Character Capital

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 and we’ll do our best to help you out.

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.

Page ~ Map◊

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

Visitor's District (Outside Visitor's Terminal)

Two girls, both appearing about mid-teens in age, stepped out of the front of the Visitor's Terminal. They stood there for a short while, taking in their new surroundings.

The first girl, Sophie, appeared to be a mix of French and Korean in ethnicity. She had shoulder-length brown hair with a black hairband, as well as brown eyes. She was dressed fairly casually in a light blue t-shirt and a denim skirt, coupled with a pair of white socks and sneakers.

Samantha, the other girl, was slightly taller than Sophie and appeared to be mostly British in ethnicity. She had long blonde hair that was tied back in twin ponytails, along with bright green eyes. She wore a short-sleeved, red blouse; a gray, formal-looking skirt; and a pair of brown, knee-high boots. Around her neck she had a necklace with what looked to be a polished, blue sapphire set in a pendant.

After a few moments of silence, Sophie turned to Samantha. "So...what do you think this place is, exactly?"

"Besides a really big city? Your guess is as good as mine," Samantha replied with a shrug, "But the way I see it it's just another stop on the journey. Nothing we're not used to...." She frowned. "...Well, nothing I'm not used to, anyway. I hope you're adjusting well enough."

Sophie smiled. "I'm finding I'm getting used to this faster than I expected." She looked out into the city again. "At least, I'm not seeing any Bleaksteel, so it's looking like we won't have to put up with them this time."

Samantha nodded. "We might as well take a look around. Maybe we'll find something here."

With that, the two of them set out into the city proper.

Visitor's District.

A glimmering red shape appeared in thin air in the vicinity of the visitor's district.

[Visitor's District—Visitor's Terminal]

Seconds behind Sophie and Samantha, a handsome young man in a long coat stepped out from under the eldritch archway. The forces of the gate blew his black hair into a wild mess, an effect that remained even after stepping away from the gate and out of its influence. He carried himself with calm, confident dignity; it didn't seem to matter that his hair made him look like he'd just woken up.

The coat was dark greyish-brown fabric, made of a strong material but hanging lightly on his shoulders; it was a versatile garment, designed for warmth in cold weather and protection from the sun on a hot day. Beneath it he wore dull grey trousers and a brightly-colored but simple shirt that wouldn't have been out of place in a thousand different cultures. His black boots were severe, obviously meant for heavy use.

He inhaled deeply and smiled to himself, reaching up with one hand to smooth his hair back; it didn't help, and when he lowered his hand the hair sprang back up. He didn't seem to notice, or if he did, he didn't mind. He looked about himself and his smile widened, like a child in a toy store who can't quite decide what to play with first.

Near the terminal there was a stand, and on the stand, a stack of pamphlets with what appeared to be a map. He strolled over and plucked one of the pamphlets up. He unfolded it and nodded to himself as he examined it, but the what-do-I-do-first smile remained. After a while, he shrugged and tucked the map into his breast pocket, and set off into the city, walking blithely past the cab drivers advertising their services; after all, taxis were for people with destinations, and what was the point of exploring if you already had a destination in mind?

edited 25th Feb '15 1:25:54 PM by SolipSchism

Visitor's district.

The shape glowed red in response to the man's prescience.

[Visitor's District—Visitor's Terminal]

The young man stopped without warning, so suddenly it seemed as if time had stopped, and physically impossible that he could stay balanced; his fore foot hovered just off the ground, his hind heel several inches off the ground in preparation for another step.

Then, smoothly, he pivoted to face the undefined, carmine form. His heels came together neatly just as he stopped turning, and he tilted his head. He didn't say anything, just watched the shape expectantly.

Visitor's district.

The shape tore open to form a hole, and the head of a huge, demonic dragon came out of it. It looked around.

[Visitor's District—Visitor's Terminal]

The man smiled, seeming unfazed.

"Well," he said, his voice startlingly deep and strong for his apparent youth and slight frame, "aren't you an intimidating sight? I confess I didn't expect to see anyone your size here in the Capital."

Visitor's district

The dragon spat a human sized glob to the ground before receding back into the portal.

The figure stood up. She was a woman-like being with Long green hair, deep red skin, and long curved horns. She was wearing an odd black dress, and there was a giant unlit blood red cigar in her mouth.

She wiped some of the spit off of herself and said "Thanks, Hubert." As the portal closed.

Visitor's Terminal

A man stepped through the spatial tear and took a moment to adjust.

He was in his early 40s, and of average height. He had a large forehead, but wasn't losing his hair yet. His name was Kevin.

He wore a long coat which draped to his ankles. He opened it up as the temperature wasn't as cold as his departure place. He stepped out into the open plaza, and took a quick sweep of the area with his eyes. He pulled out a box and plucked out a thick cigar.

Kevin knew the Capital would be full of strange people, but why was there a glowing red shape? With his eyes fixated at it, he lit the cigar.

As the dragon came out of it, and it spat a woman out of it, the stick almost fell out. He took a large puff, and pretended he didn't see the spectacle.

He moved on to the stand with the maps to see which areas would be a good idea to visit. He didn't have much time to stare in awe on every person or creature that arrives.

edited 25th Feb '15 2:32:07 PM by electronic-tragedy

[Visitor's District—Visitor's Terminal]

The corner of the man's mouth quirked upward as the woman stood up.

Maybe I've been a bit too credulous, even for this place. Still, no harm.

"Interesting method of travel," he said by way of introduction. "I wonder, is it comfortable? I can't stand traveling coach, myself. Need somewhere to put my feet up, and a drink."

edited 25th Feb '15 2:31:18 PM by SolipSchism

Visitor's district.

The woman said "Just how I like to get around. Name's Sylvia Blaze."

[Visitor's District—Visitor's Terminal]

He nodded politely. "Sito Midas. I hope I'm not troubling you, but are you familiar with the Capital? I'm a tourist here myself, hoping to see the sights. And try the food, of course," he added with a good-natured smile.

Visitor's district.

"I'm taking a vacation from my job. Some would say it's it's a real hell, but you get used to it after a while."

Sylvia held out her cigar and asked "By the way, Ya got a light?"

Visitor's District

Kevin was caught in the map. Kevin's ear pricked when he heard the request. He looked over his shoulder, at the demonic-looking woman. "You need a light, Ma'am?" He took out the cigar and let the smoke out. He turned on his heel, facing her. He pulled out the lighter.

edited 25th Feb '15 2:51:18 PM by electronic-tragedy

The cigar lit up with the scent of a burned out sun. Sylvia blew a smoky star.

[Visitor's District—Visitor's Terminal] Ah, shite, I got ninja'd. Edited.

Sito snorted at the obvious "hell" pun, amused to see that her red skin and horns were apparently not just a coincidence of a cultural misunderstanding on his part.

"Certainly," he replied, and started to raise his left hand, palm up but relaxed, as if he were shrugging. He was a bit too slow, though, as another stranger approached and fulfilled the woman's request. He dipped the hand into the folds of his coat. He produced a small silver case from which he removed a cigarette rolled in brown paper, before replacing the case.

"Since I'm in appropriate company," he said mildly as he touched his left middle finger to its end, lighting it. The end glowed brightly as he inhaled, and dimmed as he exhaled a thick, aromatic smoke reminiscent of chocolate, or perhaps coffee.

"A vacation?" he prompted. "Interesting choice for one, though I suppose I'm one to talk. I'm not exactly on vacation, though. Really, I suppose I'm a vagrant, going wherever my whims lead me." He smiled as if that were a private joke.

edited 25th Feb '15 2:55:00 PM by SolipSchism

Visitor's district.

"Thanks." Said Sylvia, blowing out a smoke ring. "So, do you have any sort of job?"

edited 25th Feb '15 2:57:23 PM by BiggerBen

[Visitor's District—Visitor's Terminal]

Sito shrugged. "Self-employed, but these days my operation is largely self-sustaining, so all I have to do is keep an eye on it and occasionally collect my earnings, make hiring and firing decisions, that sort of thing. I can honestly dip out for a few years without anyone taking any notice."

His eyes went to the stranger. "And you, sir? If you don't mind my asking. What brings you to the Capital on such a pleasant day?"

edited 25th Feb '15 3:00:43 PM by SolipSchism

[Visitor's District - Visitor's Terminal]

Walking out of the terminal, an unusually tall humanoid being with reptilian features stepped forward. The being took in a deep breath of air as they surveyed their surroundings.

The reptilian being, who stood upward on two legs in a digitigrade stance, had a pronounced monitor lizard like snout, with four sets of small spikes on their lower jaw, a row of four upward curved spikes on the brow and two sets on the chin, and was covered in dark green scales with a few facial and throat scales in shades of pale blue. They wore a dark colored armor, made of what looked like insect shells held together by dyed leather and black clothe, as well as a plethora of pouches around the belt area. Curiously, their "hair" was made out of dark green, thorny vines with flowers in shades of purple and light blue attached to it.

After looking around, the lizard being walked in front of the others who had exited the terminal and turned around to look back at it as a smile appeared on their face. Moving onto their shoulder from their back, a pale green spider with four ruby colored eyes and a little larger than a cat moved to their shoulder, making noises in what appeared to be delight.

"Well Scuttles," the lizard said to the spider, "We got a journey ahead of us now."

Ah, sorry for that ninja'd there. I saw an opportunity and took it.

Visitor's District

Kevin smiled like a store clerk. He replied, "Oh, it's for work matters." He folded up the map in his hands and put it in his pocket. "I'm- looking for someone. Although it'll be difficult in this city. It's larger than I thought, to say the least." He took out the cigar and tapped off its ashes. "Dare if I may ask, but where do you two come from?"

edited 25th Feb '15 3:10:04 PM by electronic-tragedy

Visitor's District (Outside Visitor's Terminal)

Sophie and Samantha hadn't gotten very far into the city at all before a great dragon's head appeared, from their perspective, completely out of nowhere.

After recovering from the shock, Samantha reached for her pendant and assumed a fight-ready pose, but didn't make any further moves and instead kept her eyes on the dragon. Sophie fidgeted with her shirt's collar before pulling out a pendant similar to Samantha's and following her companion's example.

As it turned out, neither needed to make a move. The dragon simply spat somebody out before retreating back into the nether from whence it came.

The two girls exchanged confused glances before standing up properly again.

"Now we know what sort of place this is," Samantha said, shaking her head. She examined the situation a little more closely. The person who just got spat out, while having something of an ominous appearance fitting of her chosen method of entry, also didn't appear to be hostile and was just conversing with the other people who happened to be nearby.

"I don't think there's anything more to see here, or at least anything worth checking out further," she added a short time later, before turning and walking away. "Come on, Sophie."

Sophie tucked her pendant away before taking one last, half-confused glance at the gathering and following Samantha.

edited 25th Feb '15 3:18:25 PM by Yomegami

[Visitor's District—Visitor's Terminal]

Sito shrugged. "A lot of places, really. A few worlds. The closest thing I have to a home would be the realm of Nehkril. I don't recommend it, though—it's very inhospitable. But I've also lived on a world called Vretoaz, and a couple of others."

Visitor's district.

"I work in the Lust department of hell." Said Sylvia. "I work on the art of seduction, forced love, that kinda stuff."

Visitor's District

Kevin didn't know what to expect. He let out a chuckle at it. "I'm from America, if you know where that is." He fiddled with the cigar a bit. He thought a moment, and remembered his purpose of being in such a strange place.

"I believe both of you arrived before me? I'm looking for a tall man, around my age, wearing a black trenchcoat. He has a large scar over his left eye. My only tip was that he was heading here."