sound. "Unfortunately, they were not able to help me with my greater purpose here. Tell me, does the name 'qrtxians' mean anything to you?"
[MUSEUM PARK]]
Lara hummed at Eliza's mention of extra-terrestrial beings.
"What if aliens, huh?" She shrugged. "Don't see why not. This being an overlap of different places anything can happen. Actually, it already has."
Laugh and grow dank!
[Waterfront - Experience]
Angua turned to Qrlil, a curious smile lighting her features.
"Wait a second, what does that mean? This thing here- it's the two of us fighting over you. If anything, it's one of us that ought to feel jealous. Right?"
She looked between Qrlil and Zerrimus, beginning to smirk. "I mean, if I'm being honest here I'd probably be looking pretty green in the face if I didn't already like my chances." Angua nudged Qrlil lightly with a knuckle, then scrambled to correct herself. "Well- a lot greener than I already am, anyway."
yey
It's a bird.
Waterfront - Experience
"I'd say that you've been doing pretty fine so far," Garkin said, before turning to Angua with a chuckle. "Oh, so that's how you see it, huh?" he commented in a slightly teasing manner.
At that point, a waiter arrived with their meals. Scallop bread and clam soup for Angua, a shshlsh platter - apparently a collection of unusually colorful fruit slices and some kind of pink, gelatinous substance - for Qrlil, and finally some frr'uivz'ehk for Garkin, which looked like a number of oversized arthropod legs covered in some kind of glazing and green sprinkles.
"Well, this looks interesting," Garkin said before taking a bite.
Museum Park
"Aren't we all technically aliens though?" Moreena said with a smirk. She made a gesture towards an upcoming fork in the path. "North or South?" she said. "Personally, I wouldn't mind taking a look at the local museum."
Still a great "screw depression" song even after seven years.
[Museum Park ~ East (Headed South)] (Buso, Akira, Miyuki)
"Can she?" Buso pressed. "Against what, exactly? Do you even know what she is up against? Oh, sure, you were able to get the rock and get out with no trouble, but you had speed and the power of surprise. But what does that really tell you about the potential threat of the man who bought that rock? That he can be caught off-guard? Well, all right, and what about when he is on full alert with no one to blame for this earlier assault but a girl who—although she may have some kind of fire-wielding gift—is still very young and naive."
He placed a hand against his mask to keep it from bobbing around any more than it already had, then continued in a calmer tone. "Appearances can be deceiving. Kyana can... shoot fire from her hands? Suppose that this man is fire-proof. What I'm trying to say is that Kyana is by herself, and may be facing a very upset someone whose threat potential has not been ascertained." He paused, his mask's empty gaze drifting towards the northwest. "And she hasn't returned."
Buso was silent for a few more seconds, then he turned his mask toward Akira and, in a voice just above a murmur, said, "You could almost say that a person who would go through that kind of trouble can't be entirely right in the head. In which case I would agree."
[Market Street ~ Pub] (Howell, Adam, Henry, Jackson, James, Kris, Marie, Nick, Teri, Wolfe)
Howell's expression remained perplexingly static, even as Nick pulled him aside and spoke to him. It wasn't a smile to be sure, but there wasn't much upset or anxious about his face either. Much. His eyelids were twitching ever-so-slightly again, along with his strange green eyes. They studied Nick for a while, then meandered back over to the others, before finally settling on the floor between Nick and himself.
After a moment or two of not-meeting-Nick's eyes, Howell offered a weak shrug—barely visible through his layers of clothes—followed by a quiet an equally weak, "Today really isn't my day..."
He waited for another handful of seconds, then raised his head slowly. Now his eyes looked almost heavy-lidded. "Are you feeling cranky, Nick? Is everyone? Is that what it is?"
edited 6th Sep '15 2:27:56 AM by Ryuhza
this place needs me here
New City - Meiko's Cafe
Samantha shrugged. "Well, good on them for wanting to help you. I presume you weren't with them for long enough to see anything else they did?"
She frowned in response to the being's own inquiry. "Unfortunately no. I can't even offer another definition like you did to my own." She sighed. "And unfortunately I doubt we'll be able to help you much more than they could. The task we're trying to accomplish is pretty demanding in and of itself, so even if we did know what you're trying to do I just don't think we'd have the time."
Museum Park
Eliza gave Moreena a look for a few moments after her comment. "...I never thought of it that way, but now that you mention it...."
She shook her head. "Anyway, a museum sounds good to me. Not only for my own personal interest, but there's the potential that one of them might have something the rest of the Bleaksteel ought to know."
Icon by Civvi the Civilian!
[Waterfront - Experience]
Qrlil gave a good-natured sigh at the banter, and shook her head.
"I just meant that it is a little hard for me to adjust to a concept of... of this type of relationship where no one feels jealous," she clarified. "Actually, if anything I personally feel somewhat flattered." She hissed. "Which does not entirely help with the ego problem I mentioned, though I suppose self-confidence is important for someone in my position."
The food arrived, and she turned to look at the shshlsh platter with slightly leery eyes. Fortunately, though, it seemed fine, if - from the appearance - perhaps a bit too sweet and sugary for her tastes.
"Interesting is certainly the word," she agreed.
She tilted her head, a random thought coming to mind, and glanced in Angua's direction. "By the way - are all kasuar green?"
Gonna do Meiko's Cafe later.
Laugh and grow dank!
[Waterfront - Experience]
Angua's food was comparatively plain-looking, but she dug into it with enthusiasm nonetheless. Through half a mouthful of scallop bread, she mumbled, "Nuh-uh. Kasuar come in all kindsa colors. Not quite a rainbow, but we still got lotsa different shades depending on where you're from. Green means you live in or around the swamp, and tan or beige means you're from the mountain region."
Angua swallowed. "Hey uh, I don't know if I'm remembering right- didn't you ask me this question before? Like, a long time ago, back during one of the last times we met. I swear I remember having to answer something like that. Not sure it was you who asked it, though."
yey
Waterfront - Experience
"Yeah, it does sound like a pretty nice city," Garkin said. "I wouldn't mind seeing it someday." He looked over at Angua.
"Me? Oh, I grew up in a place called Firestone. It's built in a sort-of-similar place actually, surrounded by mountains on three sides, but with the edge of a huge river canyon to the southeast. Lot's of towers as well, but made of stone and metal rather than crystal. More than anything, the place is busy though, from the markets of Lowharbor to the temples and nightclubs of Innertown, and on towards the factories in the mountains, with sky barges, drones and shuttles flying overhead."
Still a great "screw depression" song even after seven years.