#also each job has certain things that could either help or perhaps hinder you later on in the game...not saying which or what with tho :3

[homecomingvn]

What all jobs can we decide to have in game?

I've answered this before somewhere, but I'll just reiterate here again! ^^

There are 4 job paths you can choose in game, those being:

Rewind Rental - You're a clerk, checking out customers' items and stocking up on movies, games, and records.

Grace's Diner - You're a waiter / waitress, serving your patrons a variety of homestyle cooking, collecting tips wherever you can.

Community Pool - You're a lifeguard, days spent in the sun as you watch over patrons, ensuring the highest quality fun and safety.

Camp Amber Creek - You're a camp counselor, your hands full of rowdy kids as you provide both a safe and fun environment to all your campers.

Henry will also work alongside you at whatever job you choose, but there are others you will work with as well, such as:

Nico at Rewind Rental.

Sandy at Grace's Diner.

Lyra at the Community Pool.

And Elijah at Camp Amber Creek.

[razorblade180]

An original story?

I finally have the time to answer the question @mrsevenplus7 asked about if I ever thought about creating an original story or world; the answer is most definitely! There’s several worlds over the years that I’ve created in my head and written things about. There’s one in particular that leans towards fantasy but still has realistic elements. (Keep in mind this concept was originally thought of when I was in middle and completely infatuated with RWBY/Final Fantasy. I’m in college now 💀) I apologize in advance for the words vomit.

Breakthrough

World building

This is a world that geographically speaking is much like ours. Rolling hills, scorching deserts, icy tundras, vast oceans, ect. Since the beginning, the make up of this world could be credited to eight elemental crystals. Fire, Water, Air, Earth, Lightning, Ice, Light, and Darkness.

Man since the beginning of their discovery of these crystals saw them as divine entities that helped them survive by giving them the potential to become stronger. It would’ve sound a bit ridiculous, if it wasn’t literally true. Around a certain age the human body gained an affinity to one of the crystals that manifested in a variety of ways. An ice user can be particularly skilled in creating objects out of the element while another used the property of snow. A fire user might envelope themselves in flames while a second user creates explosions. Even those with similar manifestations find unique ways to differentiate themselves through unique qualities of simple just being different people. It was quickly noticed the four basic elements were slightly more common than the others if only by a relatively small margin. Despite all the differences, one thing remained constant for all humans beings. An untapped potential that ran to the very essence of their power.

Many could feel this potential inside of them. These internal barriers that capped of the limits of their abilities. Some precived them as walls, while others envisioned them as chains or a fence but it was all the same. In time, people learned that with training of the body, the mind, their powers, and discovering a better idea of themselves, it was possible to overcome one barrier after another. They could break through and gain more power. This began an age of self improvement and technological advances. Knowledge was shared throughout the world. Civilizations expanded in even the most unlikely of places and it was common to mostly find people with the same affinity creating and living in places tailored for their needs.

Full blown cities that ran predominantly off of electricity. Fishing settlements and tribes that never feared the mysteries of the oceans thanks to their water control. Many other remarkable feats were achieved in the far future because of the power granted by the crystals. However, before humanity didn’t get to that glory over night. Before they reached the height of their progress they had to face the natural horrors of this world that went beyond the regular wildlife. The crystals might have given them strength, but it could also be the bane of their existence.

The elements itself had also taken the form of vast wildlife creatures that more often than not ruined what humans tried to build and seemed to have a natural aggression towards the species in general. Stallions made of earth with the power to cause tremors or mudslides as they stampede. Massive gust of winds that took the shape or large birds. Wolves that faded into shadows and stalked in the dead of night. Some “Elementals” were more difficult to dispose of then others but none could be taken lightly. A greater danger awaited once one was killed. Their bodies simply became like the element it was constructed out of and a black miasma like substance was expelled. Inhaling a small out was enough to hinder people and cause an incurable sickness that effects their powers. Inhale too much and your being would succumb and turn you into Humanoid Elemental that was devoid of any soul or the humanity they once had. All they had left was the strength they had acquired and a higher intelligence. It was one such monster that changed the course of history forever.

In universe lore

Something had happen back in the days where man was still getting the fundamentals tapping into their potential. Tales of a being in the form of a woman that had unlocked their full power spread across the globe. Not only that, but it had the power of all the elements and was laying destruction to any who barred its path. Such a tale was seen as just that, a tale. No one was ever that had the powers of each crystal. Also, such a person would surly had to have had some kind of spiritual balance if they had unlocked the end of their potential. Yet as ridiculous as it was, it soon couldn’t be ignored.

Slowly the weather became more treacherous. Stories of men, women, and children seemingly vanishing out of nowhere turned into entire villages being erased from the map. There was something out there and no one who has seen it lived to talk about it. The days themselves began to change which would bring on two more phenomena that were signaled by the moon. In the span of a month two events occurred. A blue moon that bathed the land in a light that enhanced powers for a full day. Then a red moon that did the same for the Elementals. All these strange things that could not be explained continued to raise more questions until humanity was given an answer in the form of a foe. Someone had finally lived to tell their tale. A battered man who was approaching deaths door.

He spoke about how a young woman with red eyes and ghost white hair came strolling into his village; the one closest to the wind crystal. The woman wore nothing but a worn out robe and her skin looked the color of bone. The only thing in her possession was an odd tool which would later be known as a scythe. Somehow she seemed drawn to crystal and new exactly where to go. His people forbade direct contact with it like all homelands did that were founded around it but she did not care. When warriors came to deter her, they were met with the same sight as anyone else. The look of a weeping women, then an instant death. The man didn’t see when she moved her arm but he felt the wind come off the attack before being sent flying and nearly blacking out. Barely conscious enough to see his people be slaughtered by Elementals of every type that obeyed her faithfully for she had created several before his eyes. The tale was true and terrifying. That woman continued to press on until it made contact with the wind crystal and caused the formation of a storm like no other. Not once did she ever smile. Only tears. But the man had seen something in her. An evil that ran deep and twisted as the darkest parts of humanity itself. Was this woman, this creature ever human? Or was it an Elemental that started off like this from the beginning? Stronger, faster, aware.....he asked it what it’s name was and it only said one thing. “Sin”

The man died shortly after telling the story but it had done the job it needed to, call people to action. Brave warriors everywhere rose to face this new threat and the beasts it brought along. Many of them confident in their unlocked potential to bring the being known as Sin down to its knees. Countless tried, and they failed. Hundreds upon hundreds either fell in a battle they weren’t prepared for or defending what they could. Soon all the crystals were thrown into a state of shock and the world ran rapid with extreme weather for years; humanity pushed to the brink and Sin vanished. It should’ve been the end. Until one day, one man met seven people and became legends.

This man have had enough of living in despair. Watching his people endure ever since the day he was born was painful. Being born in the tundra and granted power over ice meant weather was always an extreme to overcome from the start, but not like this. It was only possible with the help of trade from other villages which was all but destroyed. So he trained. He trained physically and mentally from the time he was a teenager until he was mid twenties like if it was his destiny to change things. Then one day he decided to finally put it to the test. The man traveled acrossd the icy landscape until he reached the coldest place near the center; the ruined homeland where the crystal still rest. Guarding it was massive and ferocious ice Elemental in the form of a snow fox. The man should’ve been dead on the spot. He was only armed with scythe as a way to tell the world that it could achieve power as boundless as Sin. Perhaps it was that belief that was the key. He slayed the beast and brought a calm to the crystal once more. It was a harrowing experience and he had partly a blue moon to think for it but he did it nonetheless. He showed the world that they weren’t gonna die so easily. And so began his journey.

The man sailed of to locate the other crystals and start putting the world back in order. Calming the crystal had brought him more understanding of his power and that brought greater strength. This brought him to a grassy plain where another who was tired of living in fear wanted to make a change and asked to join him on this quest. Despite how many times he denied this middle aged man the right to travel along, the ice warrior could not get rid of him! Days passed before they reached the wind crystal and encountered another deadly Elemental guarding it. This time it was a was a massive wind condor. The ice man thought beating it would be a simple task but he was wrong. It had nearly cost him his life if wasn’t for the older man by his side. Not only did he control wind as well, but he managed to deliver the final blow needed with the iceman’s scythe and brought another crystal to peace. He too seemed to have grown from the experience and found new strength. The two of them continued on as equals to save the world.

The power of wind meant sailing to the ruins of island of the water crystal possible without the destruction of their boat. However, they needed a proper guide of the sea and found that in a young women who also wanted to make a change. The three of them sailed of together and the beginning of a pattern started to form. It wasn’t that humanity had given up fighting, but finding those with the will and means to go on was scarce. It was hard to self improve when so much tragedy fell around you. Like the last two, an Elemental stood in their way but together they bested it and their new teammate managed to calm the crystal.

The cycle repeated. For each crystal they traveled to, someone eager and ready to join tagged along. Each time the ice warrior was wary but grew to appreciate their help. A menacing Elemental of unique form tried to kill them but never got the chance. They knew that it wasn’t just random animals either. It was always indigenous to the region and more importantly, had a sinister and potent miasma unleashed from them that was more dangerous than the regular foes they encountered. As the group slowly grew, they learned from each other. Their lives, likes, dislikes, training, skills, dreams, fears..... it was all shared. They had become friends. All of them more than capable of learning how to use a scythe in order to spread the ice warrior’s beliefs. Sometimes they faught but they would make up. The team eventually became eight strong; one for each crystal type. All that was left was light. Seven out of eight had gained exceptional strength from calming their crystal and they felt ready for anything. Not because of their individual strength, but because a new power they had discovered over the three year long journey of saving the world.

Working together, truly connecting with each other. It allowed for something that the warrior of water and darkness people believed in; they could use each other’s powers in combination with their own. The technique was difficult and way more straining than other things they had learned. Not to mention it was only possible to use one other power at a time, but done right had amazing results. Results they did not know they would need for the final Elemental. The group found themselves walking up a huge tower known as The Stairway to Heaven. It was here that the light crystal resided, but not guarded the same way as rest. No, instead it was guarded by a familiar set of blood red eyes and ghostly appearance. Sin stood in their way. It had been here the entire time. Only this time it was bathed in a brilliant holy light with seven dark pools around it. The aura it gave off was immediately recognized as whatever remained from the previous Elementals. Sin had divided its power in an effort to defend the crystal; all this time they had been fighting the being that was supposed to have vanished years ago. Now it was back at complete strength.

The group did not waver; not even the warrior of light who had still yet to awaken her power by the crystal. It was now or never. Save the world or die trying. The only thing left to do before the fight was ask why? Why had this creature throw the world into such chaos. “If you have the potential to do anything, why shouldn’t you do everything? Destroy it all and create from the ruble.” The answer was unsettling. Any person with simple morals and able to have achieved such power surly would’ve known being able to do something did not inheritly mean they should. The warriors asked what exactly was it. Human gone Elemental? An Elemental in the form of man? It simply grabbed itself and embraced the dark pools of its fallen counterparts. A range of emotions washing across its face before settling on a mournful expression. “I am the end result.”

The battle was fierce and savage. Nature itself seemed to scream as all it had to give was being used to clash with in a way, itself. Landscapes changed, wildlife ran, the battle could be seen for miles. Somehow in all the chaos the heroes managed to calm the final crystal; gaining a slight edge that slowly kept building. Sin had faced many people but none like this. It wasn’t their strength that overwhelmed it, or the eight to one odds. It was there teamwork; the bond allowed them to use each other’s abilities and perform feats like no one had seen at the time. Things that could not be learned alone. In the end, it led to Sin’s demise. A lethal blow dealt by all of them that render Sin unstable and fading, but with a catch.

“Power like mine does not fade. Sin does not fade....it festers” the miasma shot off into seven pieces once more and found its way into all the warriors except for the Ice warrior. Stricken with fear, he watched his closest friends writhe in agony as they desperately tried to hold onto their humanity as temptation at away at their soul. Wrath, Lust, Pride, Gluttony, Sloth, Envy, and Greed. Still connected through their bond, he couldn’t help but feel all the suffering inside of himself. What could he do? Was this really the end? Tears started to well up before a voice called out to him. “It’s okay...” it was the first to join his journey, the wind warrior. More called out to him. “Don’t let this be in vain.” said water

“You know what you must do...” Darkness cried out.

“Trust our bond.” Earth said calmly

“Alone we might not be strong enough.” Lightning said wary.

“Together though, we’ll stand.” Light exhaled exhausted.

“So what are you waiting for?” Fire proclaimed.

All of them gave their leader one final look of relief; satisfied with the end results as they seem more radiant than any crystal. The leader had no words. Only resolve as he took hold of his weapon and stood ready. Their eyes said all that was left to be said. “I can’t believe we did it.” He made it swift, and cut them all down in one slice. The world was finally returned to normal.

Humanity rejoiced. Finally it could once again get on track to growing strong and mighty. Many searched for the brave heroes they had to thank for this accomplishment but only found their weapons; each taken and placed by a crystal in honor of them. As for the ice warrior, he simply vanished. No one could find him. When people eventually reached the ice crystal it had his scythe mysteriously placed there with no clue how. He must’ve been alive somewhere. Legend says the man took ahold of the seven sins and placed them inside himself for the sake of the world, but he did not lose his mind. He simply wandered off. That the bond he had with the team he grew to love was beyond death and kept the sins in check within him. It also said that the man spread knowledge of the abilities his friends cultivated and is why we have them today. Now anyone who dares learn how to wield a scythe do so in the heroess’ honor and belief that unlocking one’s full potential means facing the odds with comrades.

As for the fallen heroes, they are clearly not forgotten. Some people believe their will lives on apart of the crystal and will grant strength to a select few who rise to the challenge of beating the odds.

Phew 😅

That was more tiring than I thought. That was just explaining the world and some extremely important lore but I never actually talked about the main characters, the plot, how powers work on a more conceptual level, or the setting. Maybe I’ll make a second one of these if you all really, and I mean really want more. Looking back at this I have realized something staggering. Aspects from this story have bled over into my many AU’s. I’m talking down to the idea of mental headspace and two very specific characters that I know realize somewhat live through Yujin and Tenzen; fighting wise anyways. (Personality too for Yujin which is nuts and I don’t know how to handle that. They are even blonde.)

[smolbeandrabbles]

Somethin’ I’m Good At - Gerry x Reader (Mississippi Grind)

@sufferthesea​ - Not the one I had in mind, but one none the less ❤

I want to call this a Pre-Sequel to Diligence. Because it is a sequel, but it’s not the one that ‘Reason Why’ is waiting for.

Author’s Note: I remember telling @mandy23b​ that Brett Eldredge songs were to be earned, but then I went to see him in concert on Friday and this one smacked me in the face. And here we are...!

That isn’t to say Gerry didn’t earn this

Somethin’ I’m Good At - Brett Eldredge 

Disclaimer: Mississippi Grind Characters not mine / lyrics not mine / gifs not mine / lyrical liberties taken.

Premise: Having dated for a few months, Gerry knows for sure, there could be one thing he’s good at...

Words: 2056

Warnings: Fluff, mostly.

______

I'm a real bad liar, I'm a burnt toast kinda guy Or if I try to build a fire I'll burn the woods I ain't a mover or a shaker, can't keep up with the pacer Never met a dancefloor that ever did me any good I got a poor sense of direction, sometimes too strong of affection For a whiskey made in Lynchburg, Tennessee If there's a hole in my boat son, you bet that's all she wrote I'm a Titanic sinking down into that deep blue sea I can't change the world, no I can't change a flat If you give me your heart, girl, well, you may never get it back You said you'd never smile again, but oh no, here it comes Would you look at that? I finally found somethin' I'm good at

---

It'd been a few months down the line since your little talk over hot chocolate. When you'd given him your number, and he'd waited two days to call you. When you enquired as to what had taken him so long, he'd simply told you he didn't want to bother you on your day off. And you thought that maybe he hadn't quite grasped the point of you handing your number over.

 Gerry still used the cafe like an office. It was well frequented, but had long periods of quiet where - to him at least - there was little difference between this and being in the estate agents. Besides, most of the time he also had you here. And now he knew that all those small looks and gentle smiles were for him. Really for him.

 You didn't think you'd been in a relationship quite like it. Gerry was, as his demeanour would suggest, just adorable. You'd thought that before just watching him - but now he got to be yours, and somehow he could up the ante on that. The little I saw this and thought of you - which happened fairly often. Or, if you or he wasn't working or...  At least in the cafe on any particular day the I was just thinking about you... messages you'd get on your phone. And each one was sweet - unlike texts along those lines you'd ever got before.

He was cute, and according to a lot of people who had commented more than once, the two of you together we're even cuter.

 He liked watching you work sometimes - but also just liked leaving you to it, and he loved when you'd walk passed and just brush gently against him, or lace your fingers just long enough for it to be considered holding hands, until his arm refused to stretch after you or bend back any further. Or on occasion you'd even reach out and run your hands through his hair - and if he was busy concentrating on his laptop that was your favourite time to do it. Gerry longed for those fleeting moments the most, and you liked that sound he emitted and that excitable shiver as his heavily fixed concentration switched from whatever he was reading to the sensation of your fingertips.

Sometimes you'd stop by because he wanted to show you something, and you'd lean your arms on his shoulders and your head on his, and on occasion kiss his hair - and for a moment things didn't get better for him. But you didn't stop by all the time, and he didn't want to hinder your work either. He just liked being surrounded by you. Even if you were super busy and all he got was the scent of your perfume as you ran back and forth between tables. He would still smile absentmindedly and get to think about you.

 But, if you ever had a break between the busier and quieter shifts, or you got a full lunch break you still liked sitting with him. Gerry might have told you about the way he hyperfixated on things... How his obsession, and addiction, to gambling had all culminated and been put on... you. But if it was supposed to induce pressure, you never felt it. And he was the only consistently calm thing in the room. You knew he'd slide his laptop and notes to one side and give you his full attention as you told him about your day, or picked his brain for advice. He knew when you came first. If you had an issue, and what hadn't he been through!?, he likely had some kind of solution. He just liked seeing you smile - and being the cause of such a beautiful thing. Gerry knew just when to make the right joke, or be gentle and easy going, or get excited about something... He'd watched you so long he knew your emotions, your expressions... Your body language. That was something he’d picked up from tables that he could be thankful for. Perhaps he knew you better than you knew yourself - and he was only getting more used to it now you were dating. And that obsession meant he wanted to know everything, and help in whatever way he could. You were still responsible for keeping him from tables, after all.

Sometimes he still felt like he was gambling with feelings... It wasn't like Gerry could possibly know where this was going to lead.

 Sometimes he'd drop by for a few hours and then leave and come back, the way he used to when you'd have his coffee order ready for him by the time he crossed the parking lot. Only this time the name Gerry was accompanied by a heart, and he got to kiss you over the counter as he picked up the cup and left. ‘See you later’ really meaning that, even if he didn't return to the cafe.

When he did return from his house viewings though, he was always happy, and all he wanted to show you were these houses. And Gerry didn't miss out on one single detail, because sometimes pictures couldn't do any justice to it. You gotta hear about this one, it has the works!! He didn't seem like the type to get so excited about houses - even if he was an estate agent. And, usually, Gerry would agree with you... That was simply what his job happened to be. And he was just pretty good at it. But, he wasn't thinking about the people he was showing around, or even the houses themselves. (Heck, not even the pay check and well it's a job!) But he was thinking about aspects of those houses, and you.

It always came back to you.

What would you like to live in? What sort of house would you walk into and say this is where I want to be. Would it be with him? That's obviously where his thought process was going. But Gerry knew it was far too early to start asking you questions like that - and he kept it quiet. But secretly he'd show you these houses and take note of what you liked. Or, what caught your interest when he described them. If he could build up that perfect picture in his mind - he knew eventually it would come onto the market... Even if it was only close enough; and he'd find it.

 Back when you'd first had a real discussion, you'd talked about being therapy for him. But you didn't talk like any therapist he'd ever known. And he thought you were doing better for him than any therapist ever could. And sometimes those conversations got intense - and you took a lot of Gerry's emotions and burdens on for yourself. So he would pull you to him and cuddle you and end up reversing the situation. He was as much a remedy for you.

The end goal was just to see you smile again - he didn't matter what kind or how small - he'd count it as a win if he saw one. Usually it didn't take long, the second you were wrapped in his arms and one of his extensive collection of jumpers, you were almost always good to go.

 But today you were having a tough one, and he could tell that the second you sat down. You had this cheerful service front you put on. But Gerry knew all about fronting situations - and yours was a real poker face - so he'd been worried from the moment he'd heard it. Your shoulders slumped and you placed your head in your hands - exhaling loudly. "What's up?" This time he closed the laptop as he slid it across the table - and leant forward on his elbows "Nothing." You looked up at him "It's okay." Well, he knew - or at least from what he'd heard - that it wasn't customers, so it must have been personal. "You know you can tell me anything." He reached for your hands, "And you also know that you won't get passed someone who spent a lot of his life at card tables with a face like that-!" He meant your fake little smile; the only one he wouldn't accept seeing. "I dunno, I don't want to bother you with it." He gave a shrug "You might as well, I'm going to worry anyway." "Well that's really the last thing I want." Your eyes met his, "Me too, so just tell me." "I dunno... Maybe it's all in my head." "Boy trouble?" He raised an eyebrow, and you laughed - and it was score 1 to Gerry because that was genuine. "No, you know, for the first time in my life I actually don't have boy trouble." His smile became playful, "Good - had me worried for maybe half a second..." You ran your hands across the tabletop to his, and let him hold you between his; large hands enveloping yours safely. "I guess… I just… Sometimes I guess, it just feels like my friends would be better off without me… Then there’s times you miss one thing and you just feel totally lost.” You gave a shrug, “I don't think it's conscious - I can't blame 'em. I don’t blame them. But… If you go quiet for a while what happens? Does it show they care if they don't bother you because they are respecting your space? Make you think they don't care if they don't check in? Maybe I'm just fragile. I'm certain some of it's in my head." You looked to him "You ever get that?" Given that his hands were in yours, Gerry tipped his head as he began thinking; "I'm sure everyone wants to give you their 5 cents on it." "For sure, but I'm asking you." "Friends? I ran out of a lot of them a long while ago when I was incredibly bad at paying people back. Enjoy the ones you have. Remove the ones you no longer enjoy. Not worth risking your own health if it keeps happening, huh?" He gave a gentle smile, "Ask me and my... Acquaintances!" You smiled gently; "I'm not so great at forgiveness either..." or maybe you just weren’t good with the right words, sometimes you felt you found them a little too late… "Forgive those worth forgiving. Unless the bridge is well and truly burned… But that’s not my decision to make – is it?" "But what if my reaction-!" His eyes narrowed; "Hey. Who do you think I care about more?" "Me." "You." He nodded in agreement "So, whose side am I always going to be on?" That smile continued to grow as you realised what he was getting at "Mine." "Yours." His smile continued to coax yours out of hiding. "I'm happy to talk it out with you, but I want you to realise that all I'm going to want at the end of it is you happy..." "Well that's all I want for you, too." "Me?" He tipped his head once more, gentle sparkle in his eyes "Whenever I'm with you I'm happy. So, of course..." He chuckled "Yeah. I'm... I'm happy." But then he pushed it right back where it belonged; "Are you?"

There was silence for a moment as you looked between his eyes, and that prolonged smile on his face. That you were just as responsible for as he was the one manifesting on your own. You realised that it was a longer discussion for another time - but you knew that by what he was saying he'd help you as far as he could... But the decision was yours. Still, it was a million-dollar decision, and he'd probably made a billion of those in his life. Probably not always called right, so hopefully he'd help you with the right call. Even if that would be all your own.

 "I'm happy." And there it was, a genuine, beautiful, full smile. Almost a beam, but there was a soft blush across your cheeks as you admitted it all out loud. And he knew it wouldn't be long until he got it there.

Gerry wasn't good at much, he knew. But he sure was good at that.

---

@dennismitchell @happyskywhale @wltz-bby​ @3134045126​ #MendoTagSquad.

[naruto-oc-critiques]

Hi, I would like you to do a review of my oc (I have many and all are related), I have not finished yet I must correct many things, and my English has errors, anyway I would like you to see the idea in general. Thank you!

Hello, I’m Mod ATB, and I’ll be reviewing your OC! I’m very sorry that it took so long to post this review, and I really hope it won’t stop you from sending in any more questions.

Pretense: General

Name: Yuuhei (幽閉, Yūhei).  literally means “Confinement” “Imprisonment” “Incarceration” and “Depressed feeling”. I gave this name to Yuuhei to highlight his feelings and the way he felt in Sunagakure.

Gender: Male

Age: 14-15 (Part I)

Time set in:  Pt. I to Epilogue.

Birthplace: Land of Wind

Lives in: Sunagakure.

All of this looks good. I really like that his name reflects his personality, but I do wonder if any of his friends or allies notice the connection.

Appearance: light brown hair, almost blond, and green eyes. He has expanders in his ears and from an accident at the age of 16 years he takes some burn wounds on the right side of the face and parts of his arm, chest and back. This also causes loss of vision in his right eye.

I really like his design from the pictures you have posted on the OC wikia. His clothes are very simple, and the parts and colors work well with each other. I also like that because he has a scar on his face, it isn’t just for show and actually hinders him in some way. Good job.

Family: orphan

Occupation: ninja/informant

This is interesting to me, because I’ve never seen a character with a job as an “informant.” That isn’t a bad thing, either. 

Rank: Chunin

Team: Team Ryuzu (Leader: Ryuzu, Teammates: Himari, Hiroki) in Sunagakure, Kaizoku/Shingetsu (Leader: Hana, Teammate: Hotaru Tsukiji) after leaving. All are my ocs.

Relationships: For a long time he did not have a single friend, but was on good terms with everyone he knew because is very polite and thankful. He started to become more social after graduating from the academy and join some genin teams, however after some time he used to leave those teams because he did not feel comfortable then he were assigned to a new one. Thus he never formed meaningful bonds with their sensei or teammates. He makes friends by leaving Sunagakure, meeting Hotaru Tsukiji, Hana, Shiori (All my OCs) and Karin.

So he just decided to “leave” teams? I don’t think the village would allow that unless there was a really good reason. And if it happened multiple times they would likely start questioning his value and reliability as a shinobi.

I do think having him switch teams constantly is possible. Using his occupation as an informant, it could be that he is specifically picked by the Kazekage to rotate through different teams for a reason. Maybe it could tie into his training, or it could also be because the Kazekage doesn’t want Yuuhei to form meaningful bonds, which could possibly cause Yuuhei to perform his informer duties better.

At any rate, it could work, but it would be better if Yuuhei left teams because he had to and not because he wanted to. I mean, he could still want to leave teams, but he can’t actually leave them unless he has permission from an authority figure (who, in this case, would be the Kazekage).

Personality: is a calm guy, silent, and mysterious. He is not an emotionless person but shows no affection for anything. Neither shows hatred, so he is not a sadistic person or want to hurt any creature without reason. He believed himself incapable of feeling love and appreciation for others or even himself. Not finding much value in life, sometimes he can risk dangerous situations. He does not try to die or suffer, but it is difficult to control the impulse since his way of thinking is different from usual.

His quiet and distant behavior has been very attractive for some girls. He does not care about girls, but he does feel physically attracted to them.

He became someone very bleak after the accident in which he obtained his facial markings, however he recovered gradually thanks to the friendship of Hotaru. Thanks to that became more social. In this way he was relieved to notice that he did have feelings. With time he improve and realized that if he had come to love and appreciate some people and start a relationship with Hotaru.

From what I can gather, Yuuhei seems like he is an apathetic person. At least in the beginning. But I could be wrong because all of my psychology knowledge is from Google. His search for meaning in life and his lack of self-worth are also related to apathy, and I think it was a good idea to add them into his character. 

His impulse to jump into dangerous situations, I think, is a good flaw. And I think it’s an interesting aspect to tie into his assumed apathy. I will suggest that you add how this trait affects those around him, though. Did some of his past teammates dislike him for taking those kinds of risks? Did they not trust Yuuhei perhaps? If people viewed this trait negatively and Yuuhei was aware of that, it could also tie into his insecurities and detachment from others.

I actually like that girls find his “calm and cool” exterior attractive, not only because it reminds me a little of Sasuke, but because it shows how ignorant we as humans can be towards another’s internal struggle.

It’s good that he improved over time with help; I’m glad he doesn’t stay static for all of his life.

Overall, I think his personality is good, and I really like the direction you’ve taken it. 

History: rescued by Sunagakure ninjas from the arms of his dying mother. He became a ninja looking for a meaning in his life, he considered that he owed it to the village.

Yuuhei graduated as genin at 11 years of age because the Kazekage wanted to have as many active shinobis in the village as possible. Yuuhei had no particular interests, he just trained or studied to pass the time, not because it was his hobby, this helped him to improve, he highlighted as a talented ninja.

This sounds good. The only thing I could suggest is expanding on why he wanted to search for meaning in his life. Did hearing about how he was found by Sunagakure or the death of his mother affect him in any way? On that note, maybe expanding his mother’s death a little could help in answering that question.

Genin.

Upon graduation he joined several genin teams with which completed a few missions but after some time he used to leave the team.

At the age of 13, Ryuzu a jonin-level shinobi, asked him to form a new genin team, along with Himari and Hiroki, two kids one year younger than him. Despite not interact much with his teammates, they were very consistent during training and to fulfill the missions even though they were inferior than him in skill. He felt very comfortable.

At the age of 15 years Yuuhei was with his team in the chunnin exams. Yuuhei was the most qualified of his team. His cold and mature attitude was the most noted skill being what was expected of a Sunagakure shinobi also many feudal lords made money betting on his behalf, so that was praised by very powerful people. Ryuzu was aware of the difference in level so he saw Yuuhei as his substitute at times.

All of this seems good, but I will again mention the suggestion I made regarding his constant team changing.

Having a powerful authority figure, such as the Kazekage or one of the council, notice his talent could really strengthen certain parts of his backstory. And, you wouldn’t really have to change much in the process, but of course that is up to you to decide. 

Chunin.

In one of the many missions that completed the Team Ryuzu, they met with several renegade ninjas who had intentions to kidnapping them for information about Sunagakure. Yuuhei as leader took command of the battle and managed to beat 2 of the 4 ninjas they faced, however Himari and Hiroki had problems. When Himari was about to be defeated, and while she was helpless on the floor about to fall victim to a powerful fire release technique, Yuuhei intervened and was hit by it. A powerful fire enveloped him causing great burns especially on his face. Himari ended up murdering the ninja who had attacked her, while the other one fled seeing himself at disadvantage. With Yuuhei immobilized with pain in the ground, his teammateds went to help him. Hiroki had to calm Himari who was in shock for what happened. When she calmed down sheheard Yuuhei’s request, he wanted the girl to faint him with her jutsu (An electric shock).

At the Sunagakure’s hospital, Yuuhei was treated and healed, although the burn marks on his body would be permanent. This depressed him a lot and it was what unleashed his anger against his teammates

Ryuzu went to see him at the hospital, feeling very guilty for not having been there to help them, however Yuuhei did not seem to mind.

His teammates received his fury, he blamed them for being very weak and having caused him to end up in the hospital. Irritated by the insistence of Himari confessed that he had no feelings, that he doesn’t considered her a friend

After leaving the hospital, Yuuhei felt the eyes of the villagers as he walked through the streets of Sunagakure. Rumors about the incident had already spread all over the place. Ryuzu and Hiroki tried to cheer him up without success. Some time later Yuuhei decided to leave the village and abandon his activities as a ninja, which informed Ryuzu and Hiroki. They tried to change his mind but they did not succeed. Himari try to convince him too, but Yuuhei, far from feeling sorry, indirectly threatened her to death. Gaara interceded in this talk, since upon learning of Yuuhei’s declaration of “having no feelings” he began to fear that he would attack the village so he kept him under surveillance. Yuuhei denied having bad intentions against the village and without more detail left the place, leaving an empty space in the Team Ryuzu forever.

So I think taking his frustrations out on his teammates is a good conflict and shows that Yuuhei does have frustrations. I think expanding on how Himari felt would be good, because she took the most of his anger. But doing so wouldn’t be necessary; it would just be decent filler.

The only think I want to point out is Yuuhei leaving the village. Before he can do that, he HAS to have permission from the Kazekage. If he does not and leaves anyway, he would be abandoning the village and thus become a traitor and hunted. I do like that Gaara is suspicious of him, but I also think adding in if he allowed Yuuhei to leave the village would clear up this misunderstanding.

Kaizoku.

Time after, Yuuhei in a forest he heard that three people fighting approached. At first he decided not to intervene but after seeing they were fighting for money and noted that it might be helpful decided to get involved. He helped a girl to beat two man and ask her for the money but she refused. He recognized her from the chunin exams, the girl was Hotaru, a kunoichi from Takigakure who had fought and lost against Himari. She told him that if he wanted her help to get money it could be a good haul in a nearby village. Yuuhei felt some resentment since chuunin exams towards the aristocracy after seeing some feudal lords betting on the life of the ninja who defended their countries for what he thought would be a good way to show  himself against the system, then both decided to go for it. That night they stayed together camping in the woods. Yuuhei revealed that he knew and remembered her from chunnin exams, however Hotaru had not recognized him by the bandages on his face. she inquired about why someone with a promising future as a ninja as it was Yuuhei had decided to leave his village, to which Yuuhei revealed the way that he felt at Sunagakure, as if he doesn’t belonged to that place. Both felt connected by that feeling and began to forge a friendship. Later traveling together decided to form a team: Kaizoku (海賊, Pirate) but generally were engaged in theft and fraud, were sometimes recruited for some missions with dark purposes.

Traveling in a forest in the Land of Fire, Yuuhei and Hotaru met with Hana, she asked them if they would be willing to work for her. Hotaru did not trust Hana, but Yuuhei decided to follow her to know was up to. So, Hana led them to Mori no Uta, an inn hidden by genjutsus and traps under the forest. There, she presented them to the owner of the place, Shiori. Both told them they could stay and live there by paying the stay and food to the fulfillment of some special missions. Kaizoku happened to be in charge of Hana, Shiori’s subordinate. This showed them to fulfill the missions that were usually on kidnapping, extortion and theft of information. Kaizoku became a more dangerous team.

Later during a mission Hotaru was kidnapped by Otogakure ninjas (Shiori had sold information about her clan, but they never knew it) he went to rescue her. When he take her out of her restraints, she woke up a little and expressed surprise that Yuuhei had not abandoned her and that he cared for her. Since fleeing the base, Orochimaru made his appearance, was very interested in Yuuhei and told him that he would win a lot of power and he was sure that he would return sooner or later so let them go. Yuuhei wanted more power. He believed that his strength was the only thing that represented him, the only thing he was and seeing people so superior to him as Gaara, Hana, Shiori or Orochimaru made him feel that his existence had no sense. After Hotaru recovered, he asked her to accompany him to seek Orochimaru again, there Orochimaru put a curse mark on him. There both met Karin who was in charge of some experiments also Suigetsu who was trapped in a capsule. When the curse mark seized the body of Yuuhei, he was out of himself. He had begun to attack everyone and was too powerful to stop easily. Hotaru met Hiroki and Himari, they were on a mission in the area. The three decided to go to face Yuuhei, but could not do it and had to hide again. In the end, Karin was able to stop him.

Time after returning to Mori not Uta, Hana informs Yuuhei that there is a great operative from Sunagakure in search of the position of the inn and sends him to intercede, since the leader of that operative is Hiroki, his old teammate. A fight between her and the old companions of Yuuhei: Hiroki and Himari, start, it extends to the outskirts of the inn and culminates with the death of Shiori. After this end, Hana agrees to a secret alliance with Sunagakure and rename the inn “Massakari”. Yuuhei becomes the main informant of Sunagakure, outside the village. Although he is actually a double agent, since his loyalty is with Hana. So sometimes they omit information to benefit Massakari.

In the war Kaizoku were informants for The Intelligence Division but they were not official members. Halfway, Yuuhei and Hotaru met face to face with Himari and Hiroki. The atmosphere became somewhat tense but no one dared to say anything and when they could react, the light of the Infinite Tsukuyomi had wrapped everything. During the infinite Tsukuyomi, Yuuhei dreams of his life almost as it really was. Living far from Sunagakure and next to Hotaru. During this dream new hidden feelings begin to emerge, he becomes involved in the beginning of a relationship with Hotaru. Upon awakening he finally realizes that he has fallen in love with her.

After the war, his activities continued normally in Massakari, which was slowly becoming a village (governed by the same rules as the main inn). On several occasions his former teammates were sent to Massakari to control the area, eventually their relationship improved and Yuuhei forgave them. In addition he could start a relationship with Hotaru.

In the epilogue his teammate is still Hotaru with whom he has a relationship. His personality is quieter and friendly now. He is still an informer of Sunagakure, so sometimes he travels alone due to this and it is difficult to find him. In general, he feels happy with his life and likes to explore the world but still calls Massakari his home.

The majority of this is fine. I also really like that Yuuhei and his teammates fix their relationship with each other.

BUT

Yuuhei becoming an informant of Sunagakure would not really work. This is why I brought up if Gaara allowed him to leave the village, or if Yuuhei left without permission. I find it hard believe that the Kazekage would let someone who abandoned the village work as an informant, because of the chance the missing-nin could be a double agent working against the village.

If Gaara willingly let him leave, it could work. All it would take was rearranging some events, such as: Gaara let him leave the village as a informant/spy; Yuuhei teams up with Hotaru during his travels, making sure to keep his thefts and frauds secret; he got involved with Hana and Shiori at Mori no Uta; and then became loyal to Hana. Everything else would play out as you already have it from that point on.

If he just left the village without warning, odds are that he would be hunted as a traitor, which would make it unlikely that he would be accepted back to the village.

But, this is just a sugesstion.

Abilities: He has a remarkable ease of handling weapons and melee combat. Yuuhei specializes in Ninjutsu of the element fire and earth. So weapons are more of a complement. He also has the ability to summon scorpions.

Short and to the point. I would note any weaknesses that he might possibly have, such as how his sight affects him in battle or if he has a weakness in genjutsu. I would also describe what is is that his scorpion summons do.

Other than adding some specifics, this looks good.

Other: http://narutooriginals.wikia.com/wiki/Yuuhei

OVERALL: I really enjoyed Yuuhei’s personality the most; he comes off as a lost soul, which are characters I tend to enjoy. Besides the one thing I mentioned about being a double agent, there’s not really any glaring problems with him or his backstory that I can further comment on.

But, if you do have any more questions or want more feedback, feel free to send in any questions! Thanks so much for sending this in, and I hope this review helped you in your OC making endeavors.

[marchonpentagon]

As downtown Columbus grows, so do parking challenges. What should be done?

Feb. 10–As downtown Columbus continues to grow adding new apartments and businesses, with it comes pressures on parking that are causing angst among those working and playing in what is referred to as the Uptown district.

On-street parking has become a challenge, in particular for those working and doing business in the district. That includes perceived aggressive enforcement of timed parking zones, with a violation that can set a downtown worker or customer back $40 for an initial ticket.

The city counters that while there is limited street parking, there is plenty of space available in downtown parking garages. That includes the free RiverCenter deck that is underused by the public despite a short block-or-two walk from most area businesses. There also is garage parking for a small fee on Bay Avenue and and free first floor parking in a garage on Front Avenue. Meanwhile, those who live downtown pay $25 per year for unlimited street parking.

Officials say they are working to find solutions to the problem.

Erin Widick, owner of Posh Peach, a woman’s clothing and accessories boutique in the 1100 block of Broadway, said something needs to be done to make parking more convenient for people shopping and dining downtown. Widick said she’s also concerned about employees who find themselves facing $40 tickets that double in cost if not paid within 10 days.

"We have customers, weekly, that complain about not being able to find parking, having to drive around multiple times," she said. "It’s a big inconvenience for customers that can’t find a parking spot and have to park a couple of blocks away just to come shop with us. So we have seen a noticeable decline in sales and in customers coming down here because of the struggle."

Widick, who did not provide specifics about a decrease in sales, said that as Columbus State University has grown, parking has become squeezed even more. The university added a new Health Sciences building in 2017 to existing music and theater schools downtown.

Madison Morgan works in the administrative office of a downtown restaurant. Morgan said the changes have left her and others holding $40 tickets with the fine doubling if they aren’t paid within the first 10 days. She said she has gotten four parking tickets.

"We only have two-hour parking (close by)… our servers have to be here at 10. Whenever they are working their shift they can’t leave to go move their car," Morgan said.

She said she knows there are parking garages available, but they are not convenient enough for most people.

"I think parking meters wouldn’t be a bad idea," she said.

Enforcement takes place on weekdays

Downtown parking enforcement encompasses a relatively small area, starting at Bay Avenue near the Chattahoochee River east to Third Avenue, and from Ninth Street north to 14th Street. Much of the parking district has 2-hour limits, while there are some 4-hour and 8-hour zones scattered within it, as well as reserved parking areas.

The 2-hour zones are in the busiest portions of downtown, such as on Broadway and the streets feeding into it. The hours for those zones are from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, which are the primary hours that the city’s parking enforcement officers cruise the area seeking violators to parking ordinances.

Though new to downtown, Melissa Johnson, manager of the Rocket Fizz store that recently opened on Broadway, said the prospect of receiving a parking ticket is enough to keep her from leaving her vehicle in one of the 2-hour zones. She said she also doesn’t want to hinder any customers trying to get to her store.

"Parking is an issue, definitely," she said. "I also want my customers to be able to park in front of the store. If I’m going to lose a sale because I’m parked out in front of the store, I don’t want to park there."

Some see enforcement as a problem

Reynolds Bickerstaff, board chairman of Uptown Columbus Inc., which focuses on developing and marketing the area, said the issue of parking and what he and others view as overly aggressive enforcement of the parking zones has become problematic.

"What’s happening now is people are getting tickets at 2 hours and 2 minutes in the 2-hour parking zones," he said. "They’re intentionally monitoring certain areas where they think there will be easy violations. You can’t park in the same block for more than two hours. So if you park and move your car 10 spaces down, you’ll get a ticket for doing that. How’s anybody supposed to know that rule?"

Bickerstaff said Uptown Columbus in recent years convinced the city to make parking in the RiverCenter garage free, but the city hasn’t made a big push to funnel more people into the garage. He believes part of the solution might be installing parking meters or perhaps closing the 1000 block of Broadway to traffic — the most vibrant area of Broadway — to encourage visitors to use the nearby garage more.

"We’ve heard from merchants that will have customers ask where they should park," he said. "They park on the street and if it’s during the week they go rafting and come back after a two-and-a-half hour trip and they’ve got a ticket waiting for them. So that’s not a good way to send somebody home from our community. (Parking options) have got to be simple for visitors to understand."

Transportation chief emphasizes free garages

Rosa Evans, Columbus’ director of transportation, believes a key piece of the downtown parking puzzle is getting residents and visitors to use the parking garages that are available to them. They often go unfilled, with the RiverCenter deck free to use and the Bay Avenue garage costing $2 per day. The first two floors of the CSU garage off Front Avenue also are free to the public.

"A lot of people don’t know that the parking garages are available," Evans acknowledged. "The one thing I want to see happening and I’m going to put forward on our end is to talk about the parking availability at the garages. We’ve got it on our website, and we’ve talked about it in meetings with Uptown and they’ve tried to help get the word out. But we’re going to do a better job letting people know where they can park in the garages."

She said that effort will include working with Uptown Columbus to market the parking amenities more to the public. The city also has recently released a video on Columbus Consolidated Government Access Television that covers specifics of parking in downtown and the role of enforcement in the district. The parking video also is available via YouTube.

Evans disputes the notion that her parking enforcement officers are being too aggressive with tickets while patrolling the downtown area, particularly during lunchtime. She could not immediately provide the number of tickets written in the Uptown district for the most recent fiscal year ending June 30.

She said there are five or six officers on the job now and at some point schedules may overlap with more than one officer in the area.

"That may be one of the reasons it seems like they’re aggressive. It could be an overlapping time with their schedules," she said. "I don’t think that there’s any intention of picking lunch hour to ticket people. If that vehicle is past that (expired) time, they have to do their job."

‘People have to get accustomed to changing a habit’

The Ledger-Enquirer rode along with an enforcement officer recently as he made his rounds. He spotted a vehicle in an area on Ninth Street, adjacent to the city’s Government Center, that was parked in a spot reserved for media. A man approached to find a ticket on his windshield, then asked the officer if it was $40, ultimately shaking his head and spouting, "Jesus," before quickly jumping in his vehicle and driving off.

The enforcement officer then proceeded to 12th Street across from the federal courthouse building, where he marked each vehicle’s rear wheel with chalk and entered its tag number into a device. The two-hour time limit had begun during the lunch hour. A check of the same line of vehicles just over two hours later found only one in violation.

Evans pointed out that downtown is growing steadily and, like other cities that are adding people either through additional housing or visitation, there can be a parking learning curve that goes with it.

"People have to get accustomed to changing a habit," she said. "Every place I go and visit, parking is always a premium. And it’s not unreasonably far to walk a couple of blocks in most places that you visit, (walking) two or three blocks for parking. If I go to Atlanta, I can walk farther than that."

The transportation director also said she is working to get CSU and its researchers involved in a study this year to look at parking in the downtown area to determine if changes and improvements need to be made. She hasn’t approached Columbus Council with any details yet, but would like to see a study launched this spring, with Uptown Columbus also involved.

Uptown internal assessment focuses on parking

Ross Horner, president of Uptown Columbus, also oversees the Business Improvement District, which works to keep downtown clean and safe is keeping an eye on the issue.

"There was a lot of concern that when CSU was going to increase the amount of students down here that was going to have this big impact on Uptown," Horner said. "We’ve done assessments. They’re internal, not a full blown study. What we do is we have a spreadsheet where we have our ambassadors (staffers) go around block by block and check the availability of spaces. We never found that we were over 55 percent of our parking capacity. So we’re trying to find what the issue is. The issue is different for whomever you talk to."

That’s because of the diversity of who is visiting, living in and doing business in downtown, he said, as well as when someone is coming to the area and for a specific purpose. There may not be as many parking restrictions after 6 p.m. during the weekdays and on weekends in general, but that doesn’t mean parking can’t be an issue for many during special events. The issues are harder to pinpoint, he said, because it’s different for everyone.

"We’re changing dramatically every six months. And six months from now we’re going to look really different down here. We’re going to almost double the amount of people who live down here, and we’ll continue to bring in new businesses," Horner said.

Widick, the owner of Posh Peach, said she would like to see specific 15-minute parking areas for customers of her boutique and other stores and restaurants so customers could park, run in grab their merchandise or lunch order, then depart quickly for the next customer. She also would like to see parking tickets for first-time offenders reduced from $40 to $20.

"You have a ton of young people down here, service industry people, college students, and that $40 ticket is a big hit to them," she said. "And then you only have 10 days to pay it before it goes to $80. So they should lower the price of the tickets to something more affordable."

MORE YOU SHOULD KNOW

The enforcer: Downtown Columbus parking is enforced by the city’s Department of Transportation, which also managed the METRA transit system

The official rules: Parking ordinances can be found at https://library.municode.com/ga/columbus/

Know your zone: The 2-hour and 4-hour parking zones are in force 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, but not on weekends

What it will cost you: First time violations for expired parking is $40, which doubles to $80 if not paid within 10 days

Parking garages: The RiverCenter garage at 919 Broadway has 685 spaces, while the Bay Avenue garage at the corner of Front Avenue and 12th Street has 769 spaces and costs $2 to park all day. A third city garage at 1028 Front Ave. has 535 spaces, with the first floor free to the public, and there is the 9th Street parking lot adjacent to the Government Center with 125 spaces, also with a charge of $2.

More information: Details on downtown enforcement zones, including a map of the zones, can be found at https://www.columbusga.gov/metra/prkManage.htm

Vital tip: To avoid receiving a ticket in a parking zone downtown, vehicles must be moved across the street or around the corner. Simply moving a vehicle a few spaces away from its current spot keeps the vehicle in its current time allocation and eligible for a ticket once that 2-hour or 4-hour limit expires

___

(c)2019 the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer (Columbus, Ga.)

Visit the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer (Columbus, Ga.) at www.ledger-enquirer.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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