[Rinse]

[nospaces]

[attr="class","th th-flower-1-o"] LESSONS IN POLYPHONY

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Hello, I'm Rinse! I'm twenty-eight and I started roleplaying on Warrior Cat forums over fourteen years ago (lolol). I took a very long break from roleplaying when I was about twenty and Build God has been my first real step back into the RP world! I'm CST but work third shift (9pm-8am, M-Th), so I'm around at weird hours of the day. Work makes it difficult to be very productive during the week, so I might be slow to respond and reply until the weekends. Regardless, I'd love to cook up some plots and shenanigans with anyone and everyone, so don't be afraid to drop a line if you've got ideas! <3 [break][break]

On the whole, I prefer angsty sorts of plots, but I'm a sucker for romance, too (especially if they're conflicted). Sometimes I fear my writing may be a little too heavy/verbose for people to really enjoy (kinda just putting this out there as a warning lol). I'm not the best at action-heavy stuff either, but I am willing to try my best! Having said that, nothing is really off the table for me. I'm open to writing fluff, dark, domestic, wild — whatever you're feeling! Don't hesitate to hit me up for any OOC chat either! My inbox is always open and I'd love to toss around any ideas or just shoot the sh*t. [break][break]

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Plotting Notes:[break][break]

• I would prefer to plot anything over site PMs or in my shipper rather than Discord! I can make Discord work (if I must), I just like to get rambly/long-winded and tend to plot more actively/intently when I can think in a way that IMs don't really allow me.

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Last Updated:[break]

• 09/28/2024 - New look & clean-up!
• 09/29/2024 - Added some Sadie info & plot hooks!
• 09/30/2024 - Added one Michael & some various Lex plot hooks!
• 10/02/2024 - Added a Luck plot hook!
• 10/05/2024 - Added a Lex plot hook!
• 10/28/2024 - Alll info (finally) added for Michael, Sadie, and Alexis!
• 11/03/2024 - Added a Tawny plot hook!

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TAWNY VOKES

"Are you chasing desire? Or are you running away?"

28 Years Old - Libra - Therapist/Artist - Sector - Bisexual[break]
Flirtatious, wishy-washy, can be catty, chronic ghoster, depressive episodes, mostly fair-weather friend, good drinking & sleepover buddy, a bit of a perpetual hypocrite (and knows it)

SPOILER: Click to show

ABOUT TAWNY

Tawny is a nice-enough gal. She's always open to making new friends and doing new, fun things. She does have a tendency to flip-flop between friendly/open and gloomy/withdrawn, though. She's someone who values her own independence — she never wants to be to anyone else what she was to her father growing up (nor does she want to be like her father, needing someone as bad as he needed her). Even though she actually does better around others, she hates the idea of being dependent on anyone and so has gotten into the habit of cutting ties and isolating herself at times (even though it tends to make her depression worse). [break][break]

Tawny lives in a Downtown Apartment, works as a therapist, and also works for the Sector! She can manipulate (or even erase) memories through skin-to-skin contact. She can be quietly nosy at times, usually never hesitating to take a peek into the heads/pasts of strangers that she thinks might be interesting. She would (maybe) show much more restraint and respect to her acquaintances and friends, however.

PLATONIC

Tawny mostly keeps fair-weather friends. People she can have fun with and not much else. People who don't really care when she disappears for a while and don't ask questions when she eventually "comes back". Don't check up on her and don't remember (or even know) her birthday. These sort of friends are comforting to her most of the time. Her go-to. [break][break]

But she's capable of deeper connections, too. And she does have friends she cares about on a less superficial level and who she's unafraid to let know her. Even with them, though, she's bound to force the occasional "radio silence". And she may not be so receptive to any nettling/doting/concern during such spells. [break][break]

She has different groups of friends that she does prefer to keep separate from one another. Mostly because the "Tawny" that she is to "Group A" can be a lot different than the "Tawny" she is to "Group B". Blurring those lines and mixing the people can make her unsure how to act (since she doesn't often show her full duality to any of them). [break][break]

On the whole, Tawny is capable of a lot of different things. She can be a bitch. Catty and prickly and cold. Flirty and funny. But she can also be warm and openly invested in people, too. Supportive and engaging. She can sometimes swing between extremes and send friends and strangers alike for a loop. But, at a base level, she is a deeply caring person who likes people. She just has her days (and weeks). [break][break]

She especially likes people who hide a lot of themselves (like her). Who are interesting. Intriguing. She likes digging and delving. Pointing to the past and memories to try and piece together how they make the person before her who they are.

ANTAGONISTIC

I guess a person can hate her if they really want to, but why? She's such a sweetheart (most... half... some of the time)! If they've just got one of those personalities that just doesn't click well with hers, then I guess things can get out of hand, but Tawny doesn't typically try and start shit. Not to say she doesn't have the capacity to be catty or to hate someone, though. She certainly does (and it would be super fun to explore that side of her). [break][break]

She likely wouldn't like anyone who is very open with their powers or who uses their powers to do "Bad Things". It's her belief that powers should be hidden for the safety of all Gifted. It would be interesting for someone to try and convince her otherwise (because Tawny isn't usually very confident about any of her opinions). Otherwise, most of the people who don't like her are probably ex-friends who got tired of her avoidance; who she let down, abandoned, or canceled plans on one too many times. Possibly even scorned lovers who might feel like she horribly led them on when she went cold and cut them loose?

ROMANTIC

While Tawny considers herself a "sentimental, hopeless romantic" — what, with her gooey movies, scrapbooking, and lamenting to achy love songs — she has kept herself forcibly distant from it in practice. She has loved people before but that isn't something she thinks is necessarily a good thing or at all "for her". [break][break]

Love, to her, is enormous — an exhausting responsibility, a suffocating demand on her time and attention, and always ends in a lot of pain. She very purposely tries to keep herself from being needed or having that sort of dependency on someone. She refuses to place those delicate pieces of her on someone else's shoulders. Likewise, she's loathe to accept the responsibility for someone else's happiness. [break][break]

You just can't rely on her like that — it'll make her heavy. And she'll let you down. She'll let you both down. [break][break]

Her experiences with relationships have all looked mostly the same. Things start good, are fun, then they're a little too good and she's got to shut it down. In the past, she's broken the more "serious" of her relationships off in desperate, harmful ways and she (now) has some (mostly repressed) regrets about that. [break][break]

Nowadays, she prefers casual over anything else. Friends who occasionally sleep together and that type of deal. When she's feeling particularly low and empty, she tends to use people to distract her and fill that vacancy. It's never quite fulfilling, doesn't ever help, and she can be pretty cold (as well as pushy) in these moments. [break][break]

Is she open to romance? Yes. But. Will she be a good girlfriend? Will it be easy? No, probably not. She has her problems with romance and she doesn't want to be anyone's girlfriend at the end of the day. At least, that's what she says and sticks to. She's like to downplay feelings or dismiss them when they start getting too "big". And, should she start to feel a little too much, it isn't unlikely she'll take things a bit further and purposely sabotage things — whether that's seeking someone else's company (very bad habit) or picking fights where there are none. [break][break]

Tawny can also be misleading. She does have her soft moments and, unfortunately, she can sometimes chew her cheek and do/say things that might give someone the wrong impression about "what they are". She often knows she's doing it while she's doing it and, simultaneously knows, it could make things uglier when she starts acting a way. But sometimes... she's weak... and occasionally, she likes those things. Wants those things. Up until she doesn't.[break][break]

All said, she's got some growing to do. Some things to get over, face, and work through. Any attempt to romance her won't be without its ugly-crying hiccups and angry, arm-flailing upsets. She's used to all that and it's kinda the norm for her in a relationship's end-stages. It's why she doesn't do them.

PLOT HOOKS

• Memory Transmission - I've recently bought Tawny an upgrade from the Power Shop! But she hasn't discovered it yet. Maybe your character can help in that? Unknown to her, her Gift has evolved some — now, with touch, she can transmit memories into another person's mind. Obviously, finding this out is going to be HIGHLY alarming. Because TYPICALLY, an unguarded touch with a stranger can be really uncomfy for her when she accidentally sees memories... but... at least no one else can tell something's HAPPENED. Now, will an unguarded touch share glimpses of her OWN memory? Take the other person just as off-guard as it takes her?? Reveal that she's Gifted?? HOW SCARY. [break][break]
  
  The first time it happens she is going to be SO startled, bewildered, panicked, etc. etc. Just, as I imagine, the other person may be, too?? [break][break]
  
  After some time, when she's learned some control and experimented a bit with the Gift, she'll be able to choose what memories she shares. And she'll also be able to act as a conduit (as in, she can share memories between two people with her as the physical bridge between them). But, that's a bit down the line, probably! Still... fun situations could arise from that, too!

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• Such a Troublemaker! - Tawny's place in the Sector typically boils down to manipulating the memories of a human whose encounter with a Gifted could stir up some trouble. Let's say there's one particular Gifted who has caused... more than a handful of problems that she's had to fix? And now she's finally met them. Maybe she'll get the idea to pull up her breeches and give this person a talking to! "You make a lot of work for me! Aren't you at all concerned about the consequences of your actions!?"

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• Should I Be Concerned? - Tawny accidentally sees something traumatic or harrowing in your character's memories and, despite everything, feels she needs to pull you aside and ask if you're okay or if you need help. Could be a misunderstanding, could not.

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• A Terrible Night - Tawny is pulled out into a night of fun by her friends. Unfortunately, things take a turn for the worse and she gets overstimulated/overwhelmed and ends up a wreck outside, total breakdown. Feel like witnessing this and trying your best to help her out/cheer her up?

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• "GET YOUR FUCKIN DOG BIT-" "it don't bite" "YES IT DO GET" - Tawny is the type of person who'd cross the street when she sees a dog on a leash coming her way. Pretty much any animal larger than a cat is kinda scary to her. Maybe you have a friendly pet who accidentally corners her? Or maybe there's like... for some reason... a random dog or, idk... goat?... on the loose and... well, see her having some Trouble™ lmao.

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• Smoking Gun - Tawny leased an art studio but, unfortunately, it's been targeted/vandalized a couple of times in the past year. Maybe she is having a late night and decides to stress-paint, but... when she gets there... the place has been ransacked AGAIN. Maybe your character just comes across her having a cry about it. Maybe your character came across it ten minutes earlier and stepped inside to take a look around (and now she thinks YOU'RE the vandal! Cue her trying to be tough but also scared out of her mind as she fumbles through her purse to try and find her keys or phone but only being able to produce a Snickers bar in her panic)?

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DANE WAYLAND

"I get the feeling that you just don't understand[break]
I'm crying wolf and I'll always be your man"

28 Years Old - Sagittarius - Guild Hunter - Heterosexual[break]
Violent, alcoholic, reckless/careless, desensitized, likes a good fight, Daddy Issues™, couldn't care less most of the time, disreputable, can be charming

SPOILER: Click to show

ABOUT DANE

Born among a long line of hunters and raised in a criminal syndicate with little censorship even as a little boy, Dane grew up a pretty desensitized kid. Nursed by the nature of his family, this lack of moral standing quickly became apathy, sadism, and unbridled malicious intent. Dane's an intelligent guy but doesn't give a shit about much of anything (which includes even the Guild and himself). He's hardworking (when it suits him), charismatic (when he wants to be), and really a fun guy (if you sympathize with his idea of "fun", that is).[break][break]

As a hunter, he's frequently tasked with eliminating Gifted individuals but often isn't as quick to draw the gun as most (given he's usually acting on his own accord/whims in stiff defiance of his piece-of-shit father). Dane is Gifted himself and can summon a great number of animals, seemingly from thin air.

PLATONIC

If you think Dane's your friend, then you might be... slightly mistaken. Don't get me wrong, there are people he doesn't mind being around, people he likes, and people he can actually enjoy himself with. He is capable of "getting along" and isn't always a difficult person to hold a conversation or drink a beer with. Just... don't expect a whole lot from him. Don't think that sharing a laugh or a pleasant conversation counts for much in his books. [break][break]

He's not the type to genuinely care for anyone. Or even if he does end up caring for someone, I still wouldn't count on him to have your back if there's something more entertaining to do. He can play friendly for a while but even that can fall through if he decides it's not that fun anymore. He can flip a switch at the drop of a dime (especially if he gets bored). Even though he hates losing to anyone, the people he'd most likely get along with are people who he can have a laugh with while they kick his ass.[break][break]

There are choice few people in his life Dane considers "true" friends. And to these people, he can be super dedicated and loyal. Always willing and ready to back without even needing a real reason to. Historically — and even recently — these people have abandoned him, so... maybe he's done with being a dog to anyone now. Or maybe he just needs to find another lead. Who knows.

ANTAGONISTIC

Yeah, that's super fair. Probably where most people will find themselves, one way or another. There are bound to be tons of these types of relationships. Out of the Guild, in the Guild, hunting targets, goody-two-shoes, cops, anybody who looks at him wrong, he doesn't care. Let's pull knives on one another, Dane's all about that. Good ole scraps and fist fights. Beat him up, stab him, just give him an absolute shit time. He enjoys being loathed (like 98% of the time). [break][break]

You can be a Gifted individual he's been tasked with hunting? Someone who "left" the Guild that he's sniffing out? Or just someone who decided to step in and stop him from being a shitty garbage boy to someone else. Family of people he's killed, perhaps? Someone he tries to sloppily hit on at the bar after he's had one too many? The possibilities are limitless.

ROMANTIC

Goodness, why would anyone want to romance this guy? [break][break]

Dane's a dog. Beyond being a massive, shameless, and occasionally charming flirt, he hasn't invested much in love. Not only is he not great material for it, being who he is and what he does, but what... really... is the... point for him? What would that even look like for him? For the other person? Not good, right? [break][break]

Most of his relationships have been largely physical with zero demand on exclusivity. Sex itself has never meant anything "special" to him. He likes it (a lot) — it's fun, it's great, and it's definitely a medicine when he desperately needs some sleep. But physicality has never been something deep or significant to him. He's a casual extraordinaire and he doesn't make that shit weird/complicated in the least.[break][break]

This isn't to say he's not willing to play/pretend "feelings" if it gets him what he wants. And this isn't to say sex is ever the only thing he wants. He's just not used to needing (or asking) for anything more.[break][break]

And it's not to say, either, that he's incapable of "love". He has skipped the surface of more "genuine" feelings for people before. But "love", to him, has always been hurting and bleeding for people. Sacrificing and fighting. Taking on things in someone's stead. It's never been healthy. And his love — his violent, dog-like devotion — has never brought him anything good in the end. Historically, and recently, all the people he's loved have died, betrayed, or otherwise abandoned him.

PLOT HOOKS

• Ease Into the Rhythm - Couples dancing at a club! Dane's having a good night and decides to hit the floor. Maybe he catches your eye, or vice versa, and things get groovy. Maybe it's a competition sort of thing and they pair up? Like in Pulp Fiction or Grease? He's a good dancer, promise. He loves this shit.

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• Take Me Home Tonight - I'm drunk and got into a fight in the bar. You find me stumbling down the sidewalk trying to get home, and awwwww, you Good Samaritan, you want to help me. c,: Can be terrible or Dane can be in a somewhat pleasant mood due to being beaten to a pulp and drunk.

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• A Little Too Much Last Night - Oh, so Dane slept in your car last night and you found him on your way to work. What's the big deal? No need to call the cops, he didn't take anything. It was raining! You're the one who didn't lock the doors!

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• I Know I'm a Wolf - It'd be really fun for Dane to be hunting your Gifted character but then decide that s/he's actually a pretty rad person and naaaah, the Guild can fuck off, let's go get drinks. Maybe they could kick his ass, give him a good fight, and then he's like "ya know what, you good, nvm".

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• I (Love to) Hate You - I had this idea that Dane might have a "partner in crime". A fellow Guild member who is a lot better put together than him. Maybe this character is really well-liked by Dane's dad and so he saddled them together in hopes of keeping Dane a little bit contained. This partner in crime is probably just ... a little bit better than Dane at... pretty much everything. (Just a little more handsome, a little more charming, the tiniest bit better in a knife or fist-fight, you name it.... this dude/gal is just slightly superior.) They and Dane have this snarky hate for each other that's veiled thinly and poorly with half-assed, sarcastic politeness. But I could see it being a love/hate thing, too, like... they actually do work well together as partners, but Dane just... *clenches fist*... really kinda hates him/her, y'know? And it's def mutual. But it's the kind of hate where you enjoy hating each other. Kinda like... "I hate you so much, but I wouldn't let anyone kill you... because then it wouldn't be fun anymore." "I hate you so much, but who knows, if we got drunk, I might duet with you at karaoke. But don't try and upstage me or it'll end in a knife-fight you always do that you prick where the fuck DOYOUGETOFF?"

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LUCK HARRIS

"It's never easy and you never know[break]
What leaves you crying and what makes you whole"

35 Years Old - Taurus - Gifted Advocate - Sector - Bisexual[break]
Country boy roots, ex-rolling stone, emotional, Jack of All Trades, hard worker, beer lover, can be a little messy (but is dependable), empathetic, perpetually restless, often uncomfortable, sentimental

SPOILER: Click to show

ABOUT LUCK

Born in rural Kansas, Luck's — at heart — a country-loving, beer-drinking, NASCAR-watching "good ole boy". He was dirt-poor growing up, raised by a single mother, and was a hardworking (but somewhat awkward) boy. Though he ended up becoming quite social during the later years of his youth (mostly due to high-school sports), he never truly felt "in the right place" among his peers back home. When his mother died suddenly when he was seventeen, he finished school early and left. He then spent five or so wild years traveling West; never staying in one place too long as he tried to figure himself out. He let others draw bits and pieces of himself out in every little town he broke down in before eventually leaving everything in the rearview mirror once more. [break][break]

Over ten years ago, he kicked off his rambling boots and settled down in Los Eurosia. As isn't uncommon, the decision was mostly made for love. And since then, Luck has grown a lot. Where he was once a perpetually discomforted boy, not quite sure who he was or what he wanted, nowadays he is a fairly self-assured and steady person. On the whole, he is a laid-back individual who loves to see and try new things. A bit of a wanderer remains in him and he loves to travel as much as he loves to kick back. He's still a drinker, though he is much more tame about it nowadays: only rarely letting himself drink to that point where he gets infamously stupid like he used to. [break][break]

He currently works for the Sector and has for the past eight-ish years, advocating for Gifted individuals and helping those who are struggling, especially with placement, necessities, housing, employment, etc. It's a job he sort of accepted on a whim and — sometimes — he feels rather ill-equipped for it. He always imagined himself being blue-collar his whole life and left almost two years into a lineman apprenticeship to take his current position at a desk. He'd probably be much happier working with his hands, but — at that time in his life — he thought it was very important/attractive to be home every night, every weekend, every holiday, etc.[break][break]

All in all, Luck's not too complicated at a glance. He's helpful, kind, empathetic, and can be tender and caring. But he does still have some internalized issues and he isn't perfect. Though he's grown a lot, sure, there's still a little bit of that "lost, unbelonging boy" in him. And he can make himself weird and off-putting when he gets in his head in a bad way. He has his moments where he can be quietly vicious, especially if prodded when in a bad place. He's the type to retreat when he's feeling vulnerable, so usually it's only the people really close to him who have to put up with it... but he can... actually be very mean and childish when he isn't feeling comfortable.

PLATONIC

Luck's a shifty cat sometimes. He tends to be different things with different people. Put in the most simple of terms, he is an introverted character who can become completely extroverted around close friends (or with a bit of drink). He does much better — and is much more authentic — in intimate settings (such as private, one-on-one interactions or small hangs with people he knows well). In bigger or unknown crowds, he has a habit of keeping himself stiff and inhibited. Because of this, he might leave cold/aloof first impressions with strangers if met in "the wrong place".[break][break]

However, it honestly isn't a huge, trying task to befriend him. Once singled out and loosened up, Luck can be quite warm and amusing. It's an easy thing to assume him shy and boring — which he is a little — but only at first. Though he is far better than he used to be, he still struggles with overthinking, with a sense of belonging, and with never feeling like he's being his genuine self with others. So he can be slow to unwrap with strangers. But once he feels comfortable with a new person — once he's told a few bad jokes and the world didn't implode — he can very quickly grow animate and easy. [break][break]

It's still rare that he finds people he's comfortable enough with to be truly transparent and vulnerable. These sorts of circles are much smaller (and much more valuable) to him.

ANTAGONISTIC

Luck isn't one to seek these sorts of relationships. If someone has beef with him, generally he will just want nothing to do with them. He's very much a simple "DNI" guy when it comes to these things. There's no point in rubbing elbows with someone he just doesn't vibe with or who will make him angry with their views or opinions.[break][break]

Back in his "heyday", he might have been a bit of a "boys will be boys/better stand up for yourself" brawler (and sometimes a belligerent/aggressive drunk), but he's much calmer and less wild than he used to be. Unless too much drink has made him "regress" a bit (not impossible), he's more likely to give an escalating situation multiple chances to defuse than fall bait to any sort of antagonism.[break][break]

But at the end of the day — when push comes to the third or fourth shove — Luck isn't completely above a fight. Especially if someone pushes the right buttons or it's on someone else's behalf. But a fight, to him, ends when one or the other is put on the floor. The point's been proven after a few, deserved blows. Anything more than that and things have gone too far.

ROMANTIC

This is a tricky area at the moment.[break][break]

Again, back in his "heyday", Luck was far different from the man he is now. Never quite sleazy, usually respectful, but most certainly loose and casual. He was a dive bar frequent, a seasoned charmer/flirt after a couple of drinks, and most certainly that stranger with lidded eyes and a heavy smile at last call. He never saw himself as someone who'd settle down and never pretended otherwise (even though he did feel things for a lot of people during this time).[break][break]

But... he did settle down.[break][break]

And now Luck is fresh out of a ten-year relationship and there's still a lot to unpack with the split from his ex. Ultimately, it was a mutual decision to give things a break, but Luck still isn't certain that moving on is what he really wants. Especially since the end of that relationship is something he's still actively working out — the cause of it, in his eyes, something within him that soured what was undeniably good. He's swinging violently from firmly deciding he needs to let it go — needs to give his ex his space and the chance to figure out for himself that there could be better — and wanting it back.[break][break]

It'd be interesting for others to be caught in the swing of that. Luck's in a weird space right now. I could see him regressing to how he used to be before his relationship with his ex. He's not ready for something new — what could be better than what he had anyway? — but he can't just wallow in "what's left" forever. However, it'd be a struggle. I can imagine him finding "casual" very difficult nowadays. He's not used to not caring about someone he's sleeping with anymore. It's just... a huge mess right now. He doesn't know where he wants to be.

PLOT HOOKS

• Blast From the Past - Maybe Luck gets back into contact with someone he was involved with during his rambling man years. Someone he fell in love with a bit but still left behind. Maybe they begged him to stay. Maybe they're a little upset that, shortly after leaving them, he actually settled down. But maybe they meet up. Catch up in bars (which is probably where they met back then). Hook up "for old time's sake"? They'd both probably have changed quite a bit from how they remember one another. Maybe they give it another try. Or maybe they just part ways. Maybe it works. Maybe it doesn't. Maybe it's good. Maybe it's very bad. Who knows?

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• And Just Like That - One thing I'd like to see in Luck's future, near or far, is that he realizes a lot of his unfaced unhappiness is owed in part to his job. And what better way to do that, than for something to go horribly wrong? I'm thinking he's thrown into a critical situation where he is supposed to be using his emotional manipulation and/or persuasion to keep shit from flying completely off the handle. But it goes badly. So badly that he's put under review, on suspension, is sure he is going to be fired, etc. Could be that it was too much for him to handle and that the Sector shouldn't have tossed him at it alone in the first place, or it could be something as "bad luck" and circumstantial as a bird startling him, a kid kicking a soccer ball into his face, etc. — making him lose his focus just enough for things to pop off. Either way, Dude gets thrown under the bus and has a Very Not Good Bad Very Bad Time™. He'd be a total wreck afterward. Maybe your character is a witness? Maybe your character is somehow involved in the incident in some way and is equally traumatized by it? We can brainstorm.

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• Just Like Your Father - This isn't a horribly fleshed-out idea, but what if Luck discovered he had a kid (lmaooo)? He would be particularly heartbroken and devastated to find out (because he himself grew up without a father and would never have been absent had he known). Luck left his hometown rather abruptly at seventeen, so at the oldest the kid could be like... seventeen. At the youngest, probably... twelve? He spent about five years kinda roaming around, not always making the best decisions, so really anywhere between there is possible. If interested in this idea, you could be playing the kid? Or even the mother?

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• Found Family (Literally) - Luck could also, somehow, discover some information about his paternal side of the family. He knows absolutely nothing about his father, so maybe some half-siblings or cousins come itching out of the woodwork in some way? In the same vein, he knows nothing about his maternal side of the family, either. His mother just... never had anyone. Luck never had any relatives (besides her) whatsoever. But maybe his mother was the black sheep of the family? And she did have people, but was (for some reason) completely severed from them. Could be interesting if a relation popped out of those circumstances as well.

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• "Ma'am, I Do My Own Plumbing" - Luck's very handy. Maybe he is sent your way by a friend-of-a-friend when you have some sort of mechanical, plumbing, or vehicle issue? Or maybe you're broke down, or just out of gas, somewhere and he pulls over to help and/or give you a ride. Maybe together you and him can push your car to the nearest shop, he can be flabbergasted at how they're gonna gouge you (or maybe they're just making shit up), and he's like "naw, hell naw, I'll do this for you, bet".

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• Drunk on a Plane - So, listen, Luck's just fresh out of a relationship, right? And he buys tickets, books vacations, and what-not way in advance. So it's likely he has some upcoming trips and/or events booked for two and he's suddenly partnerless. What if he can't get a refund? And, rather than asking his ex if they should still go "as friends" (becuase rightttttt, that's a good idea) or going alone (depressing), he asks you? Could be something big (involving a flight/hotels) or something small (like a show/performance). You could be someone he knows well. You could be someone he just met. Let's just see how it goes lmao.

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• Sector Softball Team - Exactly what it says on the tin. Does the office have a softball team? I think YES. And I want to thread some teammate shenanigans lmaooo. Cheering each other on, being the person who loses the game, anything!! Show up late. Forget your jersey. Get snacks after. Throw a punch because someone did a dirty move. ASakdjfhdkjsfhsdf.

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• ALRIGHT, CARRIE UNDERWOOD, CALM DOWN!! - Do something to his truck. Accidental or intentional. On the road or in a parking lot. Mistake his black Chevy for someone else's black Chevy (they're very common) and vandalize it. Watch homeboy come UNGLUED.

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• Under the Stars - Your character and Luck are already friends? Text each other a lot? Maybe you're having a bad night. Can't sleep. Or had a terrible day and express to him that you don't know what to do. Well, "put on a jacket and some shoes you don't mind muddying, I'll pick you up". Maybe y'all just drive around. Maybe outside of the city to hop a fence and lay out in some field. Listen to the silence. Talk about it if you want or talk about literally anything else if that's what you prefer. Listen, he's been taken care of really well for the last ten years, he knows how you just need something like this every now and again.

[break]

• Tinder Date (Idea A) - Maybe your character and Luck match on Tinder or some mutual friend gives one of their numbers to the other. Whatever way, maybe they've been testing the waters, and Luck invites them out? Perhaps a group of his friends are getting together out at the lake for the 4th of July (or just for shits and giggles). Or going out to the dunes to race buggys/motorbikes. Something sort of daylight/fun like that. Bluetooth speaker, beer, games like cornhole, floating on the lake sort of vibe. Where there's not a lot of pressure, it's just a chill time with a group to see how it goes~

[break]

• Tinder Date (Idea B) - Alternatively, maybe they go to a concert? Could be nice and normal. Or maybe it's an outdoor festival type thing and it starts raining and the show is delayed. Maybe your character is prepared to call the night off (like a lot of people are) but Luck... woops, surprise, he actually fucking LOVES this band and he ain't leaving for SHIT, he came PREPARED so BUCKLE DOWN while he gets the trashbags out of the truck and suits y'all up to wait it out. Your character could be miserable. Or they could still have a surprisingly good time while they wait out the rain and enjoy an awesome show that was totally worth staying for.

[break]

• Uber Uh-Oh! - Luck has taken up Uber some nights. Maybe your character needs a ride? Could be normal or could be wild. Maybe your character has had a night or, idk, whatever!

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• Gift Stuff - Maybe your character is in a situation where Luck's gifts could benefit them? For example, maybe your character has a Gift they can't control or that gets out of hand due to their emotions. Or maybe your character is in a public place and on the edge of a meltdown. Sees something traumatic and is about to lose it. Maybe Luck can help by keeping their emotions leveled enough until they get to somewhere a little more private? I like the idea of him helping someone with an emotionally blocked Gift and having little cross-legged sessions in their homes, sitting across from one another on the floor, your character practicing while Luck keeps them steady. Or just like the idea of Luck running to your character after something Bad happens and they're in shock and about to plummet and they ask him to help them hold on for a little bit longer, until they're away from everyone else and all that.

[break]

[attr="class","ophelia-outer"]

[attr="class","ophelia"]

MICHAEL VAEL

"You and I, a crown of thorns[break]
We're doomed to die the day we're born"

31 Years Old - Aquarius - Family Rancher/Vet - Hunter - Heterosexual[break]
Family-oriented & dutiful, classic asshole (and does not care that you think so), stubborn/mulish, temperamental, reactive, bit of a live-wire & always a little half-cocked at all times, proud, will fight you

SPOILER: Click to show

ABOUT MICHAEL

Michael's been an untamed pasture-fire all his life. You can blame it on being the middle child. Anyone who knows him probably has some wild "Michael story" to tell when they introduce him to someone or when they all get some beers and shoot the shit. He grew up infuriating a heck of a lot of people and stressing his parents out. [break][break]

With his brother and sister (both highly-desired Adoptables), he was raised on a family ranch about thirty miles outside of the city. Like the whole Vael lot, he's tough, hardworking, and dutiful; there's just about nothing he wouldn't do for his home and blood. Even after thirty-one years, he's never left. As hard as he tried to go against the grain (in just about everything, it seemed), he's no different and just as rooted as the rest of them. [break][break]

A couple of years ago, the family ranch was "taken over" (in a sense), by the Guild. Where the homestead was once a refugee for Gifted individuals, it's now become a trap/lure for the hunting syndicate to pick off nobodies and down-on-their-luck strays. Or, at the very least, to tag them to be stalked/hunted later. Needless to say, the assimilation has been a massive struggle for the Vael family. But, overall, they're expected to do what they're told, to buckle down when demanded, and to keep things above suspicion. Occasionally, Michael and his brother are called upon to assist in assignments (when and where their own Gifts are especially useful). [break][break]

Overall, Michael's a lot of things. He wears the bad and the ugly on his sleeve and keeps everything that might be considered "good" more close-lipped and under the collar. He's never concerned about making good impressions or trying to get people to like him. He's very upfront and doesn't pull his punches. He's headstrong, emotionally reactive, and certainly not someone you can push around or prod without expecting some immediate, no-hesitation blow-back. Definitely the guy you "leave outside" if you are trying to stop a bad situation from getting worse. He's gotten better now that he's older but... not that much better. He's just as capable of raising hell now as he was back in the day.

PLATONIC

As much of an apologetic asshole as he is, Michael is surprisingly dependable. He's a damn good friend to have when you've got yourself in a bind (no matter what it is). If he says he'll be there, he'll be there. And he'll go right down with you, if that's the kind of night it ends up being. He will have your back in a bar fight (even if you're the one in the wrong or the other guys are bigger or there's more of them). He'll answer when you call him in the middle of the night for something (he may bitch about it, but he's tugging on his boots). If you're someone he deems a "friend", he'll go the lengths for you. You don't even really have to outright ask. [break][break]

He probably has a handful of long-standing friends who he's been through the wringer with and with whom bonds have been tested plenty of times over. People he was reckless youths with. People who can vouch that there's "more to him" than he tends to put on show. Though he isn't ever "out searching" for new friends or connections, really, there's plenty of potential for him to make those, too. He can be found in bars, at festivals, and can probably be seen kicking around the older, less-shiny outskirts of Los Eurosia for whatever reason. Newer friends just might be a little harder to make, as he... isn't ever really trying to make them.

ANTAGONISTIC

Yeah, Michael's good at these types of relationships. He doesn't really hesitate when it comes to being an asshole and has a sort of weird, long-ingrained nonchalance toward being disliked. 100% won't hesitate to respond in kind if someone tries ruffling his feathers. Or to be rude/dismissive if someone tries chatting him up and he's not in the mood. Not afraid of a fight. Hell, might go out looking for one some nights. Would very gladly insert himself into the situation were he to witness someone picking a fight/bullying someone else who didn't want any part of it. Not at all for the "heroics" but because it doesn't make sense to fight someone who's not willing to wholeheartedly dish it back. And really... well, maybe he just doesn't need much a reason.

ROMANTIC

Michael's probably a little uninterested nowadays when it comes to actual romance. He's not Prime Boyfriend Material™ most of the time. He did have something once, not too long ago, that was genuine and more, but it ran out the door and he let it go (but not really). [break][break]

Truthfully, he's probably never been really good at this sort of thing. Most of his past relationships probably look a little toxic from most people's POV. Dalliances that started off fun and exciting and then devolved into "fighting just to fight" or him growing bored and being an asshole to cause problems. He's probably, most definitely, not an ex that most "remember fondly" (at least not toward the end of any relationship). But I could see him still catching the eye of people who are into that kinda vibe.[break][break]

In the present, he's not looking for a lot. Because he's tried a lot and nothing makes as much sense, or feels as Right™, as the one that got away. And he'll be bluntly clear on the fact if he's trying to pick someone up. Or when he texts an ex, looking for a way to pass the night. He's good for a roll in the sheets (or elsewhere) but not for much more. Won't text, won't call, will barely pretend to be nice in the morning light.

PLOT HOOKS

• Gift Negation Stuff - Gifts that affect others simply don't work on Michael. A telepath can not read his mind, for example. And when his gift is actively negating someone else's, he experiences chills. Sometimes they're faint, especially if he's just caught in a more passive ability's radius/net. Just enough to give him goosebumps or raise the hair on his neck. But, they grow increasingly more intense the more powerful a Gift is and the more intentionally someone is trying to use it on him specifically. At worst — like with dramatic gifts, especially ones that require touch — I could see it being like him being dunked in ice water. Shivers and shock. [break][break]
  
  Anyway, I think it'd be funny/fun if he's just trying to relax somewhere and someone tries to use their Gift on him. Confused/bewildered/intrigued that they can't, they just try harder and harder. Maybe get closer and closer. All the while, Michael's like fighting a chill that's getting stronger and stronger and finally, he whirls on someone he suspects is responsible, like "OKAY, WHAT?? WHAT THE FUCK YOU TRYIN' TO DO? WHAT DO YOU WANT?"

[break]

• Vet Stuff - Michael works in a vet clinic outside of the city/in the county. It isn't a large place. Simple but clean. Only has one or two other DVMs. They mostly work with larger animals like cows and horses but will still see anything. Michael is probably only actually "in" the office half the time, while the other half, he's out at someone's farm or ranch. Anyway, their services are generally cheaper than clinics in the city, so I could see some people finding the drive/distance worth it. Maybe you bring your pet in? Are putting up flyers? Looking for a job? Michael also takes "emergency" calls, so maybe you get his number from someone and drag him out of bed for a situation that's a little more stressful/pressing?

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• Ranch Stuff (Guild Version) - The Vael family ranch is located about 30 miles outside of Los Eurosia and has an old, quiet reputation as a safe place for Gifted. Which is no longer true. Could be your character is a Gifted person who has heard about them and is looking for a place to stay, work, eat, or whatever. Maybe they've had friends or family in the past who've done so. But, to your surprise, you roll up and Michael intercepts you, doing his absolute best to be as UNFRIENDLY and "GET THE HELL OFF OUR PROPERTY" as possible. Then maybe some Guild member pops up to change the tune. Lots of weird stuff. Or maybe your character has reason to investigate/poke around? Looking into some disappearances? Asking questions?

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• Ranch Stuff (Non-Guild Version) - Maybe you're just trespassing. Maybe you come across Michael mending some fences or roping in some cattle that got out. Maybe you know someone else in his family, are looking for them, and end up chatting with him instead. Maybe the Vaels have some horses that they've been known to lend out for various reasons (rides at the fair, parades, therapy, that sort of thing) and you're inquiring about it. Something like that? The Guild only keeps a couple people around on the ranch. A lot of stuff is still "normal". So... there's room for some more lowkey cowboy stuff. Yeehaw.

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• Rodeo & Country Music - Beyond bars, Michael could probably be caught at rodeos/county fairs or country music shows/festivals. You and him can come across one another there! He could be with a group of friends. He could have gotten tired of them and went off on his own. He could be in a good mood. He could be in a bad mood, looking for any excuse to raise hackles. He could be in a good mood but you put him in a bad one! Whatever! Lots of ways to go, so let's toss something around!

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• Guild Stuff - It isn't terribly frequent that the Guild asks Michael (or his brother) to partake in the actual killing and/or disposal of their victims. But there are some cases where Michael's gift of Power Negation is undoubtedly convenient. Maybe your character has been captured? Has one of those sorts of "dangerous" powers that someone else doesn't want to risk getting too close to, so they make him come out to do the job? Maybe they're just being lazy. Anyway, Michael would do his best to try and end up not killing you. Whether that's begging you to have your Gift stripped away or...[break][break]
  
  I have the idea that he'd make it seem like he was "putting you to sleep" (like an animal at the vet) but was actually tranquilizing you? Then you wake up later in his vet office (where he's supposed to be cremating you or smth)? Lots of tension afterward, 'cause if they find out he didn't, who knows what they'll do. And then your character would be sort of "in" on the going-ons and... all very skdjfhsdkf.[break][break]
  
  Could also be more simple stuff like Michael being forced to get information on you and stuff b/c you have a Gift that'd make it harder for someone else to do it (i.e: telepathy).

[break]

• Family Stuff - Michael can be pulled into a lot of stuff on behalf of his siblings or his niece. Maybe he's picking up Daniel from a late-night bender? Maybe Marianne has a "Mommy Day" and begs him to go get manicures with her (lmao). Maybe he's attending a school play or chaperoning a school dance/function. Or yelling in the stands at a second-grader sports event. I could def see Abby wrestling (b/c fuck you, girls do what they want) and him being like "KICK HIS ASS" while other adults are eyeing him hard, lolol. But I could also see just general "sports day" stuff or a track-and-field sort of thing. Lots of options. We can find something to play with. Maybe he's just on errands for the ranch (with or without a family member tow-a-long).

[break]

[attr="class","ophelia-outer"]

[attr="class","ophelia"]

MERCEDES LERWICK

"I've been taking longer strides[break]
Without you right here by my side"

28 Years Old - Scorpio - Tailor/Seamstress/Jeweler - Blackstorm - Bisexual[break]
Loud, freedom-loving, lots of bark & some bite, can be uncouth/tactless, mostly self-serving, forward, unafraid to question, badger, and/or poke, nosy, curious about people

SPOILER: Click to show

ABOUT SADIE

Sadie is a bit of a controlled mess. Calculated disorder. She once had the perfect, cookie-cutter life with its nice, healthy shine and enviable "social media ready" aesthetic. She had the house. The husband. And the beautiful, fussy baby (as well as the postpartum depression that came with it). After some time, she just wasn't sure where she fit into anything. She was always missing something. And, as time went on and on, she fit into the life less and less, was racking up wrongs and becoming the "stain" on it all, and — after a neglectful incident with her daughter and an uncontested custody battle — she took off. Said "bye bye, baby" and hit the road, uncaring what her family (the one she was born into and the one she made) cared to think of her in the aftermath. [break][break]

Now, settled in Los Eurosia, she's embraced her own individuality and freedom and never (ever, ever, ever) thinks about home or all the people she's left behind who don't talk to her anymore. Promise! She's much happier by herself and always strives to keep things a little "imperfect" — always leaves a few dirty dishes in the sink, shoes and socks kicked across the hall, sings and dances unabashedly badly, and always looks just a little unkempt. It works for her — being wild, loud, and a bit of an unapologetic mess — but, to the observative onlooker, it all may seem a little weirdly... intentional.[break][break]

Sadie went to college for teaching and, after leaving her home state of Indiana, she briefly worked in some elementary schools in Southern California (she doesn't dislike children in general, she just didn't like being an actual Mommy to one). Eventually, after some subtle incident, she was pulled into the Sector's doings. But she didn't last there for long and ended up leaving the nine-to-five to open her own thrift store! Now you can catch her giving everyone's trash and throw-aways "second chances" — mending clothes, blankets, toys, furniture, and whatever else she can come across![break][break]

She also opened her ears to the whispers of Blackstorm. Though she isn't particularly proactive in the movement, she does offer her store and her Gift to anyone who might request it. At the same time, she isn't like to refuse a request for help from any ex-coworker in the Sector, either. It isn't that she's "playing the fence" or anything, it's just that... if she can be of service and help a Gifted individual, then, what does it matter politically...? [break][break]

Though the thrift store takes up most of her time, she does have outside hobbies and a decent social circle. Her interests are a healthy combination of "alone" and "group" activities as well as "outside" and "indoor" interests. You can catch her having just as much fun at a rowdy costume party with wild friends as you might find her gardening by herself or reading some trashy YA novel in the park.

PLATONIC

Sadie's a hoot to have as a friend. If you can keep up with her. She's loud, funny, energetic, and won't hesitate to leap on any opportunity to get out and have some fun. Any friend of hers likely isn't afraid to hit her with a wild suggestion or idea because they know she'll say, "Hell yeah, what are we waiting for?". I imagine some friends probably need a break from her every now and again. She can certainly be someone who has to be taken in measured doses. She can wear some people out. But don't worry — she gets it. She won't hold it against you and she's very easy and low-maintenance on top of everything. Won't wilt when you say, "Oh my god, I've gotta get away from you". [break][break]

Most of her relationships aren't very deep, or... if they are... it's probably one-sided. Because she doesn't much like talking about herself or dwelling on anything broody and miserable in her own life. She'd much rather fake it and keep things easy-breezy. This isn't to say, though, that she won't listen to you when you've got something to bitch about — she most certainly will! Just don't expect her to hold back in telling you what she really thinks about it. If you're making something out of nothing... or are more of the problem than you want to believe... she won't hesitate to tell it to you straight. [break][break]

She is capable of quieter moments and deeper connections. But she doesn't have many people she shares them with. She'd like to think it's because she prefers solitude when she's anything but wild and loud. Really, though... having people around her when she's feeling less than fun just isn't something she's usually comfortable with. That shit's hard. It'd take some work.

ANTAGONISTIC

Sadie can certainly rub people the wrong way. She's kinda selfish and can certainly be called out on that. And she's not always tactful or mindful. Can be forward, nosy, and too curious/prying. She says what she's thinking (even when what she's thinking is rude or uncouth). And she won't blink in the face of antagonism but dish it right back. Quid pro quo. She'll also very quickly leap to the defense of her friends (or really anyone that she's with), even if they don't exactly want or ask her to. [break][break]

But bristled fur can usually be pat back down in her case. She's very much a "water under the bridge" kinda gal and, once something's dropped, it's dropped. She won't spend the energy or waste her own headspace on keeping grudges and dredging up past transgressions. If you wanna make amends, it's easy enough, and getting off to a bad start with her isn't an end-all. [break][break]

Now... as nosy as she is... Sadie doesn't appreciate a whole lot of curiosity/prying about her. And, as much as everything doesn't seem to "bother" her, insistence about herself may be a little harder to ignore and laugh off. Keep at it and she might get a little defensive and actually bothered.

ROMANTIC

Sadie's been married/divorced and her ex-husband was everything a girl could ask for. Very kind, a great father, and unbelievably patient and understanding with her. So, like... if she couldn't be happy with him... then, uh, what's the point? What does she really deserve, then? No, nah. You can keep all that. Let's just have fun and not worry about what anything means. That's what she believes and she's gonna try her hardest to stick to it. [break][break]

But maybe people aren't really meant to be alone and maybe something happens anyway. But it wouldn't be without some difficulty. If Sadie found herself in a relationship, I picture it to be... purposely "imperfect". She'd probably try to stir up some things just to see how the other person "takes it". See how long the dishes can go unwashed... if she doesn't respond to a text... if she's a little snippy about something trivial... will her partner react? Say anything? Get snippy with her back? Or just inwardly sigh and pick up her slack? Forgive her without asking for apology? [break][break]

She's definitely looking for someone who'll call her out on her shit and who'll challenge her when she's being a brat or irrational or does something they don't like. Because things aren't meant to be perfect. That's boring. I think she'd toe some lines. It'd be especially fun if she ended up with someone who really tried to "be okay" with the things she does. Tried to be easygoing, patient, and tolerant. Until she got them so wound up that they finally snap and she's like "YES, THANK YOU, TELL ME OFF, GET MAD, DON'T LET ME GET AWAY WITH THIS AND TREAT YOU LIKE THAT, HOLD ME RESPONSIBLE, YES YES"!

PLOT HOOKS

• Dumpster Diving - Some stuff that Sadie finds/rescues is picked-up from the garbage or from the curb. Catch her behind some big-name furniture building or in more affluent neighborhoods, poking around to see what people are careless enough to just throw away. Or catch her struggling to get something big and unwieldy into the back of her car. Anything like that! Or even like... garage/estate sales and that kind of thing!

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• Store Stuff - Whether you're browsing for secondhand sweaters, looking to get something mended, or just bored and aimless — pop into her store! Find something really, really strange on the shelves. Let her bitch at you about how people throw stuff away instead of donate. Have her just like... lock you in and disappear to the back b/c it's her break time (lmao). Or, if you know of her and her ability, maybe you're looking for some of her customized jewelry for whatever reason?

[break]

• Hey, Bug - I have a Wanted Ad out for Sadie's daughter (it involves some time-traveling shenanigans). Check it out? The family drama of it could be so delicious.

[break]

[attr="class","ophelia-outer"]

[attr="class","ophelia"]

ALEXIS YEARLING

"I reached for a shooting star[break]
It burned a hole through my hand"

31 Years Old - Sagittarius - General Labourer - Human - Sexuality TBD[break]
Ex-felon, recovered alcoholic/addict, previously self-destructive and unhinged, new lease on life, jaded, stunted, & unenthused (but also strangely hopeful & optimistic), the slowest of slow-burns

SPOILER: Click to show

ABOUT LEX

Alexis was born and raised in Los Eurosia. And he was a good kid. A smart guy with a great social life who could get along with just about anyone you put him with. Anyone who knew him, be it from childhood or through school, likely thought him quite popular and likable. Then he moved off for college and things kind of derailed. [break][break]

At nineteen, he was told by a "fortune teller" that he'd die at twenty-four and, uh... he really took that to heart.[break][break]

He dove off the deep-end. Decided to pack his numbered years with as much fun as he could. He didn't really mean to fall into what he fell into (drugs, alcoholism, recklessness, debauchery, fraud, etc.), it just kinda... spiraled out of control before he could stop it. And, when he turned twenty-five (WHAT!?) and very nearly killed himself, he blinked away the haze and cleaned up. Got his affairs in order (what little they were) and surrendered himself to the courts.[break][break]

He spent five years in prison and was just recently released on parole. He returned home and is now crashing on his lovely grandmother's couch. She adores him, is protective, and really pushes for him to keep busy and enjoy life. And he's grateful for it. He got a job in construction, watches the family store on weekends, and is trying to get his feet back on the starting blocks (in a life he didn't think he had a real shot at and at an age he never thought he'd be).[break][break]

His time in prison was enough to forgive himself, though. He's not wallowing in his mistakes and he considers himself "healed" from all the bad he did (mostly to himself). He is focused on looking forward, not back. It's a bit difficult to find the beat of things.... to find joy/enthusiasm after years of flying so stupid high... but he's got his feet on the ground now. He's learning how to walk again. Getting himself out there and trying to figure out who he is and what he likes now. Maybe, with some time, he'll get up to sprint.

PLATONIC

Alexis hasn't been back home since leaving for college over ten years ago! It's possible, if your character was also raised in Los Eurosia, that they know each other? Of course, the version of Alexis that they remember is probably a bit different than the Alexis they come across now. He used to be so full of life! So fun and funny and free! Now he's a bit subdued and his smiles don't seem so full. Could be a fun dynamic to play with.[break][break]

"Established" friendships aside, Alexis could make plenty of new ones, too. It's one of his goals! He's trying to get out there, trying to make connections, and trying to involve himself with others. It can be a little difficult and he may be a little lost when it comes to certain things — like what "normal" is for a thirty-year old and what their family lives and careers look like, etc — but he's trying and trying and trying some more. You can find him dabbling in damn near anything! Trying anything! New hobbies, classes, beaches, coffeshops, museums, walking his grandmother's dog, whatever! Lots of opportunities.

ANTAGONISTIC

Lex would most certainly try his best to avoid bad relationships. He's never been much of an antagonistic dude, even during his unhinged years. Someone would most certainly have to bring the fight to him or the situation would have to be really out-of-hand for him to want to step up/in on his own accord. [break][break]

Overall, I think the most likely source of antagonism for him is probably... things/people that threaten his sobriety or his recovery? Like if someone were to be really pushy/insistent about him drinking or kept asking him to be around shady people or just... puts him in those sorts of situations that kinda bring out that temptation. He might be forgiving the first couple of times but, one time too many, and he might have to throw up his hands like, "Listen, this isn't GOOD for me. I'm trying really hard to like you but YOU are not good for me."[break][break]

Open to other ideas, though, if ya got em. c:

ROMANTIC

Though he was a well-liked and charismatic dude growing up, not shy and not unpopular, Lex was a late bloomer. At least, when it came to romance/sex. It seemed he was geared from the get-go to be slow with these sorts of things and... even though he may have been in a few relationships... most of them were romantic only in name. Weren't really much more than platonic. He would allow the space, the chance and the time, for something more to develop, but nothing ever quite got there. [break][break]

He was very much the guy girls broke up with when someone else showed a little more enthusiastic interest in them. Someone they may have been excited to ask out, but came to find he made a better "guy best friend" than boyfriend. (Because really, it didn't feel much different?) Maybe they just lost enthusiasm when things stayed pretty normal. Maybe they weren't given enough affirmation or felt he wasn't as interested in them as they were him. Maybe he was just too chaste for the hormonal appetite that riddled most youths. [break][break]

During his unhinged years, he was very much not chaste and not slow. (Also not entirely straight.) He went from leisurely toeing the shallows to cannon-balling the deep end. But almost all of that was mixed with drugs, booze, and the harrowed desperation that came from knowing his days were numbered. And, at that point, there was no reason to "let things develop", because it'd just be cruel to "fall in love", wouldn't it? For the other person? And where was the space for it, anyway, when he was such a mess? He was very "anti-romance" during this time, not really wanting people to care too much about him. [break][break]

It was all very... empty... for him and, I think, that probably did a little damage that he hasn't fully realized.[break][break]

But — with a life that has no (known) "expiration date" now — Alexis feels he actually has the chance to find something meaningful. He's not closed off to it. He likes the idea of romance and love. He's just... back to the way he used to be: slow. Perhaps now with some actual tentativeness/hesitance in the mix. In some ways, sex feels a lot to him like drugs. He really associates it with feeling out of control, reeling, and being sloppy/strung out. It'd feel almost like a relapse to dip back into that sort of thing (at least in the way that he did it/experienced it during that time). [break][break]

He isn't exactly shy, reserved, or prude... just... not looking for something fun for the night or week. He wants to build... or find something... in someone first. And he might not like it so much if someone really eggs it on strong, tries to corner him, gets handsy, or tries to move really fast/just wants to mess around. (So, if someone does exactly that, wouldn't that be fun?? XD) He's just a slow-burn for sure. Not only because he's looking for "more", but... on top of that... he still needs to figure himself out some. There are probably other things he needs to prioritize. He is sleeping on his grandmother's couch, after all. [break][break]

(Speaking of, she probably tries to set him up with everyone/anyone she thinks is semi-suitable. She's very sly like that. Not because she wants him out of her house but because "He's such a handsome boy and so nice and wouldn't you like to meet him? Here dear, I'll give you his number. Actually, I'll call him right now and ask him to stop by, no, no it's fine, he won't mind~")

PLOT HOOKS

• Pen Pal - Maybe Lex had a pen-pal in prison? Could be your character or a relation to your character. Alternatively, Lex used to write letters home every once in a while. Unknown to him at the time, his mother and sisters had moved away from their old house. Maybe your character lives there now? Or their parents, grandparents, siblings, or one of their friends does? And they received them? Maybe your character took an interest in them when whoever mentioned they were just tossing them or something? Can be played with!

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• Little Bit of Everything - Lex's grandmother keeps a list of "things to try" pinned to the fridge for him. Activities and little suggestions for him to fill his time and hopefully find some fun in (or maybe even a hobby). He makes it a point to try one of her suggestions once a week. And they could be anything! Stuff around the community, watching a movie or going to the drive-in, hiking at sunrise/sunset, going to some sort of event/museum, taking some pottery or painting class... whatever! If you have an idea for your character that could use a sort of hesitant, lone partner, Lex could be there giving it an attempt!

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• Surfing - Lex used to surf a lot and loved the beach. Anyone who knew him "pre-twenty" probably remembers him with his skin darkened and hair bleached by the sun. Maybe he's going to give it another go? See if he remembers how, if he's still any good at it, all of that. I imagine he's probably been putting off the attempt, afraid that even something he loved so much at one time can't bring him any sort of feeling now. Anyway, maybe your character's a pro. Or maybe they're just starting/learning? Or maybe they're just at the beach and come across him being all uncertain about it. Open to anything! Let's just do a beach thread!

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• Construction Woes - He works as a general labourer during the day. Which basically means he does a lot of the grueling "legwork" at construction sites during the early stages. And he can get sent around from place to place. Maybe your character messes up something on the job site. Or is caught in some sort of accident on the job site. Maybe the job site is near your character's job or home and they talk to him on lunch or a break? Or maybe it's a bad-weather day and Lex is waiting around b/c he couldn't catch a ride when everyone else was leaving lmao. Idk, lots of possibilities could arise in his job.

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• Hardware Store Woes - He also works weekends at his grandmother's hardware store. If your character is a regular of the store, maybe they expect they can be helped with a problem when they go in. But Lex, he isn't his uncle or his brother and, yeah, he doesn't know a damn thing about that, sorry. Ask him about what tools or primer someone should buy and he'll just... blow out his cheeks lol.

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• Car/Transportation Stuff - Lex doesn't have a car yet. Some ideas that could arise from this: give him a lift when he misses the bus. Or maybe your character is shopping for a car, too, and they're both looking for something super cheap at an awful used car place and have their eye on the same one. Cue the like... sort of panicked/hurried low-balling to try and buy it out from under one another (lmao). Maybe they end up in a test-drive together and decide the car is a piece of shit or smth, I dunno, could be fun.

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• Dates and/or Parties? - Maybe Lex is set up on a date with your character through whatever means. Or a friend of your characters who they're filling in for, idk. Maybe they're both there kind of like as a "favor" for someone else? Or maybe it's even like a group date of sorts? Idk man, whatever. Could be low-stakes or could be your character, or someone in your group if there's a group, suggests they go to a bar or something instead. Where Lex has to be the "no-fun" guy by not drinking and all that. Maybe it's sort of the first time he's been pressured in a long time and he's actually struggling with temptation more than he thought he would. Idk. Could also just be a casual/less-nuanced sort of hang! Could even be less of a date and more like a party with mutual friends or smth.

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[Samson DeVires]

Hi Rinse , I have finally arrived.

I can't decide who I want to plot with the most. I'm going to just toss some ideas at you, and you tell me which you like the most >D

TAWNY & SAM

So Sam used to frequent the Sector building, so it's possible he met Tawny there. I also think Sam could very easily be someone Tawny ghosted on, but after the ghosting they never reconnected.  We could always flesh something out about what their relationship was like, and then they finally run into each other again? Honestly, Sam would call her out on it too. Even though he too is kind of a ghoster ... he definitely uses the phone like an 86 year old man. AKA, not well or really ever.

ASHLEY & SAM

I am so down to take your hook of trembling hands. We can even take it a step further too, maybe Sam had a vision about what happens, and even though he really doesnt want to get involved with a stranger, he feels bad so he tries to help and calm him down. 

MERCEDES & SAM

I dont know what I want here lmao he could be a frequent flyer to her thrift shop? Sam loses his clothes a lot, and he is too poor to afford anything nicer than second hand. He could be someone who just comes in there a lot, and we can go from there? "Hi Sam how are you?" "Not great Mercedes I somehow lost ALL my shirts????"

That's all my little brain has for now, I am open for anything!!

[Rinse]

Hey, hey! Welcome to the site again, Roo! c: Hope you don't mind, I get a little rambly with these things. Let me just say now, it's never a big deal for you to tell me to cool it or to just be like "nah man, not vibin" to anything I throw at you! Pick up whatever you want from all this and leave what'cha don't! All cool with me.

SPOILER: Click to show

Tawny Vokes & Samson DeVires
I'd love to throw these two together! He sees the future and she sees the past, that's already a sort of fun foil to play with. And I like the idea of them having maybe tried being friendly outside of his visits to the Sector but Tawny eventually ghosted him, lol. She's been in an "are we/aren't we" sort of situationship for the past while that probably made her act/behave weird and throw off all sorts of mixed signals and ghost harder and stranger than she normally would.

But, she's out of the situationship now, so I believe — if Sam ended up back in her orbit — she'd be a lot more normal about some things. And I think it'd be really fun if he called her out on the ghosting when they first run into each other again.

I'm curious... how do you think Tawny's memory-viewing would work during Sam's visions? She sees things "as they were" through the other person's senses. Does Sam have his eyes open while he's seeing the future? I'm wondering if she'd be able to see what he did/where he went while he was "blacked out". 🤔 That might be interesting, if he got into a bit of trouble during one of his episodes. Like, for example, if he got jumped or lost something important, maybe she could help retrace his steps. ("Yeah, you put your shoes in the mail dropbox on your way home for some reason, I dunno, anyway... let's go get 'em.")

But if you think, realistically, she wouldn't see that sort of thing, then that's just an idea! I'm fairly certain she wouldn't be able to see his visions in any case. She can't see dreams and the like (because they're not actually experienced through the eyes, ears, etc).


Ashley Wolfe & Samson DeVires
Aaah, I love the thought of doing the Trembling Hands hook. But. 😩 I kind of want to wait. Depending on how the site's current Activity Check pans out, Ashley might be a character that gets quietly swept into the Archives. Not sure yet what that's gonna look like. Maybe we can put a pin in this one until the check's done and, if he is still around after, then we can pick it back up and play around with it?


Mercedes Lerwick & Samson DeVires
I haven't played with Sadie yet so this is exciting. I think she's definitely the type to take anything Sam has to say in-stride and not blink (lol). And... if they're already familiar with each other and he's established himself as a sort of "regular"... then I could totally see her just being prepared for him. Has some stuff set aside that she thinks he'll like. Maybe even does stuff like cross-stitches little baguettes, bread loaves, rolling pins, etc. into secret places on the clothes she saves for him 😆

I also think the thrift store could provide a cool place for visions, if they're sometimes triggered by Sam touching items? Could always play around with something like that if you wanted. Sadie, being familiar with Gifted (and having worked in the Sector and being currently involved in Blackstorm) would def catch onto it were she to see nosebleeds and/or witness anything weird. But also just an idea! If nothing else, I'm totally down with just throwing them together in the store and seeing how it goes and how they play off one another!

EDIT TO ADD: Ohyeah sdfkdsjhf. I remember having this thought back when I first read your app and then completely spaced on it. But I took another quick scrub through just now and had to come back in and add this commentary:

Also very intrigued by how Sam's gift affects his memory! And how he struggles with separating his own experiences from those he sees. Because Tawny has those same fears and struggles, too!! She sees other people's memories in her dreams if she's sleeping while touching them... sees so many memories all the time... just glimpses of tons of strangers' lives and stuff... and sometimes she recalls bits and pieces or "remembers" something and it's like "Wait, that wasn't mine... right?". And her biggest fear is getting older, having some sort of dementia, and becoming completely crazy because she can't differentiate between what's hers and what's not.

ANYWAY, not really GOING ANYWHERE with this, but still wanted to point out that parallel. If they do get along and become comfortable enough with one another eventually, who knows, maybe they can share those fears with one another and relate!

[Samson DeVires]

You've given me so much to think about!!

TAWNY & SAM

I'm going to have to go stalk Tawny more, I'm starting to feel like these two are different sides to the same coin with their gifts, which makes for some super interesting parallels we could play with!! Sam has issues opening up to people about his gift beyond the surface level, but should we toss them together into a thread and they see each other again, I don't doubt it is something that could come up organically.

He DOES have his eyes open! I like to think when he has his visions he's almost like half asleep, I guess? Whatever he does while having his visions usually relates to whatever he is seeing ... like him losing his shoes? He could of been having a vision about someone giving their shoes away, so he took his off and just left them somewhere. That's a silly example, but something like that! I like to think he has gotten into a lot of weird situations, and when he comes back to reality he is just so confused. Honestly, I don't see why she wouldn't be able to use her gift to help him retrace his steps. That couldn't actually be pretty fun, I can think of a good event for why he needs her help too >D

ALSO kjsdfhks Sam literally has the same experiences. He sometimes will be like "oh remember that time I baked for my sister at the fair and the tent caught on fire? Oh wait, was that me? I don't have a sister, nevermind." He definitely plays it off as nothing, but it bothers him so much more than he lets on. I love the idea of them eventually connecting over it. Sam has stacks upon stacks of notebooks he fills with his visions to try and keep track of himself verses everyone else. If she ever sees them, it could spark that conversation. GAH! There is a lot of potential with these two, I am so down to make a thread!

ASHLEY & SAM
Consider it pinned c;

MERCEDES & SAM
Sam is a messy guy, he definitely makes a mess of his clothes in various different ways all the time, so he probably needs new shirts more often than you would think haha. He requests all her coolest band t-shirts be saved for his choosing. The cross-stitch idea is so cute, I bet it would take him forever to find it if she doesn't tell him she put it in there. It could be like a little game. How long does Sam take to find the bread?

Also, the fact that she owns a thrift shop didn't even cross my mind. He probably had an episode while there at least once, maybe even twice. He doesn't hide the fact that something happens to him after he gets a bloody nose, he just usually tells people he has health issues. But if shes familiar with gifted people, I don't doubt she would catch on. After the second time though, he will probably wear gloves before touching anything in there again haha

But also Blackstorm .. Sam doesn't know about them yet, I don't think. Just murmurs of something. We could always toy with that coming to light eventually too (not necessarily that she's involved, just about the group as a whole).

[Rinse]

Tawny Vokes & Samson DeVires
I think they have a lot of potential, too! Intriguing parallels and fun stuff, should they come to a point where they feel comfortable enough to talk and open up about it! Are you thinking, with Tawny working for the Sector and Sam being investigated by them/dropping in/asking questions/etc., that they at least know of each other's Gifts already? I'm down with any way you wanna go about it there, I just don't want to assume anything sdjfhdjskf

If you've already got a good idea for a start/"hey again", I'm absolutely geared to go! <3 No hurry or anything — I'm going to be away from home the rest of the week anyway — but, if you want to start a thread then certainly feel free! Or if you want to toss some more stuff around beforehand, we can do that, too. c:

And Tawny's an artist. Not only that, but she's nosy. So... should the moment arise where she sees some unattended notebooks.... she's def snatching to take a peek. >8)


Mercedes Lerwick & Samson DeVires
I know you mentioned you wanted to take it slow, so... if you want to just start with Tawny/Sam, I totally understand and we can wait. Having said that, I'm also down to start something with these guys, too! I think the store is a good place to begin and we can just see what happens there? If you'd like me to start, I can add it to my list for next week, otherwise, feel free to at your leisure! c: