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 you still have questions or need a recap, feel free to join in the discussion thread
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This particular thread is a casual thread. What does that mean? The focus here is largely on character interaction, and a casual thread is largely meant to serve that purpose without subjecting the participating characters to anything overly threatening. This especially means violence, although there is a designated sparring area for friendly duels.
Many thanks go to Sonzai for helping me prepare this thread.
◊In a remote, mountainous region of Japan, in the middle of a large bamboo forest, there sits an inn. At first glance, it appears oddly traditional, and for the most part it is. However, a closer look around will reveal that it is surprisingly modern as well and offers everything a weary traveler could need. The inn's location is most unusual, but stranger still are its staff. Almost all of them are Youkai, the mythical and incredibly varied spirits of Japan. Some of them look fairly humanlike, others are more bestial, and still others are simply strange.
Appearances aside, this particular group is welcoming to any and all weary travelers that find their inn. Perhaps they'll even meet someone stranger then they are.
- Current Time of Day: Sunset
- Current Weather: Mostly clear
edited 5th Sep '14 7:50:35 PM by Yomegami
[Entry Hall]
"I'm Miyuki Yamauchi," Miyuki said to Selena, giving her a small bow, "and I think my friends Takuya and Yuuta met you on an island a while back. What was it... Pax something?"
"Sorry if I've got the wrong person, that was quite some time ago, and I don't really remember their whole story," she said, "it's just that I've heard it's rare to see the same person twice in these interdimensional locations." Not that I've been to any others... she thought.
Danger: Intense gravimetric distortions nearby. Please reverse the polarity on your deflectors now.
[Inn - Back Door]
"I'm not worried!" Havanar squeaked, then immediately corrected it to "I'm not worried about ...him?... posing a danger." She displayed no sign of noticing that the human woman was growing annoyed, mostly because she hadn't. "I just don't understand what you're talking about! I don't believe even humans think of their deities as big reptilian monsters - that is what a dragon is, right? - that live in ponds with a lot of green around them! I - ohh."
A revolving grey triangular icon appeared in her upper field of vision. It flashed and transformed into a ring of Char-Pavaun text.
"I do believe my implants have reactivated," she told Rein and Miki, her voice abruptly shifting from distressed to vague but pleased. "How odd. There appears to be no planetlink service present."
[Hotspring -> Showers, changing area]
Sano reached between the rocks under the waterfall, and pulled out the bag he had stashed there.
"Magic," he simply stated and headed for the showers.
After a quick shower, he put his clothes on, a pair of undyed spidersilk pāijāmanote and a A-shirt. He also put on the watch and necklace he had stored in the bag. He continued towards inn.
edited 22nd Jun '14 11:27:52 AM by m8e
They/Them
[Outside - Garden - Near Pond/Groove]
Dominatus slowed as they heard Oswald's comment. Lowering themself to the ground, the angel addressed Daisuke, "My apologies young one. It appears my sense are thrown off by this place."
Dominatus turned and walked back to Oswald, "Forgive me, it was not my intention to startle the child."
Note to self: Pick less edgy username next time.
Back Door
Miki sighed. "My apologies, but I don't think this is something I can help you with. My immediate concern was to make sure you were going to make it, and by the looks of things you are. Right now, I do have other business to attend to, and it's imperative that I get to it soon." She frowned thoughtfully. "Perhaps you are better off speaking with Mizuchi himself if this is that important to you, although I would hate to disturb him so soon after the last time."
Entry Hall
"Oh, those two," Selena said with a nod, "Yeah, I remember them all right. It hasn't been five minutes since I last saw them, as a matter of fact."
She then frowned and growled in frustration. "But since time apparently flew by differently for you, let me explain everything." She took a deep breath before continuing. "Some unknown force decided to hijack my front door one day and have it drop me in front of a casino on this island you mentioned. After some wandering around trying to make sense out of everything, I got hooked up with these two boys claiming they could make that casino door send me back home. Since I didn't have any other options, I accepted the help."
As she went on, she started to sound more and more angry. "So they configure the door somehow so it was apparently able to do just that, although it took them a suspiciously short amount of time. Well, I got off the damn island, but...." She scowled, "As you can clearly see by the mere fact we're having this talk at all, it didn't work. In fact, I think I'm worse off than I would be if the door hadn't worked at all. I guess I appreciate the fact they tried to help, but...." Her facial expression turned into an outright death glare. "Next time you see them, tell them I said 'Fuck you!'"
With that, she turned and stormed off towards the front desk, giving Miyuki no further heed.
Icon by Civvi the Civilian!
[garden]
The fact that he-it looked like a naked Ken doll up close with too many wings invoked more intimidation in Daisuke than disgust. Still not reassured by any real measure of the word, he gave Dominatus a quick, fearful nod and stood slowly, taking care not to make any sudden moves. Ran slid back into a sitting position, eyeing both the horned thing and bird-human thing with unblinking eyes.
Fun fact: cats don't need to blink all the time like we do. In fact, they need to blink so infrequently they use it to tell someone they like them. Staring, on the other hand, indicates hostility.
"Jack, you have debauched my sloth."
[Outside ~ Garden (Near Pond, Grove)]
"That's all right, Dominatus, but you must consider how your form might be perceived by someone so young, especially when viewing you as a stranger." Oswald turned his hood, trying to look over his shoulder at the garden behind them, with little success. "I would... uh, I would wager that not many in this place would be familiar with a being such as yourself." he said, his hood now facing Dominatus. "Such a sudden approach can be frightening, you understand?"
Regaining a bit of composure, Oswald stood up straight and faced Daisuke, offering him a slow bow, slightly raising his cloak in the back as he did so. If viewed from behind, one might notice some sort of cord loosely wrapped around his hips.
"My apologies for scaring you like that." he said to the boy. "Dominatus was simply... curious, I believe. Are you all right? Or—dear me—you haven't swallowed your tongue, have you?"
this place needs me here
The future of warfare in UC.
[Inn - Back Door]
"I'm unsurprised." Rein observed. "The tech level here doesn't suggest such a thing would be possible. My personal connection-" Rein waved a hologram into existence, a simple query screen, and then banished it again, "is significantly cheating about such things."
[Entry Hall]
"Ah. Well. I suppose you could call it special forces." Se replied. "Mind, we're from a place where people you'd consider superheros are both common and almost uniformly enlisted."
Nous restons ici.
[Entry Hall]
"Special forces, huh? Sounds like tough work." Says the guy who just got punched into another dimension. "So, superpowered people are common where you're from? Damn, in my world, there are literally like four superheroes... and one of them doesn't even have any powers. The one without powers is me, by the way, before you ask me to start flying or shooting fireballs or something."
[Inn - Back Door] - [Entry Hall (Front Desk)]
Havanar stared for a moment at the place where the holographic display had been, eyes bulging again. "How did you do that? No - wait - "
She shook herself. She had many, many questions to ask but it seemed like she'd put off the Boring Existential Necessities for long enough, and anyway she was worried about another cultural disconnect. "I suppose I should first go and check and in. In to the inn. It's been nice talking to you, Rein, perhaps we'll meet again while I'm here."
With that she moved off through in a somewhat distracted-seeming fashion, still making very little noise. She let her backup run diagnostics while she went. Eventually, after a great deal of pausing and goggling at the many odd (to her) features of the inn, she reached the front desk.
"Hello. My name is Havanar and I would like to stay here for a currently-uncertain length of time."
While the check-in process can be automated, I'm leaving this post open-ended in case someone in the front hall tries to strike up a conversation.
edited 20th Jun '14 6:39:33 PM by nrjxll
The future of warfare in UC.
[Entry Hall]
"Shame. You seem to have done reasonably well for yourself regardless." Se raised an eyebrow. "Unless, of course, your super power is that you can actually commit to using the gym equipment you bought and mean it..." Even spending under a decade on Earth, one learned to recognize Batman.
Se smirked, just a moment. "So I take it the combatant life suits you, considering you're still doing it. Or...how many times have you been out for a fight?"
Nous restons ici.
[Entry Hall]
"The combatant life?" Gregory replied. "Nah, I'm not big on the 'combatant life'. Don't get me wrong, practice has made me a damn good fighter, but I'd much rather help people and solve conflicts without having to resort to the Ol' fisticuffs... of course, nothing ever happens the easy way." Gregory scratched the back of his head before continuing. "Also, I'm not the weak link among superheroes, if that's what you're thinking. I've been doing this since I was 15 years old. The last six years of my life have been dedicated to constant training. Compare that to my two buddies, who have been doing this for all of a month, and you'll see that having powers doesn't mean much."
[Dining Hall]
John nodded.
"On it." he said, turning around, "Ok...let's see..."
This room was getting increasingly crowded, which would make things a little harder for them to get someone. However, when he saw a waitress nearby, he waved, trying to her attention. "E-Excuse me! Do you have a moment?"
[Entry Hall]
Wow. Jeez - she's a real asshole. Next time I pay more attention to the reports, specifically if it's a person to meet - or to avoid, Miyuki thought, rather offended by Selena's rant, how dare she insult them like that. Sure, they may be a bit looney, and not exactly experts - but still, they'd never do anything to intentionally harm someone, and probably tried their best to help her and everything.
Either way, if this place was less fancy, I'd freeze her ass off. Literally. This just reminds me of Hisami's lesson about the last place she visited. And that's not a good thing.
So, where was I? It looks like that Gregory guy is talking to that pink-haired lady - I wonder if he's ever going to ask about any first aid? Miyuki thought, is Claire still here?
Is Claire still here? I know their conversation got derailed a bit earlier, but now I'm unsure as to what Miyuki should do...
edited 20th Jun '14 10:46:15 PM by Sonzai
Danger: Intense gravimetric distortions nearby. Please reverse the polarity on your deflectors now.
[garden]
...How does that happen? Sounds nasty, but...
"Uh... uhm... I- I just, uh..." No, he couldn't think of anything, so Daisuke stalled for time.
He looked at the horned person. "Are, uhm... those... uh, your horns, are- are they real?"
But, really, though, why did the angel-person really have to look like that? That was too scary, but Matt said that angels actually look even scarier than this, according to the Bible, and have stuff like three heads. Was this its idea of 'not-scary'?
edited 21st Jun '14 12:45:54 PM by CrystalGlacia
"Jack, you have debauched my sloth."
[2nd Floor Hallway —> Entry hall]
"To the Terrans?" Mazak said as he descended the stairs, "we're the aliens, I suppose." At that point, he entered the entry hall, noting the music wafting from the game room. He saw no reason to investigate, though — to him, it was so much prolefeed.
A scan of Mazak would confirm that, aside from certain anti-magical capabilities born of training alone, he was an unremarkable member of H. Sapiens sapiens; on a biological level, fundamentally indistinguishable from the humans of Earth he regarded as alien.
As he headed down, he recalled the warnings of a telepath, and briefly remade his imperceptible defenses.
[Dojo]
Blossom sighed and said, "likely." She began to impatiently tap her foot, then finally said, "dead gods. Bored. You think you can get me a harpoon at this fishing spot of yours?" She heard her stomach rumble then and added, "I haven't eaten since..." she frowned, trying to recall. "A while, anyways" she said, so as not to worry Izumi.
[Outside ~ Garden (Near Pond, Grove)]
"My h- the- ...these?" Oswald asked, with a nervous snort of laughter thrown in as well. "Well, they aren't plastic." Oswald said, reaching up and tapping a gloved finger against one horn. His hood turned very slightly in Dominatus's direction as he let his arm fall beneath his cloak again, then back to Daisuke.
"Are you from around here, young sir?"
edited 21st Jun '14 12:45:23 PM by Ryuhza
this place needs me here
Dojo
Right as Blossom finished her comment, the dojo's door opened up and Miki walked in.
"My apologies for making you wait. Got caught up in a...rather interesting discussion," she said, shaking her head, "But don't worry about that. I believe one of you wanted to speak to me?"
Post for everyone else will come later; I don't have time right now.
Icon by Civvi the Civilian!
[garden]
Uh... why? What did this have to do with anything.
Daisuke didn't move, still huddled against the tree. "...Not whatever part of Japan this is." His eye darted to Dominatus, whose seemingly patient gaze only creeped him out even more and attracted much of Ran's attention. Rather than wary, the cat seemed to only grow more confused after several rounds of looking it up and down.
edited 21st Jun '14 3:12:45 PM by CrystalGlacia
"Jack, you have debauched my sloth."
[Dojo]
"...that works," Blossom said. She bowed politely to Miki and said, "we were wondering if we could be permitted to borrow a harpoon for a fishing expedition — outside of your realm, don't worry." She waved towards the weapon wall. "We will return it in the same condition we found it, more or less, or bring silver to arrange for its replacement if any misfortune happens."
[Outside ~ Garden (Near Pond, Grove)]
Oswald's shoulders sagged a bit beneath his cloak. "I see..." he murmured, though it was difficult to understand, muffled by his shirt-based quasi-mouth-mask. "Just as lost as Dominatus and I, eh? Well at least you can still speak after all..."
He raised his head towards the sky, holding onto his hood as usual. "Well, have you perchance met anyone who is from around here and might possess a more precise knowledge of where, exactly, we are?" He asked, lowering his hood back towards Daisuke. "Uh oh. Are we still making you uncomfortable?"
this place needs me here
Just flowing with it.
[2nd Floor Hallway -> Entry Hall]
"It's rather obvious for two types of humans to call each other aliens." Naoko said as she descended the flight of stairs, "Pardon, but, if I called you an alien to me it would also be correct, because I am just as alien to you. I'd like you to be a bit more specific about how different are you from those Terrans." Naoko said, arriving at the spacious entry hall. "I realize I'm being nosy, but we're in a melting pot of different beings after all. I suppose you can excuse my curiosity?"
Naoko was able to say that last bit with such confidence, not because she had been into such a place before, but because what she saw in the entry hall. It had become crowded, and every single person that made the crowd looked rather intriguing. There was a young girl whose appearance embodied the word 'Snow' itself. Beautiful. Even without her unusual eyes, Naoko could already tell that she doesn't belong in her book of normals. Or rather, she felt a certain kind of solidarity, a ghostly feel that Naoko herself possessed.
She seemed to be talking with a foreign-looking girl, with a very casual attire, yet a not-so-casual fingernails that resembled a cat's claw more than anything. She appeared slightly agitated. On another part of the room was a tall man whose attire was fancy enough to make Mazak's shady look inconspicuous by comparison, talking to a pink-haired girl. Naoko wondered if Saburo had to deal with all these variety every single day, and as if pained by the thought, Naoko glanced at the tengu Saburo and shot him a sympathetic look. When she did, she spotted what she initially thought to be a giant lizard doll, but her dreams were crushed when it moved, almost inducing an Uncanny Valley effect on her.
The guys behind this inn really has it tough. Naoko thought.
edited 21st Jun '14 4:24:32 PM by FlowingCotton
[Entry Hall]
Mazak nodded and said, "let us see. Invariably, the differences are cultural. Firstly," he held up one finger, "we managed to avoid killing our planet." He permitted himself a contemptuous smirk, though it flickered when he recalled the eagerness of certain individuals in the Party to cremate problems with atomic weapons. He shook his head, then raised another finger. "Two, most Terrans are theistic. Worshipers primarily of a monotheistic deity who allegedly created the world in seven days, and yet seems unable to keep his followers' sects from murdering one another. The cultures of my world, in contrast, typically have a great deicide in our mythical histories — our gods are dead, and we pay homage to the souls of our ancestors, the spirits of the natural world, the words of philosopher-prophets, reason alone, or in my case, the stories that define reality on a far deeper level than mere atoms and electrons." He paused here, letting the difference he regarded as likely the most important sink in.
Then he continued with a third finger. "The Terrans are, on average, more advanced than us. Though we are catching up." And a fourth finger. "Finally, our world has a significant level of background magical energy. Magical energy possessing a malicious will and intellect. As such, every major culture has some method of unmaking magic. We use our will to turn the dark powers on their wielders. The Uelane prefer to wield their souls and bodies as one, shattering the arcane with barehanded strikes. The Maurosians train their soldiers to combine their wills into an impenetrable shield, using the combined will of entire garrisons to creating magic-free vacuums miles wide."
Just flowing with it.
[Entry Hall]
Listening to his explanation, Naoko began to see what is the definition of Mazak's title, the Storykeeper. "I see, so supernatural capabilities are developed as counters against malicious energy. Though, in my world, the Elements are impartial by principle, so I have my qualms as to how mere energy can possess a will." Naoko paused, "But I suppose it is strongly related with those concepts of worship not possessed by the Terrans."
She pondered Mazak's explanation for a second more, "If your powers are specialized to combat the arcane, doesn't that mean your power holds no advantage against the Terrans, who are foreign to magic? Or perhaps, the Terrans has access to magic as well?" Naoko asked.
edited 24th Jun '14 8:32:54 PM by FlowingCotton
Back Door
"...I don't think we have the same definition of 'deity,' in that case," Miki replied, "The ones I know can make their homes wherever they please, and Mizuchi decided he wanted to live in a pond. I'm not seeing what's so confusing about that." Her voice, while still maintaining a polite tone, was starting to pick up a slight tone of annoyance. She really wasn't in the mood for a long-winded theological discussion (or argument, as this was very likely to turn into) right now, especially when she had other, more important business to take care of. "If you're worried about him, I will repeat that you shouldn't be. He will not bother you unless you start endangering the safety of the inn and everyone making use of it."
Entry Hall
Selena took a moment to look around the entry hall upon entering. If she had any doubts that she was somewhere in Japan, they were almost certainly gone now. This place's style just reeked of Japan. At least it was fairly pretty. Judging by the desk on the other end and the similarities between it and the hotel back on the island, she was guessing this was something similar. Well, at least she had someplace to stay if she couldn't get out of here anytime soon.
She started to make her way to the front desk, but part way there someone apparently recognized her. When she was spoken to, she turned towards the speaker and gave her an odd look. Her age and pale skin reminded Selena of Rachel, but otherwise this person was new to her. So how did this person know who she was, beyond the incredibly vague mention of "friends?"
"If you're looking for Selena Rogers, you've certainly found her," she said after a few moments, "I wasn't aware I was that well known. Now, who are you?"
Icon by Civvi the Civilian!