Phloem

Pollice Verso ~ Glory of the Arena

Sorry for taking so long! Here's my character if you'll still have me.

Name: Lorrarth Elzik, but he usually just goes by Coin.

Race: Saellak

Race Features: The Saellak are a humanoid, carnivorous species native to the planet of Wavrak, in the Basilicus System. On average, they live to around 200 Earth years, though a much higher number is common due to various technological advancements. Saellaks are strangely similar in appearance to the average Terran, the only distinguishing features being their red eyes and a curved horn sprouting from above their foreheads. The horn, through extremely complicated chemical interactions within it, allows the Saellak a degree of illusion manipulation. Most Saellak are only able to use their ability as a defense mechanism to camouflage themselves, altering their physical appearance to look like someone or something else. To improve this ability requires extensive mental training.

The Saellak are aggressive, war-loving, and xenophobic. While many powerful centers of Saellak Civilization regularly trade with and ally with other species, an equally powerful group have been systematically attacking other species in imperialistic advances. This conflict of idealism has dragged the two opposing ideals into civil war. Most of their technology is unknown to outside species due to their extreme secrecy.

Age: 83 Earth Years

Gender: Male

Appearance:

Coin

Personality: As a Black Hat hacker, Coin cares about looking out for number one. He is not a “hacktivist” nor does he care if your firewall is up to date. He won’t help you with your computer problems, and he could care less if it got the latest amateur virus from some porn pop-up. The Saellak cares about his bank account, and that rush of adrenalin when he gets access to some tiny corner of the Intergalactic Web that tried in vain to keep him out. Unlike most of the others in his species, Coin isn’t overtly confrontational or violent. He prefers the safety of a computer screen to separate him from any potential problems that his sticky fingers might encounter. Outside of his obsession with computers, he is comical and inquisitive, always there with a quick joke and a thousand questions. Coin is also extremely quick-witted, able to think incredibly fast on his feet. His personality makes him very easy to call friend, even if he’s a little snarky with his jokes from time to time.

Bio: Coin had spent the last two decades dodging agents from the Intergalactic Federation's Cyber Crimes division. The file on their desk is a good three inches thick with the hacker’s exploits. When his thievery crossed the ten million credits mark, he was put on their Top 10 Cyber Criminals list. When it crossed twenty million, he made it to number one. Coin had the dubious distinction of being the only one on the Top Ten list that didn't have a picture next to his name. The authorities were completely in the dark about his identity and his location… he was just that good.

The Saellak Civil War had little to no negative impact on Coin's illegal livelihood, in fact, the chaos even promoted it. But, everything changed when the Humani attacked. Weakened by internal conflict, the once-proud Saellak were swiftly subdued.

Skills: Most of Coin's skill lies in his hallucikinesis and technological savvy, he has had a modicum of combat training as a child, but that's pretty much it. Currently, Coin is able to create and manipulate illusions in a 5 metre radius around him.

Preferred Weapon: Just long-ranged weapons, in general; throwing knives, and guns. He's really no good in a close-quarters fight.

Extraterrestrial gladiators?

Interested. :)

The Gift of the Gods

Dibs on Ashar! :P

Also, about the Alituum; I'm assuming they just look like humans with wings, sharp teeth and claws?

A fantasy role play!

Interested. I could help with the lore too, if you want. :)

True Blood

I'd be interested, haven't seen the show though. Is that okay? :P

La Vie Boheme (Slice-Of-Life/City/'90s)

Benjamin stepped out onto the balcony, where a cold gust of wind immediately hit him square in the face. He didn't mind it much, though. The apartment always seemed to be uncomfortably warm even during the cold season, and the biting wind was a welcome change. Besides, he'd never really liked warm temperatures, anyway. Memories of the boiling hot "sinner's room" he'd been forced to pray in for hours on end can still make him sweat, even today. His parents had big dreams for him; to be a priest of surpassing holiness, even a saint. Benjamin reasoned that they were worried about their own sins and sought forgiveness riding on his coattails.

A piercing headache broke him out of his thoughts, and Benjamin turned to go back inside. Christ, the nicotine withdrawal was really kicking in now. He could just get a fresh pack -- except he didn't have enough cash to buy one, playing for tips just didn't cut it in this day and age. Was he paying the price for not having a stable career? Probably, but with a scorpion tattoo adorning the right side of his neck, looking for a job wasn't exactly an easy feat. Benjamin had gotten it done years ago, back when he was young and dumb. It didn't even have any real meaning behind it, and now it was fucking him over royally.

Deciding it best to get ready for the day before his stoner roommates awoke, Benjamin padded over to one of the en-suite bathrooms. In the span of twenty-five minutes, he was all cleaned up and presentable. Well, somewhat. Granted, his haircut made him look like a Founding Father, but other than that, he looked halfway decent. Dressed completely in washed out neutrals, Benjamin gave himself a quick once over. A white t-shirt, classic blue jeans and a pair of beat-up sneakers formed his outfit, finishing it off with his trusty jacket. Made out of 100% wool with two rows of buttons down the front, it was probably the most expensive thing he owned, save his violin. It has, however, served him well over the years; the material withstanding even the worst abuse.

The moment he stepped out of the apartment block, Benjamin was suddenly grateful for his jacket. The weather was quite a bit chillier than expected, but that was just New York for you. Just then, an audible growl emanated from his stomach. He hadn't even had his breakfast yet. In fact, he didn't have dinner last night, either. Fingers tightening around his violin case, Benjamin set off in search of a meal.

Fortunately, just two blocks away, Benjamin found a restaurant that wasn't filled to the brim with the breakfast crowd. Maybe he could get a grilled cheese or something. Briefly glancing inside, he didn't even see the 'closed' sign before he barged in.

"Oh."

He froze in place the moment he stepped inside the establishment. Noticing that there were no patrons there other than himself, Benjamin quickly deduced that the restaurant wasn't open yet. And that he burst in like a moron. He stared at the redhead sitting at the counter for a few seconds, and he had no doubt that it made her feel at least a teensy bit uncomfortable.

"Shit, sorry. I didn't realise you guys weren't open yet. I'll just..." Benjamin interjected his words with vague pointing towards the door. "I'll just leave now."

La Vie Boheme (Slice-Of-Life/City/'90s)

I like number 1.

Also, I'll be getting my first post up when I get home from school. :D

La Vie Boheme (Slice-Of-Life/City/'90s)

1996 here, do I win? :P

The only thing I remember is when I walked straight into a glass wall that one time.

La Vie Boheme (Slice-Of-Life/City/'90s)

Reserving a spot here. I'll have something up soon-ish. :D

Benjamin

Age: 26

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Bisexual

Occupation: Street Violinist

Apartment Description: Benjamin shares a two-bedroom studio apartment with three other people in the seedier parts of East Village. He tries to keep his part of the flat clean and presentable, though it somehow always ends up as cluttered as the rest of the house anyway. The apartment itself is pretty dingy; with peeling wallpapers and creaky floorboards. The windows are almost never open, and the air usually hangs thick with dust. Heavy curtains stop all but a few streams of sunlight to leak through. There's a little TV that looks like it came from the 70s in the living room, but no one ever watches anything on it — whether it still works or not remains an unanswered mystery. Basically, it's not the perfect living situation. In fact, it's kind of a shithole, considering the place smells of weed 24/7, but he tolerates it because of the dirt cheap rent.

Personality: A recluse by nature, Benjamin does not often associate with his peers. At social events he is withdrawn and quiet, although if approached by an acquaintance, he will open up considerably. Whilst he isn't a malicious nor particularly cruel individual, Benjamin has a tendency to adopt a patronising or cold demeanour because it is expected of him. Internally, he is a soft and gentle soul, but whose own loneliness is crippling and may very well be his undoing should some form of intervention not occur soon.

Very bright and astute, Benjamin's sense of humor tends to be dry and sardonic. He often takes the role of the "sidekick" in inter-personal relationships; it must be noted that he does not subconsciously yearn to be in the spotlight, but instead is comfortable in a supporting role.

While Benjamin is for the most part reserved, his temper is his biggest downfall. Anything can agitate him when he’s in a mood, and when it gets bad enough, he lashes out in violence that can do quite a number on people or things in general. These ‘episodes’ are short-lived though, and he always feels guilty about it afterwards. He keeps mostly to himself, having few friends over the years; it doesn’t help that he has a hard time trusting people in general. Benjamin doesn’t open up right away, preferring to keep everyone at arms length until he has no other choice but to let them get close. Benjamin is hard to like, much less to love but to those he considers friend, he's the person you want at your side when times get rough.
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History: Born to conservative Mormon parents in Salt Lake City, Utah; the young Benjamin Harrow was always just a tad different from his peers. Creative and free-spirited, he did not fare well in structured classroom settings, and so, he always seemed to catch onto the material just a hair slower than those around him. All the same, he read avidly, and thus, in his own obscure way, he proved quite an intelligent child. Nevertheless, he could never focus his abilities in any clear direction.

All the same, he was a friendly, almost unfailingly polite child, and while he was not necessarily shy, he did have difficulty interacting with people his own age. Soft-spoken, and pacifistic, he became a bullying target young, and at home, Mr. And Mrs. Harrow offered very little refuge. Benjamin could use some roughing up; learn to stand up for himself. As a result of this method, by the time his younger brother Jacob was born, Benjamin had turned almost completely inward, spending more time with his violin and the family pet than with other human beings. Of course, he learned it all from his very protective, traditional parents. Projecting their own long-suppressed problems onto their son, his parents pushed many of their failed and forgotten talents on him; violin just happened to be the only one that stuck.

In many ways, Jacob became the family golden boy as the years passed, leaving Benjamin the black sheep. Academically-gifted, athletic, and outgoing, the younger brother stood poised to blossom into a popular and well-liked teenager, even at the young age of twelve. At age seventeen, Benjamin, however, found himself a social outcast with no real higher education prospects; barely passing, and working minimum wage as a busboy at a local diner. Still, he was a dedicated employee, and interacting with older people and more cosmopolitan travellers passing through his hometown, he found an audience with which to discuss literature and music.

One rainy afternoon, the eighteen year old Benjamin struck up a conversation with a young man from New York in town for a funeral. One thing led to another, and after a several day affair, he told Benjamin to look him up if he were ever in the Empire State. And as naïve and gentle as ever, Benjamin, having had one week of acceptance and companionship, found himself on a train heading east a few weeks later, leaving behind nothing but a note explaining everything.

Met with what was basically rejection by this man when he arrived, however, Benjamin, living only on his life savings, began to explore the city, hitting the club circuit and getting involved with the less than savoury crowds that latched onto him. Hungry for approval, he was easily taken advantage of, and at the age of twenty-one, lost close to everything he had.

Now, too ashamed to return home, Benjamin has cut off all contact with his family, vowing only to return after making something of himself. He shares an apartment with several other people, he barely manages to get by even with two jobs. But he tries to live each day one at a time — it’s all he can do.
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The Adventures of 221b Baker Street

Name
Sebastian "Basher" Moran

Age
37

Bio
Sebastian Moran came from old money. His father a famed ex-soldier with more honours and medals than shelf-space to display them, and his mother a simple house wife. The Moran estate was a vast expanse of land and luxurious, palatial mansion. Even as a child, Sebastian had always known that he wanted to be a soldier. His father often took him out on hunts, during which the young Sebastian showed an unusual affinity with long-range firearms. These hunting trips would be the only form of familial bonding that Sebastian and his father ever had.

Studying at Eton College, he forwent his final years to attend the University of Oxford. Sebastian begun a degree in International Relations in a last ditch effort to earn the respect and love of his Father. When that failed, Sebastian abandoned his degree and enlisted in the army reserves and climbed the ranks, quickly earning the notorious (and at the time playful) title of “The Most Dangerous Man in London.”

While he was serving in Afghanistan, he received a letter from back home telling him that his sister had died in the hospital after several physical abuse. Upon hearing the news of his father’s beatings being turned on his sister, Sebastian lost control. They were supposed to be his injuries, and he needed to protect his little sister. In his blind rage, he tore apart half his camp-site, shooting and killing one man and severely injuring eight others. His actions landed him not only a dishonourable discharge but a prison sentence. Sebastian's father, not wanting the Moran name to be soiled, used his connections and pulled some strings in order to keep the incident quiet and absolved him of his imprisonment.

When it became difficult to find work after discharge from prison and the army, he turned to hired killing. His clean, quick and discreet kills quickly drew attention in the criminal world and he was picked up by one Jim Moriarty.

Working as Jim’s right hand man, Sebastian is the one who hands out the orders that Moriarty is too busy to give, takes kills that require the most delicate of discretion and handles “firing” any employee Moriarty finds tiring. Now he is referred to as “the Second Most Dangerous Man in London” and he is perfectly content with that.

Job
Hired gun and Moriarty's personal bodyguard.

Personality
Anyone who knows Sebastian knows that what you see is what you get. He’s never been the type to hide behind shrouds of mystery, of playing games and manipulating people to get what he wants. He was raised to be a straight shooter. While he knows the importance of lying and putting on a facade in the business world, he doesn’t really respect those who do it in real life. Nothing pisses him off more than when he thinks he’s being lied to or being manipulated.

He’s impulsive as the day is long and says and does things on a whim, especially in his personal life. Sebastian's quite the man with mood swings, even if he has some measure of control over them, making him highly unpredictable. He can be fine and normal for one and belligerently mad the next. Some people think his mood swings to be so spread out in spectrum that he's bipolar, but there has been no medical proof. Somewhat of an adrenaline junkie, he thrives on adventure and change, and those people who like things to stay in a certain order and live by routine bore him. That being said, he has his father’s temper. He’s never been one to back down from a fight. He’s quite the hothead, and very rarely if ever bothers to hide his emotions. He values those who are loyal, and has very little patience for apathy and unwarranted snark. As far as he’s concerned, if you’re going to be a dick, at least be funny about it.

Skills
He’s an extremely skilled marksman, and has an extensive knowledge of weaponry. Apart from that, Sebastian is an excellent hand-to-hand combatist, having been trained in various forms of martial arts. Plus, he is particularly good at thinking on his feet. There isn’t a moment of hesitation when he kills someone. A clear, concise plan always erupts in his mind before he has the ability to stop it.

Other
Sebastian has a scar running down the left side of his face, through his eye, and another one running perpendicular to it. As for tattoos, he has one of a Bengal tiger spanning the entirety of his back.