FalloutJack

Dragon Ball: Universe Zero

@Balthazar007 Added the changes to my character sheet. I can give the time frame suggested a go, though it's understandable if everyone here can't, since gathering people from different walks of life can be difficult at times. Regardless of how well it works, I'm looking forward to continuing this RP.

Dragon Ball: Universe Zero

Hey there. I'm still interested. My computer was out for repairs.

(Catching up on various things now.)

~ 1959: Into the Darkness ~ - Vietnam Dieselpunk [Open]

Elliot Gratsky

Elliot Gratsky

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Name

Elliot Gratsky

Gender

Male

Age

24, September 30th

Sexuality

Heterosexual

Nationality

An American from Boston, Massachussetts

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Appearance

Elliot is about 6 feet of well-formed body, the product of a man who takes his physical training seriously, and therefore paid attention in basic. He is a caucasian disaster of a man, with signs of minor nicks and scars from work or training-related incidents that he brushes off as nothing fancy, no worries found. Some of these looked like they'd been knife fight wounds, the kind you tell people "You shoulda' seen the other guy.". He is something of a wild black-haired man, with some beard and stubble not quite hiding that he's something worth looking at, with those hazel eyes and that expression that shifts from serious to laid-back and back again fairly quickly, as the need arises. He has the air of a man who'd rather be effective than worry for appearances, and that happens to be what works out best in places like this.

Army attire is generally something in a dark shade, like gray, for blending in with the background. He's kinda' picky, like if you're sending him into grassland, he'll drop that preference he has for something a little more green. Generally, he likes it dark and if the camou pattern fits the area, all the better, although he will get it dirty and/or muddy when he gets the chance for two reasons. One, because a uniform looking less uniform and more natural will blend in better, and two, because it gets hot out here and mud is generally cooler. That said, he tries to armor up because he knows he is in it for heavy combat and he wants to live long enough while shooting at the enemy.

He's a workhorse of a man, so he can carry alot, but chances are alot of that is going to be ammo and ordinance. As a smoker - not a severe habit, but it's there - he tries to keep his matches and packets in like a breast pocket, rather than strapped to his helmet, which he'll likewise fuss with mud, because he's fairly-certain the enemy can spot that and ping him from in hiding. Despite all of this, however, he's trained well for both surging attacks and keeping quiet to lie in wait...though the latter may be hampered by whatever's on his person. Also, Elliot has a habit of removing the upper-portion of his uniform down to the sleeveless undershirt when not in a contested area but still on-duty. Fucking hot out here.

Height

As stated, 6-Foot Height

Personality

Well, to start with, Elliot is something of a Dwayne Hicks kind of a guy. You remember him from Aliens? The guy that, while not in charge, both had it together and could bring it together in a pinch? That's him. Elliot is a man who knows his own abilities and limitations, applying them as best he can without losing his cool. He knows this is a bad situation and he accepts that, but there's work to be done and they're not gonna get out of it sooner by pitching a fit. To that end, he is very well competent at his job. If something has to be taken care of and there isn't an immediate better idea, he's probably on it. Even if he's not, he's always considering the right angles in a situation to get through it, out of it, whatever. When he's not in charge, he's likely to give the guy IN charge a word or two about what's about to go down, in case he feels something was missed or a question needs to be asked that others are feeling, but not saying. He doesn't mind laying it on the line, for the men or to get them to shape up quick.

Now, that isn't to say that he doesn't have his brighter side. Hicks wasn't incredibly sociable, but Elliot has his moments. He is a habit smoker, here and there, same with drinking or another vice that - in moderation - wouldn't destroy him. He'll get into a game, bet on a match, compete with a challenge - all that good stuff. He also has a decent sense of humor, which you may or may not end up at the expense of, depending on the situation. Very few things could possibly get him angry enough to shout, however, so if you manage to get him shouting mad, you are in trouble, like...in a very permanent fashion. You would probably have to violate something that Elliot really cares about to do it, though. Other times, he would rather swiftly knock someone out if they piss him off. Not like Commanding Officers, say, but you can expect anybody taking a swing at him to benefit directly from his training. He has about as much patience for bullshit that is reasonable, and very little after that. Ultiamtely, he's a decent guy, which is why you don't take advantage of him. His kindness is not a weakness. You can bet your last dollar on that.

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Rank

Corporal

Role

Heavy Infantry, trained in all anti-personal weaponry

Equipment

M60 - Belt-fed heavy machine gun.
Remington 870 - NOTE: This shotgun has been sawed off for easier carry/fire.
Ka-Bar - Leading competitor to the M3 Fighting Knife.
Standard Issue Webbing - What? It's standard.
Zippo Lighter
Cigarette Pack(s)
'Secret Codebook' - A small booklet full of gibberish to confuse Vietnamese soldiers if ever taken.
Grenades Optional

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Biography

In Elliot's case, it's important to know who his father is before getting to know the man, himself. Knowing where and what he came from sheds a great deal of light on the man, maybe far enough to even see some of the shadow cast by Grace, but we'll get to that later. We start, therefore, with Dwayne Gratsky, Elliot's father. Dwayne had been born too young to enter into the first World War, but he felt he should go to war and fight in order to stop 'The War to End All Wars'. Back then, the World War was just THE World War, the greatest conflict ever faced by man, and you're damned right that plenty of people - even those too young to be a part of the military - would go out there. However, Dwayne's father - already a Captain - forbade him and explained that the drafting offices already had him on file, and that they would turn him down because of his age while he himself went to war.

That was the last he saw of his father. A couple of years in, the letters stopped. About a month after that, his mother received a letter that went 'Dear Mrs. Gratsky, it is with our deepest condolences that we must report...', well, you get the idea. Dwayne was furious. His father had beeen killed in the war and he was powerless to even help anyone, let alone the notion that he could've been there for his father. Frustrated, he watched as the war carried on...and then ended before he could properly enlist. The World War was over. The enemy was defeated. Of course, the results of said war would lead to problems...as forcing Germany to make reparations to the victors and the victims left it in a position that shocked the world... By the time that had happened, though, Dwayne Gratsky had enlisted, trained, and was ready to fight. The Second World War was his battleground, and he fought a battle that was much different than any his father ever did.

However, we must pull back for a moment, because it was - strangely enough - a good thing that events had occurred as they did. Elliot was born in 1935, rather unexpectedly and during The Great Depression. If Dwayne had enlisted with his father, he might've died in a trench-bombing like his father, and thus never made it back in the first place. His frustrations led him to enlist willingly at about the onset of the Roaring 20s, long before the Depression began. With an army commission and, in fact, bases to live on as he moved about, the Gratsky family was less-damaged by the failure of the Stock Market, the Dust Bowl, and so on. Before the war even started, Dwayne was a Corporal, like Elliot is now. By the time he'd shown his his stuff in combat when the US Government joined WWII for a couple of months, he made Sergeant after his own company Sergeant was killed in action. By the end of the war, he was a Major who insisted on fighting alongside the men, in or out of a an armored vehicle. He fought hard, fueled by years of tempered anger towards a foe that reared its ugly head again, a sense of duty, and a need to support his family back home.

All of this influenced Elliot, of course. He was born, as stated, in the middle of The Great Depression, and his childhood was a little rough. Let's start with what it means to be a military brat. First of all, if your dad is often busy, the times you see him are limited, and if you live on the base - like Elliot and his mother did - then you get to know alot of his fellow soldiers about as much, which can be both good AND bad, dependent on what you want out of it. It made Elliot not as concerned for his old man - The Big Daddy destroyer of the German Reich - and a bit more personable around men with guns, finding it all cool, of course. Kinda' had to gravitate more to them and similar army brats, because people outside the base when he was a child...didn't understand. You get this all the time. There's no war, but the military engine is being meticulously maintained, and now the entire country is facing a series of crises that threatens many, with the haves and the have-nots always in disagreement. Kids wouldn't associate with Elliot's lot. They'd fight their parents' battles with their aggression over how the military's useless and does nothing but eat their food while they go hungry. Honestly, Elliot felt bad, but what're you gonna do? Oh, and calling his dad a leech? That's a nose-bleeding, right there. You just can't live with such people...

Fortunately, or unfortunately, they moved around to other bases as his father had to be assigned elsewhere. You see, Dwayne never turned down a chance to train others in what he knew and experienced, what he could give in order to make sure that men get out of battle alive. He wasn't obligated to, but he wanted to, and he even shared things with his son, though Ellen never openly approved. As he began to grow and World War II started, he saw his father off, wanting to follow in his old man's footsteps, though he didn't quite have the hero worship that Dwayne did of HIS father, It was more the latter reasonings, that it was the right thing to do and it was a living. This was good, because by the time Elliot was ready for college AFTER the war, he was able to fast-track his way into the ROTC program and learn his stuff. Armies have gotta be, and Gratskys are good for the army. He was able to get his education paid for by the military, which would pay for his living. He made the reserves and was ablee to continue on unabated until...

Well, until that inevitable day when the country decided to join in the Vietnam conflict, of course. Elliot wasn't sent over until the Third Wave, when the US had already established itself into the South Vietnamese area, senting its forces north for several months. Eventually, he was sent over, and that was when he met Grace...

Affiliations

'Big Daddy' Dwayne Gratsky - Father
Ellen Huxley-Gratsky - Mother

Relationships

Grace Hart - Partner in Crime?

Character Theme

Grace Hart

Grace Hart

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Name

Grace Hart

Gender

Female

Age

19, May 17th

Sexuality

Not Stated

Nationality

Difficult to say because she's Albino, but assumed an American/European mix.

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Appearance

Whereas Elliot is the strong man, Grace more lithe and agile, a quick and flexible person by general build. She has a slim build of young adulthood, not formally trained, but that her body reflects a number of years effectively engaged in well-honed athleticism for the sole purpose of survival against any person who would attempt to take from her whatever she needs to live, her life in particular, her virginity, etc. That last part is not specifically stated, but Grace would tell you unflinchingly that people have attempted to screw around with or even force themselves onto her and...they'll never be doing that again. She is light-skinned by nature, generally not one to stand out by any other means than general appearance because of her experience in hiding, stealthfully sneaking around, ambushing from perfect stillness, and so on. She tends to stare with brown eyes that are light and like fire with their intensity, though that is mainly during serious moments or when wary of attack. Grace isn't that physically durable, made more to avoid damage to her person than being durable. She does the best she can, and that tends to do, because she takes no chances as one who has made herself singularly deadly when she has to.

When not being a danger to any who would threaten her, Grace is often quiet and only soft-spoken when ever speaking at all. She simply does not raise her voice, as though loud noise equals death, and...well...in this frame of reference, it might. It's a trait that she'll have for life, and that's a fact. Her body language is like that of one who's been both predator and prey out on the streets. Lately, she has adopted a more passive sort of mannerism. She tends to look up to Elliot, often looking to him for some sort of indicator on what's right in a social situation, or if there's a strategy she needs to act upon. Her atttire is usually light-weight, as she is shorter than Elliot and less muscular than him. She gears for stealth and being ableto move quickly and the least-inhibited as possible. There is always a blade on her, and very rarely is there some sort of explosive. You will find her made for doing what a number of the Vietcong themselves do - sneakier action, sniper-y action, cutthroat-y action.

Height

5'7"

Personality

You ask the question, 'How long before you break?', and I tell you that Grace may've done so, already. Not by the war, but due to the abandonment she has suffered. She doesn't talk about it, but one thing that's clear is that she has no desire to find her parents, and it's likely that 'Grace Hart' isn't even her real name. She is often soft-spoken, as said before, but she does get more stern in reference to things like her parents or ever talking about her past life. She simply refuses to speak about it, will clam up entirely if you press on. Certain facts, such as her age, are some of the few facts that Grace ever owns up to. She simply has no interest anymore in who she was, because it isn't who she IS anymore. If asked more about this, her reply will be "Elliot understands. Why don't you?".

It's hard to say what she thinks about Elliot. Whether it's mutual respect or hero worship on her part or even something more intimate (Elliot swears on his last pack of cigs that he hasn't done anything like that and Grace backs him up, as it is apparently the truth.), it's impossible to tell because even if she gives you what sounds like a straightforward answer, there's another issue: It's ALSO difficult to tell where Grace is lying or telling the truth. Her indicators are all strange. She follows Elliot's lead because is seems like he's accepted who she is and has taught her things that further help her out in survival, increasing her skills to a fine razor's edge. Now...fortunately, this has included a friend-or-foe policy, and in fact will work her damnedest to support those of whom she's with in a fight. This means she won't kill her allies for making poor decisions, but she will still deliver harm if you make the wrong move at her. That's practically hard-wired, so it's a good thing that Grace can take a joke, just that...she's not use to having anyone laughing and having a good time around her. She often seems lost in situations that are not readily defined, so it's hard to imagine how she'll live outside of the war. This is her place, for now.

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Rank

Private

Role

Sniper and Stealth Specialist

Equipment

M40 - Scoped Marksman/Sniper Rifle.
M3 Fighting Knife - AKA the M3 Trench Knife, mass-produced over the Ka-Bar for being slightly cheaper to make.
M1911A1 Service Pistol - Back-up pistol.
Basic Bandages
Other Stealthy Items Optional

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Biography

Grace had no choice in the matter. Reality had shifted against her, and she could only move with it or die. That was the truth. She does not speak of what actually happened, the fullness of it, not ever. The most she has ever spoken about it was with Elliot, and even then... No names, no details, no answers that would lead to any sort of real closure. She did not like the past. She did not want the past. If anyone were to ever show her the family that did what they did to her, she would more than likely kill them and continue on as she was. That is why she would never tell anyone anything real or truthful about herself. Because if anyone learned these facts and had the capacity to act on them, they might try to send her back. That was never going to happen. She would disappear into the dust and gloom first.

Years ago, Grace was abandoned here. Yes, here of all places. You could read between the lines and say that she might've been unwanted, that she could've been a child of the previous war from one wild night that got someone from here pregnant and whatnot, but Grace is having none of that answered, so all you get is supposition. It is a fact that she was abandoned, and that it is likely that she is Euro-American, although her albinoism does make that hard to pin down, properly. She does state that she was expected to die, as the act was so abrupt and with no recourse or help to be given out here that starvation or being killed by someone for any number of reasons - before or after getting violated - was a high probability.

It didn't take.

Grace has some level of education, either from times prior or whatever she's picked up or both. She was naturally flexible and quick, and so she adapted her life to steal for a living, with almost no moral fiber above the need to survive expressed for several years. She did not justify or pontificate or anything like that. She accepted that reality was pretty harsh for her, and that if she did not act accordingly to survive, she would not. That is primarily why, during the years here, she learned to kill almost without question, by instinct even. She would weigh the odds of a death coming back to bite her in the ass - so, nobody important would be subjected to this unless she had little choice but to go that route - and determined the best course of action. Conflicts were regular, even before the war, and she was already in the background, a scavenger and a thief, sometimes a killer. It didn't matter. This was what had to be done. Nobody was going to make her a better offer. Nobody.

Then, somebody did.

The appearance of US Soldiers made things a bit easier for her. She did not get greedy. Greed killed in these parts. She survived, only survived. Never took too much or more than she could transport easily, so as not to be caught. And if she did, she abandoned what couldn't be moved so that whoever was after her would be occupied with it and not her. She knew this country, knew its people, and knew that she was not one of them or really one of anyone. Being an outsider in a place you know intimately well was a terrible thing, but sadly...it was life. The soldiers, though... They were careless. Food and other things she needed, or at least things that could be traded, came easily. Catching her was near-to-impossible. She was gone long before anything was noticed...at least until Elliot arrived.

Elliot was different, aware, only careless when he allowed himself to goof off. He was no one's fool, including hers. Had he caught on and simply not acted the first few times a scrap of food went missing? Had he caught onto her from the start and never said until the night he caught her? Even the way he did that was unexpected. He did not report her or anything you'd expect. He must've figured out one or two of her hiding places. That was how he came to be sitting there, wanting to talk. Imagine living this life, wary that you could be attaced or brought in to face punishment, but this soldier just wants to sit and talk and understand. No, she wouldn't tell him everything. Even someone like him, someone who wanted to give her pointers, didn't need to know, although he DID mention being impressed about how she'd ended that one guy with a blade to the nuts.

In the end, Elliot ended up training her, explaining things to her, and she felt...she wanted to help him, to stay with the first and only person to approach her like this and help out, no strings attached. It was shocking how she felt about that, and to discover how lonely she actually was. She had no real social skill to speak of, although one thing Grace COULD do was speak Vietnamese fluenty, as well as English. Over time, Elliot decided that if she really wanted to work alongside him, that he'd let her...but it wasn't exactly up to him. She needed a commission, first, and after some convincing, Elliot managed to get her field-drafted into his unit as a company sniper and guide in country, Private Grace Hart.

Affiliations

Grace will not admit to any such persons, familiel or otherwise.

Relationships

Elliot Gratsky - ?????

Character Theme

~ 1959: Into the Darkness ~ - Vietnam Dieselpunk [Open]

@LetMeDoStuff Heyo, profiles are donezo.

~ 1959: Into the Darkness ~ - Vietnam Dieselpunk [Open]

Profiles are unfinished, but progress has been made.

Elliot Gratsky

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Name

Elliot Gratsky

Gender

Male

Age

24, September 30th

Sexuality

Heterosexual

Nationality

An American from Boston, Massachussetts

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Appearance

Elliot is about 6 feet of well-formed body, the product of a man who takes his physical training seriously, and therefore paid attention in basic. He is a caucasian disaster of a man, with signs of minor nicks and scars from work or training-related incidents that he brushes off as nothing fancy, no worries found. Some of these looked like they'd been knife fight wounds, the kind you tell people "You shoulda' seen the other guy.". He is something of a wild black-haired man, with some beard and stubble not quite hiding that he's something worth looking at, with those hazel eyes and that expression that shifts from serious to laid-back and back again fairly quickly, as the need arises. He has the air of a man who'd rather be effective than worry for appearances, and that happens to be what works out best in places like this.

Army attire is generally something in a dark shade, like gray, for blending in with the background. He's kinda' picky, like if you're sending him into grassland, he'll drop that preference he has for something a little more green. Generally, he likes it dark and if the camou pattern fits the area, all the better, although he will get it dirty and/or muddy when he gets the chance for two reasons. One, because a uniform looking less uniform and more natural will blend in better, and two, because it gets hot out here and mud is generally cooler. That said, he tries to armor up because he knows he is in it for heavy combat and he wants to live long enough while shooting at the enemy.

He's a workhorse of a man, so he can carry alot, but chances are alot of that is going to be ammo and ordinance. As a smoker - not a severe habit, but it's there - he tries to keep his matches and packets in like a breast pocket, rather than strapped to his helmet, which he'll likewise fuss with mud, because he's fairly-certain the enemy can spot that and ping him from in hiding. Despite all of this, however, he's trained well for both surging attacks and keeping quiet to lie in wait...though the latter may be hampered by whatever's on his person. Also, Elliot has a habit of removing the upper-portion of his uniform down to the sleeveless undershirt when not in a contested area but still on-duty. Fucking hot out here.

Height

As stated, 6-Foot Height

Personality

Well, to start with, Elliot is something of a Dwayne Hicks kind of a guy. You remember him from Aliens? The guy that, while not in charge, both had it together and could bring it together in a pinch? That's him. Elliot is a man who knows his own abilities and limitations, applying them as best he can without losing his cool. He knows this is a bad situation and he accepts that, but there's work to be done and they're not gonna get out of it sooner by pitching a fit. To that end, he is very well competent at his job. If something has to be taken care of and there isn't an immediate better idea, he's probably on it. Even if he's not, he's always considering the right angles in a situation to get through it, out of it, whatever. When he's not in charge, he's likely to give the guy IN charge a word or two about what's about to go down, in case he feels something was missed or a question needs to be asked that others are feeling, but not saying. He doesn't mind laying it on the line, for the men or to get them to shape up quick.

Now, that isn't to say that he doesn't have his brighter side. Hicks wasn't incredibly sociable, but Elliot has his moments. He is a habit smoker, here and there, same with drinking or another vice that - in moderation - wouldn't destroy him. He'll get into a game, bet on a match, compete with a challenge - all that good stuff. He also has a decent sense of humor, which you may or may not end up at the expense of, depending on the situation. Very few things could possibly get him angry enough to shout, however, so if you manage to get him shouting mad, you are in trouble, like...in a very permanent fashion. You would probably have to violate something that Elliot really cares about to do it, though. Other times, he would rather swiftly knock someone out if they piss him off. Not like Commanding Officers, say, but you can expect anybody taking a swing at him to benefit directly from his training. He has about as much patience for bullshit that is reasonable, and very little after that. Ultiamtely, he's a decent guy, which is why you don't take advantage of him. His kindness is not a weakness. You can bet your last dollar on that.

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Rank

Corporal

Role

Heavy Infantry, trained in all anti-personal weaponry

Equipment

M60 - Belt-fed heavy machine gun.
Remington 870 - NOTE: This shotgun has been sawed off for easier carry/fire.
Ka-Bar - Leading competitor to the M3 fighting Knife.
Standard Issue Webbing - What? It's standard.
Zippo Lighter
Cigarette Pack(s)
'Secret Codebook' - A small booklet full of gibberish to confuse Vietnamese soldiers if ever taken.
Grenades Optional

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Biography

In Elliot's case, it's important to know who his father is before getting to know the man, himself. Knowing where and what he came from sheds a great deal of light on the man, maybe far enough to even see some of the shadow cast by Grace, but we'll get to that later. We start, therefore, with Dwayne Gratsky, Elliot's father. Dwayne had been born too young to enter into the first World War, but he felt he should go to war and fight in order to stop 'The War to End All Wars'. Back then, the World War was just THE World War, the greatest conflict ever faced by man, and you're damned right that plenty of people - even those too young to be a part of the military - would go out there. However, Dwayne's father - already a Captain - forbade him and explained that the drafting offices already had him on file, and that they would turn him down because of his age while he himself went to war.

That was the last he saw of his father. A couple of years in, the letters stopped. About a month after that, his mother received a letter that went 'Dear Mrs. Gratsky, it is with our deepest condolences that we must report...', well, you get the idea. Dwayne was furious. His father had beeen killed in the war and he was powerless to even help anyone, let alone the notion that he could've been there for his father. Frustrated, he watched as the war carried on...and then ended before he could properly enlist. The World War was over. The enemy was defeated. Of course, the results of said war would lead to problems...as forcing Germany to make reparations to the victors and the victims left it in a position that shocked the world... By the time that had happened, though, Dwayne Gratsky had enlisted, trained, and was ready to fight. The Second World War was his battleground, and he fought a battle that was much different than any his father ever did.

However, we must pull back for a moment, because it was - strangely enough - a good thing that events had occurred as they did. Elliot was born in 1935, rather unexpectedly and during The Great Depression. If Dwayne had enlisted with his father, he might've died in a trench-bombing like his father, and thus never made it back in the first place. His frustrations led him to enlist willingly at about the onset of the Roaring 20s, long before the Depression began. With an army commission and, in fact, bases to live on as he moved about, the Gratsky family was less-damaged by the failure of the Stock Market, the Dust Bowl, and so on. Before the war even started, Dwayne was a Corporal, like Elliot is now. By the time he'd shown his his stuff in combat when the US Government joined WWII for a couple of months, he made Sergeant after his own company Sargeant was killed in action. By the end of the war, he was a Major who insisted on fighting alongside the men, in or out of a an armored vehicle. He fought hard, fueled by years of tempered anger towards a foe that reared its ugly head again, a sense of duty, and a need to support his family back home.

All of this influenced Elliot, of course. He was born, as stated, in the middle of The Great Depression, and his childhood was a little rough. Let's start with what it means to be a military brat. First of all, if your dad is often busy, the times you see him are limited, and if you live on the base - like Elliot and his mother did - then you get to know alot of his fellow soldiers about as much, which can be both good AND bad, dependent on what you want out of it. It made Elliot not as concerned for his old man - The Big Daddy destroyer of the German Reich - and a bit more personable around men with guns, finding it all cool, of course. Kinda' had to gravitate more to them and similar army brats, because people outside the base when he was a child...didn't understand. You get this all the time. There's no war, but the military engine is being meticulously maintained, and now the entire country is facing a series of crises that threatens many, with the haves and the have-nots always in disagreement. Kids wouldn't associate with Elliot's lot. They'd fight their parents' battles with their aggression over how the military's useless and does nothing but eat their food while they go hungry. Honestly, Elliot felt bad, but what're you gonna do? Oh, and calling his dad a leech? That's a nose-bleeding, right there. You just can't live with such people...

Fortunately, or unfortunately, they moved around to other bases as his father had to be assigned elsewhere. You see, Dwayne never turned down a chance to train others in what he knew and experienced, what he could give in order to make sure that men get out of battle alive. He wasn't obligated to, but he wanted to, and he even shared things with his son, though Ellen never openly approved. As he began to grow and World War II started, he saw his father off, wanting to follow in his old man's footsteps, though he didn't quite have the hero worship that Dwayne did of HIS father, It was more the latter reasonings, that it was the right thing to do and it was a living. This was good, because by the time Elliot was ready for college AFTER the war, he was able to fast-track his way into the ROTC program and learn his stuff. Armies have gotta be, and Gratskys are good for the army. He was able to get his education paid for by the military, which would pay for his living. He made the reserves and was ablee to continue on unabated until...

Well, until that inevitable day when the country decided to join in the Vietnam conflict, of course. Elliot wasn't sent over until the Third Wave, when the US had already established itself into the South Vietnamese area, senting its forces north for several months. Eventually, he was sent over, and that was when he met Grace...

Affiliations

'Big Daddy' Dwayne Gratsky - Father
Ellen Huxley-Gratsky - Mother

Relationships

Grace Hart - Partner in Crime?

Character Theme

Grace Hart

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Name

Grace Hart

Gender

Female

Age

19, May 17th

Sexuality

Not Stated

Nationality

Difficult to say because she's Albino, but assumed an American/European mix.

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Appearance

Whereas Elliot is the strong man, Grace more lithe and agile, a quick and flexible person by general build. She has a slim build of young adulthood, not formally trained, but that her body reflects a number of years effectively engaged in well-honed athleticism for the sole purpose of survival against any person who would attempt to take from her whatever she needs to live, her life in particular, her virginity, etc. That last part is not specifically stated, but Grace would tell you unflinchingly that people have attempted to screw around with or even force themselves onto her and...they'll never be doing that again. She is light-skinned by nature, generally not one to stand out by any other means than general appearance because of her experience in hiding, stealthfully sneaking around, ambushing from perfect stillness, and so on. She tends to stare with brown eyes that are light and like fire with their intensity, though that is mainly during serious moments or when wary of attack. Grace isn't that physically durable, made more to avoid damage to her person than being durable. She does the best she can, and that tends to do, because she takes no chances as one who has made herself singularly deadly when she has to.

When not being a danger to any who would threaten her, Grace is often quiet and only soft-spoken when ever speaking at all. She simply does not raise her voice, as though loud noise equals death, and...well...in this frame of reference, it might. It's a trait that she'll have for life, and that's a fact. Her body language is like that of one who's been both predator and prey out on the streets. Lately, she has adopted a more passive sort of mannerism. She tends to look up to Elliot, often looking to him for some sort of indicator on what's right in a social situation, or if there's a strategy she needs to act upon. Her atttire is usually light-weight, as she is shorter than Elliot and less muscular than him. She gears for stealth and being ableto move quickly and the least-inhibited as possible. There is always a blade on her, and very rarely is there some sort of explosive. You will find her made for doing what a number of the Vietcong themselves do - sneakier action, sniper-y action, cutthroat-y action.

Height

5'7"

Personality

You ask the question, 'How long before you break?', and I tell you that Grace may've done so, already. Not by the war, but due to the abandonment she has suffered. She doesn't talk about it, but one thing that's clear is that she has no desire to find her parents, and it's likely that 'Grace Hart' isn't even her real name. She is often soft-spoken, as said before, but she does get more stern in reference to things like her parents or ever talking about her past life. She simply refuses to speak about it, will clam up entirely if you press on. Certain facts, such as her age, are some of the few facts that Grace ever owns up to. She simply has no interest anymore in who she was, because it isn't who she IS anymore. If asked more about this, her reply will be "Elliot understands. Why don't you?".

It's hard to say what she thinks about Elliot. Whether it's mutual respect or hero worship on her part or even something more intimate (Elliot swears on his last pack of cigs that he hasn't done anything like that and Grace backs him up, as it is apparently the truth.), it's impossible to tell because even if she gives you what sounds like a straightforward answer, there's another issue: It's ALSO difficult to tell where Grace is lying or telling the truth. Her indicators are all strange. She follows Elliot's lead because is seems like he's accepted who she is and has taught her things that further help her out in survival, increasing her skills to a fine razor's edge. Now...fortunately, this has included a friend-or-foe policy, and in fact will work her damnedest to support those of whom she's with in a fight. This means she won't kill her allies for making poor decisions, but she will still deliver harm if you make the wrong move at her. That's practically hard-wired, so it's a good thing that Grace can take a joke, just that...she's not use to having anyone laughing and having a good time around her. She often seems lost in situations that are not readily defined, so it's hard to imagine how she'll live outside of the war. This is her place, for now.

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Rank

Private

Role

Sniper and Stealth Specialist

Equipment

M40 - Scoped Marksman/Sniper Rifle.
M3 Fighting Knife - AKA the M3 Trench Knife, mass-produced over the Ka-Bar for being slightly cheaper to make.
M1911A1 Service Pistol - Back-up pistol.
Basic Bandages
Other Stealthy Items Optional

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Biography

Grace had no choice in the matter. Reality had shifted against her, and she could only move with it or die. That was the truth. She does not speak of what actually happened, the fullness of it, not ever. The most she has ever spoken about it was with Elliot, and even then... No names, no details, no answers that would lead to any sort of real closure. She did not like the past. She did not want the past. If anyone were to ever show her the family that did what they did to her, she would more than likely kill them and continue on as she was. That is why she would never tell anyone anything real or truthful about herself. Because if anyone learned these facts and had the capacity to act on them, they might try to send her back. That was never going to happen. She would disappear into the dust and gloom first.

Years ago, Grace was abandoned here. Yes, here of all places. You could read between the lines and say that she might've been unwanted, that she could've been a child of the previous war from one wild night that got someone from here pregnant and whatnot, but Grace is having none of that answered, so all you get is supposition. It is a fact that she was abandoned, and that it is likely that she is Euro-American, although her albinoism does make that hard to pin down, properly. She does state that she was expected to die, as the act was so abrupt and with no recourse or help to be given out here that starvation or being killed by someone for any number of reasons - before or after getting violated - was a high probability.

It didn't take.

Grace has some level of education, either from times prior or whatever she's picked up or both. She was naturally flexible and quick, and so she adapted her life to steal for a living, with almost no moral fiber above the need to survive expressed for several years. She did not justify or pontificate or anything like that. She accepted that reality was pretty harsh for her, and that if she did not act accordingly to survive, she would not. That is primarily why, during the years here, she learned to kill almost without question, by instinct even. She would weigh the odds of a death coming back to bite her in the ass - so, nobody important would be subjected to this unless she had little choice but to go that route - and determined the best course of action. Conflicts were regular, even before the war, and she was already in the background, a scavenger and a thief, sometimes a killer. It didn't matter. This was what had to be done. Nobody was going to make her a better offer. Nobody.

Then, somebody did.

The appearance of US Soldiers made things a bit easier for her. She did not get greedy. Greed killed in these parts. She survived, only survived. Never took too much or more than she could transport easily, so as not to be caught. And if she did, she abandoned what couldn't be moved so that whoever was after her would be occupied with it and not her. She knew this country, knew its people, and knew that she was not one of them or really one of anyone. Being an outsider in a place you know intimately well was a terrible thing, but sadly...it was life. The soldiers, though... They were careless. Food and other things she needed, or at least things that could be traded, came easily. Catching her was near-to-impossible. She was gone long before anything was noticed...at least until Elliot arrived.

Elliot was different, aware, only careless when he allowed himself to goof off. He was no one's fool, including hers. Had he caught on and simply not acted the first few times a scrap of food went missing? Had he caught onto her from the start and never said until the night he caught her? Even the way he did that was unexpected. He did not report her or anything you'd expect. He must've figured out one or two of her hiding places. That was how he came to be sitting there, wanting to talk. Imagine living this life, wary that you could be attaced or brought in to face punishment, but this soldier just wants to sit and talk and understand. No, she wouldn't tell him everything. Even someone like him, someone who wanted to give her pointers, didn't need to know, although he DID mention being impressed about how she'd ended that one guy with a blade to the nuts.

In the end, Elliot ended up training her, explaining things to her, and she felt...she wanted to help him, to stay with the first and only person to approach her like this and help out, no strings attached. It was shocking how she felt about that, and to discover how lonely she actually was. She had no real social skill to speak of, although one thing Grace COULD do was speak Vietnamese fluenty, as well as English. Over time, Elliot decided that if she really wanted to work alongside him, that he'd let her...but it wasn't exactly up to him. She needed a commission, first, and after some convincing, Elliot managed to get her field-drafted into his unit as a company sniper and guide in country, Private Grace Hart.

Affiliations

Grace will not admit to any such persons, familiel or otherwise.

Relationships

Elliot Gratsky - ?????

Character Theme

~ 1959: Into the Darkness ~ - A Vietnam Dieselpunk scenario

This has my interest, although I may need to ask some questions in regards to character creation. We'll see how things work out here.

Dragon Ball: Universe Zero

I'm cool.

Dragon Ball: Universe Zero

"I wanted them to end quickly is the thing, but I may've overdone it, and I messed up on that last one."

He wouldn't have minded if Ryan quit, but he was clearly the kind of man that fought to the bitter end, no matter what it takes. It was admirable in one way, but not so great in another. What surprised Niko was that, with the preliminaries over, she was actually unsatisfied and feeling cheated in her wins. Niko smiled as she mentioned personal junk and introduced herself.

"Nah, it's just a nickname. I'm Niko, and I'm in the military, usually working in stealth and in the dark."

He offered her a handshake, glad to finally meet someone he hadn't freaked out with his sudden, forceful attacks.

Dragon Ball: Universe Zero

He barely felt the impact of Ryan's final blows against the impact that was thrown against him. His body had already been on fire from the previous damage, though it'd be sore later. What bothered Niko later was, of course, that he'd let this man hurt him so. As he got upright and they were taking Ryan away, he shook his head.

Should I have been more defensive? No, that wouldn't have helped. He'd've just whittled me down and backed me into a corner, and I can't afford that. I've got to press on, really apply myself properly against my foes.

He stood up when they called his name. Well, his code name. It's what he entered himself as here. Someone might've felt it was a bit silly, some wrestlers have even weirder names, so could anyone blame him? Still, as anyone cheering died down, he looked at his fellow competitors in a manner to say 'There, see? Not so scary, am I?', followed by getting off of the arena ground.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Once things had been cleared up, the sixteen remaining fighters were gathered, and the announcer stated what was to happen from here on. Those who made it farther would be staying here in their personal facilities. The man suggested getting some rest and Niko chuckled, muttering "Good idea.". He was gonna need it. As everyone began to disperse, he noticed the punchy girl from before had made it through, as well, though she looked far less damaged. Heh... Lucky. He stepped over to where she sat, not willing to sit yet because what he wanted to do was find a whole lot of ice to lie on.

"I guess some had it easier than others. You must've dominated."

Dragon Ball: Universe Zero

@Balthazar007 I just noticed you said Niko fell unconscious when it was Ryan.