#verse . [ a modern criminal empire ]

[azmenka]

in modern, Maron is the kind of boyfriend who goes through stages when confronted with his so’s favorite girly TV show ( he’s not into TV shows to begin with )

Stage 1: the ‘nah, thanks’. he’s not interested. you watch your drama shows alone sweetheart, have fun

Stage 2: the ‘listens just a little’. he’s busy in the same room but occasionally listening. there’ll be a snort or a head shake every now and then

Stage 3: the ‘lingers in the doorframe’. he’s there, watching a little, but refuses to sit down

Stage 4: the ‘alright, five minutes’. he’ll sit down but stay on the edge of the couch. he also won’t watch the whole episode

Stage 5: the ‘this is still shit’. he’s on the couch, comfortable, watching. you currently don’t exist, sorry

Stage 6: the ‘yeah well, NOW I’m invested’. he has chips and a beer. he won’t even notice you braiding his hair while he monologues about how Colin Bridgerton is about as interesting as a blank sheet of paper

[yanlei]

music verse zed is just hs kayn's dad

(and uh a lead in some middle aged rock band probably)

[laiqualaurelote]

2023 Fic Round-up

This year I wrote seven fics and 108,512 words, which is more than I thought! Here's a round-up

maybe everything that dies someday comes back (The English | Cornelia/Eli | M | 14k)

The post-apocalyptic Mad Max Fury Road zombie AU where David Melmont hires bounty hunter Eli Whipp to track down and retrieve a fugitive called Cornelia Locke.

wins this year's award for: Fic That Fulfils My Childhood Dream (writing a zombie apocalypse)

ain't practical, a world you can't touch (The English | Cornelia/Eli | G | 5k)

The Pushing Daisies AU in which Eli can bring people back to life with his touch, but has tried his best not to until Cornelia.

wins this year's award for: Deepest Cut, Zagged

The Lady With The Recorder Asks The Questions (Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries | Phryne/Jack | T | 6k | WIP)

Modern-day newsroom!AU - Phryne is a star investigative journalist who breaks news as easily as she breaks hearts; Jack is just trying to do his best in the war on error.

wins this year's award for: Fic I Most Regret Not Finishing (I'm sorry!)

constant as a northern star (constantly in the dark) (Ted Lasso | Ted/Trent, past Trent/OFC | T | 10.5k)

The saga of Trent Crimm and his independent ex-wife.

wins this year's award for: Most Surprisingly Popular Fic

all the men and women merely players (Ted Lasso | Ted/Trent, Roy/Keeley/Jamie | T | 50k)

The Station Eleven!AU where the Richmond Players are a travelling Shakespearean company performing in the ruins of a post-pandemic England, and Trent is, despite the apocalypse, still a journalist.

wins this year's awards for: Longest Fic, Fic That Survived The Most Hiatuses, Fic I Am Proudest Of

well-versed in etiquette, extraordinarily nice (Good Omens, Historical RPF | Aziraphale/Crowley | G | 3k)

The Regency heist fic in which Jane Austen, criminal mastermind and aspiring novelist, pulls off the 1810 Clerkenwell Diamond Robbery with the help of a certain demon.

wins this year's award for: Quickest Fic (I wrote it in four days)

speak easy, swing hard (Marvel Cinematic Universe | Steve/Tony | T | 13k)

The 1920s Prohibition era!AU in which Tony runs a nightclub empire, Steve is an aspiring artist and/or questionably undercover agent, Sam and Bucky are bootlegging their way through America and nobody knows what Natasha is up to.

wins this year's award for: Most Historical Research (I watched two seasons of Boardwalk Empire and had to figure out multiple characters' speech patterns, then transpose these to the 1920s. Also I listened to so much vaudeville)

I don't think I will be around as much in 2024, barring unexpected hyperfixations, but I wish you all a glorious year anyway! May your WIPs be finished, your ships prolific and your fandoms full of joy.

[caointeag]

slowly working on updating my verse info across the board, i have these written up so while i'm working on the rest and getting them in linked for ref and shit here's the summaries for now:

Hoarded by the fiercest dragon — married to @lvscinvs / default green side interaction HOTD verse. Viserys on one of his vision/Aegon’s dream benders decides it would probably be a good idea to strengthen the Targaryen relationship with the North and Otto seeing an opportunity to also potentially strengthen his own side’s associations with other Great Houses. So Otto helps to facilitate an arranged marriage with Bernard Stark and Aemond and Lyarra are betrothed at 10 and 15 respectively. It’s left at that for a while with an agreement she’d be sent down when Aemond was more of an age to court and marry. Then about 3 years later Cregan assumes his title of Lord of Winterfell and 2 years after that he throws his uncle into the dungeons and deems him a usurper which drags the arranged marriage back into contention. Finally it all gets sorted out and Cregan begrudgingly agrees to honor the arrangement and he sends Lyarra south. The two betrothed first meet when Aemond is 15 and Lyarra is 20 and very quickly agree to be allies against this marriage even if they’re forced to go through with it. They wed when Aemond is 16 but don’t consummate or even pretend to, instead living separate lives and slowly becoming friends as they find out how much they really have in common. Eventually they earnestly fall in love and decide to have a true marriage, having both Northern and Valyrian wedding ceremony to mark what they considered the actual start of the marriage since neither actually followed the Faith of the Seven. Modern — A history major at [whichever prestigious uni is most useful to facilitate plotting]. She runs a podcast similar to “Weird Medieval Guys” or “Cunk on Britain” where she talks about real history in dumb and funny ways. She still helps a lot at the family businesses which usually involves something very outdoorsy since their father believes in being hands on despite how wealthy they are. Is planning for a PHD since she has no actually marketable skills outside of organization and terrorizing people into submission. Ran an online criminal empire off of Webkinz as a child without even realizing it was illegal, would consider doing it again now that she does (she’s thought about it and her business model was sloppy and she could do better). Ameliaverse — based in @wornkindness 's lore and can also act as a fantasy verse less tied up in a the aso.iaf crap. Oldest daughter of King Avery’s most trusted advisor lord Edward Stark, Lyarra is one of Princess Amelia’s Ladies in Waiting. She and Amelia have been friends their whole lives, making her an obvious choice for one of the princesses most trusted assistants.

[tiredassmage]

giggling and kicking my feet. oh i lOVE THESE!! thamk you for the tag @eorzeashan! <3

BOLD the FACTS

bothering the man, the myth, the legend, the og~ this will not stop me from wanting to do more blorbo. nor verses of blorbo.

PERSONAL

Financial: wealthy / moderate / poor / in poverty

Medical: fit / moderate / sickly / disabled / disadvantaged / non-applicable

Twenty-some years (and counting) of intelligence work has its moments. While largely still ready for field work at a moment's notice, history with the Castellans and then Valkorian's influence don't play well with his habit of being a workaholic, nor his... equally bad habit of trying to work through headaches and occasional bouts of insomnia.

Class or Caste: upper / middle / working / unsure / other

Education: qualified / unqualified / studying / other

Criminal Record: yes, for major crimes / yes, for minor crimes / no / has committed crimes, but not caught yet / yes, but charges were dismissed

Nebulously, 'Cipher Nine' may or may not be connected to some of his work, but the fact that he's still among the Republic's 'most wanted' does imply a slight lack of proof. Or ability to actually bring him in. (And maybe there's still a part of him that's amused by it and maybe just a smidgen proud about it, okay?) We're also not talking about the implied treason. If the Empire ever caught his, ah. Affiliations. :))

FAMILY

Children: had a child or children / has no children / wants children

The slightly shorter answer is he hasn't. thought about it a lot, but he'd like to, when it crosses his mind. It's the Shelter Dog Rizz (TM) and also that this man has a mentor streak a country mile wide and just doesn't have a lot of opportunities to realize it. Ough, which version of events? xD When this idiot finally retires, there are two daughters whom he will definitely build blanket forts with and "accidentally" teach Huttese swears and insults to because they argued Hyroh didn't know, etc. etc. [Sunasa grows up too fast and will always be his baby girl and Kas is going to be taller than him and completely capable of breaking arms by herself and he's going to worry about both of them. Forever.]

Relationship with Family: close with sibling(s) / not close with sibling(s) / has no siblings / sibling(s) is deceased

Tyr, your complicated family ties. Tyr has no biological siblings, but his adopted sister, Mavis, and him haven't spoken since before his time in the Academy and they were almost always more antagonistic than not. I wouldn't be surprised if they never referred to each other as siblings. They more so just. happened to grow up in the same household.

Affiliation: orphaned / abandoned / adopted / disowned / raised by birth parent(s) / not applicable

Again, complicated, lmao. The official story is orphaned and adopted. The actual story is... given up in an effort to protect him from the trappings of life as an intelligence operative. [Sorry, Keeper. You tried.]

TRAITS & TENDENCIES

♦ extroverted / introverted / in-between

♦ disorganized / organized / in-between

♦ close-minded / open-minded / in-between

♦ calm / anxious / in-between / highly contextual

♦ disagreeable / agreeable / in-between

Tyr has. always flirted with the line between respectful and 'with all due respect, which is none' blatancy. He knows he can't outright bite the hands on the leash. Doesn't usually mean he's entirely pleased with complacency.

♦ cautious / reckless / in-between / highly contextual

I was going to give him cautious, but this man is incredibly ride or die. When he says, I'll do anything for you, try not to test. how far he'll go about that. It's damn pretty far.

♦ patient / impatient / in-between

♦ outspoken / reserved / in-between / highly contextual

Again, he. flirts with the edge. Depends on who he's around.

♦ leader / follower / in-between

♦ empathetic / vicious bastard / in-between

♦ optimistic / pessimistic / in-between

♦ traditional / modern / in-between

His taste on how intelligence work should be handled - with field operatives trusted to do their job has historically gotten him in, ah. arguments. He's of an older guard in that way and he knows it and he's not keen to let anyone forget it. But as far as Imperial policy is concerned... Well, that's what a little treason can be good for the soul for. Maybe. You didn't hear that from him.

♦ hard-working / lazy / in-between

♦ cultured / uncultured / in-between / unknown

♦ loyal / disloyal / in-between / unknown

Loyal like a fucking dog - to actual ride or die levels. To people more than anything else. And, yes, to that... slightly more idealistic streak in him that's there no matter how much he tries to mask it in realism.

♦ faithful / unfaithful / in-between / unknown

In the spiritual sense? Not particularly. Again, loyal like a dog. Faithful to his found family pack His People to the bitter end.

BELIEFS

Faith: monotheist / polytheist / atheist / agnostic

Belief in Ghosts or Spirits: yes / no / don’t know / don’t care / in a manner of speaking

(Unfortunately, verified by experience.)

Belief in an Afterlife: yes / no / don’t know / don’t care / in a manner of speaking

Something about the persistence of spirits would suggest it, but he's got plenty enough to wrangle with the living. That bridge can be crossed when or if they arrive upon it.

Belief in Reincarnation: yes / no / don’t know / don’t care / in a manner of speaking

Belief in Aliens: yes / no / don’t know / don’t care

free giggle in star wars here

Religious: orthodox / liberal / in between / not religious

Philosophical: yes / no / highly contextual

In a manner of speaking? While perhaps not a readily apparent trait, Tyr tends to enjoy learning. It's a heart or core of what he'd describe of his work as an intelligence operative: learning about people, places, beliefs as big as how to organize society and as small as that merchant is a rip-off. Ideals are far more important to him than I believe he realizes.

SEXUALITY & ROMANCE

Sexuality: heterosexual / homosexual / bisexual / asexual / pansexual

Sex: sex-repulsed / sex neutral / sex favorable / naive and clueless

Romance: romance repulsed / romance neutral / romance favorable / naive and clueless / romance suspicious

Sexually: adventurous / experienced / naive / inexperienced / curious

A skill in an intelligence toolkit has offered him experience, but he's a bit less experienced in pinpointing exactly what he genuinely likes - experiments he is... rather favorable to exploring.

Potential Sexual Partners: male / female / agender / other / none / all

Potential Romantic Partners: male / female / agender / other / none / all

ABILITIES

Combat Skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none

Literacy Skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none

Artistic Skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none

Technical Skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none

HABITS

Drinking Alcohol: never / special occasions / rarely / sometimes / frequently / alcoholic

Smoking: tried it / trying to quit / quit / never / rarely / sometimes / frequently / chain-smoker

Recreational Drugs: tried some / never / special occasions / sometimes / frequently / addict / former addict

Medicinal Drugs: never / no longer needs medication / some medication needed / frequently / to excess

Unhealthy Food: never / special occasions / rarely / sometimes / frequently / binge eater

Splurge Spending: never / sometimes / frequently / shopaholic

Gambling: never / rarely / sometimes / frequently / compulsive gamble

I will. almost certainly return to do more blorbos. I love these things kdfnlsadfn

No pressure tags as always/I am so sorry if you have already gotten one and I have not seen it/open invitation to join in if you like etc etc thank you for coming to my TED talk @captainderyn @commander-krios @fatewalker-phoenix

[eclipsecrowned]

random server muse lore of the now:

In 1909, Dutch emigre and perpetual chaos machine Merel van Breda was made aware of the royal christening gown of her adoptive homeland. She immediately reached out to her mentor and criminal contact to steal the item for her. He refused on the basis that 'it would be funny' is not a good enough cause to involve the royal family in a heist. God forbid women do anything, said Merel, and went her own way.

Anyway, in her modern/immortal verse, Merel has had custody of the fabled doopjurk since Summer 1910. It is in her private collection, tucked away with her mother's personal journals, a long missing odd glove of her husband's, and a beloved early photograph of she and her most bosom companions. Her husband-slash-former mentor has to double take when he sees the piece in her keeping.

She is holding it as a metaphorical Hail Mary in case her usual gang of idiots ever get into international problems within their criminal empire. Free her friends and the long national nightmare ends. So far, she hasn't had to use it, despite a close call in Monte Carlo post-war.

[darkhearthorns]

Maverick & Ulysses + Modern Verse, Combination of Maverick's CEO verse and Ulysses's Mafia verse

Several years ago, Maverick was facing challenges in securing funding for his budding company. Desperate to bring his groundbreaking medical advancements to fruition, he found himself venturing into the murky world of underground dealings. Word had spread throughout the criminal underworld about a man named Ulysses, known for his vast network and ability to make things happen.

Through a series of discreet inquiries, Maverick managed to catch the attention of Ulysses. Intrigued by the young entrepreneur's determination and the potential of his company's innovations, Ulysses agreed to meet with him, albeit with caution.

Their first encounter took place in a dimly lit, exclusive establishment known as The Hanging Garden, a haven for the criminal elite. Ulysses, surrounded by his loyal associates, exuded an air of power and mystery as he observed Maverick's entrance into the room.

As they sat down for a private conversation, the initial tension between the two men gradually transformed into mutual respect. Maverick shared his vision for advancing medical technology, emphasizing the impact it could have on countless lives. Ulysses, though rooted in the underworld, possessed a keen intellect and recognized the potential for profit in Maverick's ventures.

Their meeting marked the beginning of an unlikely alliance. Ulysses offered Maverick the financial backing he needed, introducing him to influential individuals with resources to support his company's growth. In return, Maverick's biopharmaceutical advancements provided Ulysses with a means to launder money and expand his empire while also earning him a semblance of legitimacy.

Over time, their professional relationship evolved into a deep bond of trust and friendship. Maverick marveled at Ulysses' uncanny ability to handle organized crime, while Ulysses respected Maverick's unwavering dedication to his ethical mission.

[yanlei-a]

tell us about zed in modern au .. does he still go by zed even

— @windchaser

teehee thanks for the ask mars mwah

modern verse zed is a martial artist who has a dojo and all too often picks up troubled kids in dangerous situations to teach and give them a healthier environment and something to dedicate themselves to. sometimes that ends up with him adopting them, still (although i do think modern verse zed is... a lot better with outright having adopted and being a father to the kids he picked up on the street aksdnfajsd). kayn, of course, is his son (but i wanna say at least the shadow assassin girl from the lor card is also his adoptive kid, i'll give her a name and make my oc idc).

a lot of his background is similar. his father left when he was a kid, he didn't have a good relationship with his mother (although, without the kinkou, i think he remained with her until he was of age to live on his own). i do keep the idea kusho still preyed on zed, seeing in him someone easily manipulable and intending to shape him up to be a successor of sorts in kusho's shady shenanigans his family probably doesn't know about.

eventually, though, zed started doing his own thing. it may have started as a gang of sorts, and he made it into a little criminal empire of his own, not for power or greed, but to initially to keep his corner of the city safe when the authorities failed to (or did not care, because that would involve going against powerful people; i actually like tying it up with swain and co murdering irelia's family and no one daring look into it because the people behind it were powerful. so basically this sort of thing started to happen and zed decided if no one was going to do something about it, he would do something about it, even if that required getting his hands dirty and becoming a criminal himself). he definitely does fucked up things for power, if he thinks power is necessary for his goals.

i imagine the yanlei are a mafia-esque organization of sorts, and because of what i said above, he bothers with keeping what he considers his people safe while being ruthless to everyone else unless he has reason not to be. the criminal leader part of his life is something secretive though. for all intents and purposes, he's just a Normal guy who has a dojo and has a soft spot for helping troubled kids.

given the real nature of a lot of what he does, he isn't always around the dojo, but he did train his kids personally, and they do know what he really is (kayn was still raised to be his 'heir', too). but yeah, he's not famous, he's not really... around the celebrity circles except for the few he'd know (like irelia probably if we consider her dating kayn for example, and hm, some other people perhaps).

as for the name! i think the way zed ties into it is that, in his shady business, that's probably the name he'd go by. most people would know him as usan though c:

[prvtocol]

Does Bri have any bad habits?

SEND MY MUSE ANONS!! ( always accepting ✿ )

Yes.

She overthinks. She overworks. She skips meals. She relies on aids to keep going, to sleep, to calm her nerves. She often lets things continue as they are rather than trying to change them (though tbf, change is sometimes impossible). She’s selfless and sidesteps her needs/wants for others. The majority of this is circumstantial. Away from toxic work environments, she is a healthier and calmer individual with no need for aids to help her through.

Things spiral most out of control in her Cyberpunk verse, especially when the corp undergoes leadership changes in 2077. She has an unhealthy habit of using neurostims to work the expected 14-16 hour workdays and to spare time after/during work to maintain her position (which includes gathering intel on coworkers via fixers and mercs and keeping one step ahead of internal developments). In turn, this makes her need sleep pharmaceuticals to counter those effects and actually rest the few hours she has left. Throw in being extorted by a Night City gang and she's a mess. She’s even willing to take illicit drugs from her extortionist to get a good night’s rest.

In Far Cry/Modern, she has taken caffeine pills to counteract the effects of jet lag. Her constant travel wears her down. She’s tired of living out of a suitcase, losing her sense of time, and misses home, forgetting where that is as time goes on. Her poor eating habits can be seen as self-destructive.

In all verses, she occasionally needs pills to counteract anxiety and panic attacks as well as therapy. She knows when she needs help. Again, this is circumstantial. In Cyberpunk, her biomonitor and thus her life coach keeps her hormones, etc. in constant check but stress harms her in other ways. In Far Cry/Modern, the pick-ups and hand-offs of dirty cash she does for her father’s money laundering operation put her face to face with crime lords and their criminal organizations. Layovers on Rook Islands, for instance, have her witnessing the unspeakable horrors of Volker's human trafficking operation. She has to turn a blind eye, keep calm and carry on. In the future of this verse (NewDawn/post-Collapse), she’s more adjusted but age and experience does that. In Star Wars, being blackmailed into being an informant for Crimson Dawn while working for the Bank of the Empire has her constantly looking over her shoulder. 

I primarily rp her within time periods of uncertainty and heavy work stress (making me emphasize her frayed nerves). However, her happy ending in her Cyberpunk verse (where she leaves it all behind with a loving partner (@badtrigger) and builds a family), she lives as a healthy, happy, and well-balanced individual. Much of her bad habits were thus a result of how she copes with her work environment. She is still selfless and overthinks (what mother doesn't?) but the emotional support and love of her husband and children do wonders.

[azmenka]

random lil HC mainly for myself to cheer myself up while I spend my days mostly away from tumblr unfortunately . . . modern Maron has a collection of shirts with quotes and lines on that can be considered rather erm . . . unprofessional. and he manages to wear them perfectly styled with his outfits, which is partially infuriating.

a few brief examples of quotes:

"I'm not the bigger person -picture of a flower- I will hit you with a chair" "fucked around and found out" "I come from a long line of people who should've never reproduced" "well, apparently rock bottom has a fucking basement" "at this point, if a clown invited me into the woods I'd just go" "living the dream plan b" "I'm not stupid. and sometimes I think that's part of the problem" "here for the income, not the outcome" "live laugh lobotomy" "some people call me crazy. I prefer happy with a twist" "may the bridges I burn light the way"

[condomconfetti]

Trying to make Sarsi a bit more of a morally ambiguous character. Someone who does wrong things for the right reasons, as is the light side story of the smuggler in swtor. In that story, the smuggler basically inherits a criminal empire on accident and uses it to help the Republic against the Sith Empire lmfao

So I’m gonna adjust her modern verse to more or less fit in with that. A very modern Robin Hood esque achetype I guess

[iinexorabile]

TONG VERSES

(note: extra info links on this post arent yet mobile friendly… working on that!!! sorry!!)

A LAND IN CHAOS (BASE VERSE, FANDOMLESS)

The year is 208 A.D, and Pang Tong, a genius and sorcerer of Eastern Han China known as the “Fledgling Phoenix”, has entered into service under the up and coming warlord Liu Bei, serving alongside his fellow Enigma, Zhuge Liang, as one of the warlord’s strategists, and mages. In comparison to his fellow Enigma Liang, Tong acts as the devil on Liu Bei’s shoulder, the ruthless pragmatist who seeks to help his lord unify the land by any means necessary.

There are a great many obstacles that stand in Liu Bei’s way– to the north, Cao Cao is solidifying their power, and while Pang Tong and Zhuge Liang have worked out an alliance between their lord and the Sun family of the south, even those allies must be closely watched, for if Liu Bei is to unite the land, then ALL must eventually be made to serve him.

Most threatening of all, however, are Tong’s former comrades, the other six Enigma’s, strategists and sorcerer’s of great power, who have also thrown their lot in with either Cao Cao or the Sun family, seemingly forgetting the oath they all took to work together in bringing peace to the land. Regardless, Tong thinks Liu Bei’s chances are pretty good, especially with Zhuge Liang in their service too, even if he and Tong don’t often see eye to eye. Tong see’s the future of China in Liu Bei, and whatever it takes, he’ll see them seated upon the throne as Emperor.

TAKE APART YOUR DEMONS (FANDOMLESS - MODERN!FANTASY)

Tong is a sorcerer and genius, well known as the “Fledgling Phoenix”, who years ago, served a group fighting a war against the criminal empire known as the Wei Conglomerate Association and the vigilantes of the Wu Syndicate for control of China (and what may have eventually been for control of the world). However, with the sudden death of Tong’s leader Liu Chong during the Red Cliff's Incident, and the eventual collapse of the W.C.A’s and Wu Syndicate that later followed, Tong parted ways with his comrades, deciding to strike out on  his own for a while as he searched for another worthy person or group to serve.

On his own, Tong has taken up work as a sort of sorcerer-for-hire, both locally and abroad, dealing with issues of the magical and generally supernatural nature (exorcising spirits, hunting down rogue supernatural creatures, occasionally taking out other sorcerer’s who’ve ticked off the wrong people, etc) in exchange for much needed money (food and intoxicants aren’t gonna just fall into his lap you know), though he does also sometimes solve problems for the sake of restoring order, and maintaining peace (don’t think that always makes him the good guy, though).

Tong also stays in loose contact with a collective of like-minded sorcerer’s and geniuses known as the Eight Enigma’s (a group he has been a part of for quite some time) despite some grievances he still has with them from his days dealing with the Wei Triad and Wu Syndicate, and while progress is slow, he works with his fellow Enigma’s toward achieving true peace for the world, though it’s an understandably slow process, made slower by the fact that Tong is currently not a apart of any major organizations that he could use as a vehicle for getting closer to that goal, but who knows what the future may hold?

THE DEEP / THE DARK (JUJUTSU KAISEN VERSE)

Tong is a “Jujutsu Sorcerer” (or “Curse User” depending on who you ask) originating from China, and is one of the few “Sorcerer’s” from his homeland to have any repute across the Jujutsu World, being known as the “Fledgling Phoenix”. Tong has recently arrived in Japan on a special mission given to him by a group known as the Eight Enigmas, a secretive group of Jujutsu Sorcerer’s that Tong counts himself a member of. Tong’s main mission is to observe, and assist any other Enigma’s who have also been sent to Japan on various tasks, but to say he has no intentions of involving himself in the strange happenings across the land of the rising sun would be a lie…

[EXTRA JJK INFO HERE]

CYCLONES AND BLOOD SOAKED DREAMS (BLEACH VERSE)

Pang Tong is a Kido Master, Hollow-soul Hybrid (a result of experiments in the past), and genius strategist known as the “Fledgling Phoenix”, who belongs to a minor noble family working in tandem with one of the Four Great Noble Families, and currently serves as the Soul Society’s Vice Kidō Chief, having been in the position since Hachigen Ushōda’s discharge more than a century ago. Tong could easily fill the position of Kido Corps Commander if he wished on account of being one of the Soul Society’s greatest Kido practitioners and having served in the Kido Corps for nearly a millennia, but he turned the position down in the past, and has no ambitions to rise any further than he currently is, thinking the Kido Corps current leadership to be fine enough.

Tong also belongs to a secret collective known as the Eight Enigma’s, a group of Kido master’s who try to maintain the balance of peace within the Soul Society, but due to internal struggles, they haven’t been as active lately, and Tong has mostly written them off, especially in light of current events.

Before, Tong didn’t bother much with the rest of the Soul Society outside of the Kido Corps or the Eight Enigma’s machinations, but with the recent troubles that had afflicted the World of the Living, the Soul Society, and Hueco Mundo as of late, he’s taken a more active role (or as active as he can be) in matters.

BEAST OF THE WINDS (DEMON SLAYER VERSE)

“Demons” as they are known in Japan, are not the only immortal, supernatural creatures that stalk the realm of man. There are many beings who prey on the flesh and blood of humans, many twisted creatures who have become the thing of legends, the centers of folklore, and terrors of the night. Across the Sea of Japan, in the various lands of East Asia are an ancient race of these beings known as the Yaoguai (also known as Yaogui, Yaomo, or Yaojing, depending on the type of Yaoguai in question), and it is to this clade that Tong belongs.

Tong, a military strategist and Greater Yaoguai of the Yaogui variety (i.e a former mortal who became a Yaoguai through dark means, shedding all or most of their humanity in the process) known as the “Fledgling Phoenix” or “Beast of the Winds” (depending on who you ask) is the first of his race to set foot in Japan since their extermination at the hands of the land’s native ‘Demons’ nearly 1,000 years ago. Tong has not arrived on the shores of this blighted land on behalf of the Yaoguai, however– he comes as an agent of the Eight Enigma’s, a mysterious group (consisting of both mortals and other Yaoguai) who has set their sights on the events transpiring within Japan between it’s native ‘Demons’ and those who hunt them.

Some within the Eight Enigma’s, Tong included, hope to exploit the worsening conflict between the Demon Slayer’s Corp and their namesake targets, to the point of destabilizing Japan as a whole and ending its Imperialist ambitions overseas, but who’s to say what might happen in the coming months, and years? And who’s to say that Tong won’t take his sweet, lazy time in carrying out his mission, as he’s wont to do….?

[EXTRA DEMON SLAYER INFO]

THE WINDS OF CHANGE (FE: 3H VERSE)

Pang Tong is a foreign sorcerer and strategist from a continent far to the south of Fodlan who ended up stranded on the coast of the Adrestian Empire, and along with his traveling companion, eventually made his way to Garreg Mach Monastery, and the Officer’s Academy. Tong, being from a foreign land, and a powerful user of magic, has naturally faced great suspicion from Fodlan’s natives and the Church of Seiros, but he’s treated as a guest of the Church, and can be found hanging around the monastery (occasionally assisting the Church with various matters, reluctantly most times) or offering advice on magic to the students of the Officer’s Academy. Tong is deeply troubled by the state of Fodlan, however, and even more troubled by the forces that seem to control it, and one day hopes to set things here right, perhaps with the help of those in his homeland, if he can ever find his way back to them…

[EXTRA 3H INFO HERE]

SOARING PHOENIX (FGO VERSE)

Pang Tong (Caster) is the famed “Fledgling Phoenix”, a contemporary and reputed equal to Zhuge Liang. Tong has answered the call of Chaldea’s master and has pledged to aid them in their struggles against Humanity’s various threats, even if he can come off as a bit difficult, and lazy at times. Tong works best when he’s paired with his old friend and rival, Zhuge Liang, but otherwise tries to keep to himself. That said, given the state of Chaldea and his master’s other servants, sometimes he can’t help but interact with others.

[EXTRA FATE INFO]

THE WORST IN TURN (ELDEN RING VERSE)

Tong is a hermetic sorcerer and genius who at one time acted as advisor and preceptor to Queen Marika, being instrumental in their initial rise to power over the Lands Between. Tong was one of eight such legendary advisors and preceptors, collectively known as the ’Eight Enigma’s’, of which he was personally known as the great ’Fledgling Phoenix’, however through the years, his fellows turned on one another in bids to gain more power, and when all was said and done, Tong emerged as the last one standing, fully earning Marika’s trust, and their favour. Following the death of Marika’s son, Godwyn, however, during the Night of Black Knives, Tong’s rapport with the Queen sharply fell, and any further strategy or advice he tried to offer them fell on deaf ears. There was nothing Tong could say or do to stay the Queen’s grief, nor anything he could do to stop the chaos that would soon follow with event known as The Shattering.

With war now raging across the land between Marika’s children, Tong would initially find shelter in the halls of the Academy of Raya Lucaria, but in time, he would make his way back to the Capital, Leyndell, where he would pledge his services to the Omen King, Morgott. Tong’s service as an advisor and preceptor of the sorcerer arts under Morgott is something of a tenuous position, if only because Tong see’s them as the least terrible option among the other leaders in the Lands Between, but he works with them nonetheless, seeing to it that the Capital stands strong against those who try to invade, having already been instrumental in repelling countless attacks by the armies of Morgott’s siblings.

Tong believes, however, that while Morgott, and none of Marika’s children for that matter will ever truly emerge victorious in this war, that out there somewhere is the next Elden Lord, and it’s for that person he waits– to help guide them to their destiny, and bring true peace back to the Lands Between, one way or the other.

[EXTRA ELDEN RING INFO]

[doomxdriven]

TONG VERSES

(note: extra info links on this post arent yet mobile friendly... working on that!!! sorry!!)

A LAND IN CHAOS (BASE VERSE, FANDOMLESS)

The year is 208 A.D, and Pang Tong, a genius and sorcerer of Eastern Han China known as the “Fledgling Phoenix”, has entered into service under the up and coming warlord Liu Bei, serving alongside his fellow Enigma, Zhuge Liang, as one of the warlord’s strategists, and mages. In comparison to his fellow Enigma Liang, Tong acts as the devil on Liu Bei’s shoulder, the ruthless pragmatist who seeks to help his lord unify the land by any means necessary.

There are a great many obstacles that stand in Liu Bei’s way– to the north, Cao Cao is solidifying their power, and while Pang Tong and Zhuge Liang have worked out an alliance between their lord and the Sun family of the south, even those allies must be closely watched, for if Liu Bei is to unite the land, then ALL must eventually be made to serve him.

Most threatening of all, however, are Tong’s former comrades, the other six Enigma’s, strategists and sorcerer’s of great power, who have also thrown their lot in with either Cao Cao or the Sun family, seemingly forgetting the oath they all took to work together in bringing peace to the land. Regardless, Tong thinks Liu Bei’s chances are pretty good, especially with Zhuge Liang in their service too, even if he and Tong don’t often see eye to eye. Tong see’s the future of China in Liu Bei, and whatever it takes, he’ll see them seated upon the throne as Emperor.

TAKE APART YOUR DEMONS (FANDOMLESS - MODERN!FANTASY)

Tong is a sorcerer and genius, well known as the “Fledgling Phoenix”, who years ago, served a group fighting a war against the criminal empire known as the Wei Triad and the vigilantes of the Wu Syndicate for control of China (and what may have eventually been for control of the world). However, with the sudden death of Tong’s leader Liu Chong, and the eventual collapse of the Wei Triad and Wu Syndicate due to internal matters, Tong parted ways with his comrades, deciding to strike out on his own for a while as he searched for another worthy person or group to serve.

On his own, Tong has taken up work as a sort of sorcerer-for-hire, both locally and abroad, dealing with issues of the magical and generally supernatural nature (exorcising spirits, hunting down rogue supernatural creatures, occasionally taking out other sorcerer’s who’ve ticked off the wrong people, etc) in exchange for much needed money (food and intoxicants aren’t gonna just fall into his lap you know), though he does also sometimes solve problems for the sake of restoring order, and maintaining peace (don’t think that always makes him the good guy, though).

Tong also stays in loose contact with a collective of like-minded sorcerer’s and geniuses known as the Eight Enigma’s (a group he has been a part of for quite some time) despite some grievances he still has with them from his days dealing with the Wei Triad and Wu Syndicate, and while progress is slow, he works with his fellow Enigma’s toward achieving true peace for the world, though it’s an understandably slow process, made slower by the fact that Tong is currently not a apart of any major organizations that he could use as a vehicle for getting closer to that goal, but who knows what the future may hold?

CYCLONES AND BLOOD SOAKED DREAMS (BLEACH VERSE)

Pang Tong is a Kido Master, Hollow-soul Hybrid (a result of experiments in the past), and genius strategist known as the “Fledgling Phoenix”, who belongs to a minor noble family working in tandem with one of the Four Great Noble Families, and currently serves as the Soul Society’s Vice Kidō Chief, having been in the position since Hachigen Ushōda’s discharge more than a century ago. Tong could easily fill the position of Kido Corps Commander if he wished on account of being one of the Soul Society’s greatest Kido practitioners and having served in the Kido Corps for nearly a millennia, but he turned the position down in the past, and has no ambitions to rise any further than he currently is, thinking the Kido Corps current leadership to be fine enough.

Tong also belongs to a secret collective known as the Eight Enigma’s, a group of Kido master’s who try to maintain the balance of peace within the Soul Society, but due to internal struggles, they haven’t been as active lately, and Tong has mostly written them off, especially in light of current events.

Before, Tong didn’t bother much with the rest of the Soul Society outside of the Kido Corps or the Eight Enigma’s machinations, but with the recent troubles that had afflicted the World of the Living, the Soul Society, and Hueco Mundo as of late, he’s taken a more active role (or as active as he can be) in matters.

[EXTRA BLEACH INFO HERE]

BEAST OF THE WINDS (DEMON SLAYER VERSE)

“Demons” as they are known in Japan, are not the only immortal, supernatural creatures that stalk the realm of man. There are many beings who prey on the flesh and blood of humans, many twisted creatures who have become the thing of legends, the centers of folklore, and terrors of the night. Across the Sea of Japan, in the various lands of East Asia are an ancient race of these beings known as the Yaoguai (also known as Yaogui, Yaomo, or Yaojing, depending on the type of Yaoguai in question), and it is to this clade that Tong belongs.

Tong, a military strategist and Greater Yaoguai of the Yaogui variety (i.e a former mortal who became a Yaoguai through dark means, shedding all or most of their humanity in the process) known as the “Fledgling Phoenix” or “Beast of the Winds” (depending on who you ask) is the first of his race to set foot in Japan since their extermination at the hands of the land’s native ‘Demons’ nearly 1,000 years ago. Tong has not arrived on the shores of this blighted land on behalf of the Yaoguai, however– he comes as an agent of the Eight Enigma’s, a mysterious group (consisting of both mortals and other Yaoguai) who has set their sights on the events transpiring within Japan between it’s native ‘Demons’ and those who hunt them.

Some within the Eight Enigma’s, Tong included, hope to exploit the worsening conflict between the Demon Slayer’s Corp and their namesake targets, to the point of destabilizing Japan as a whole and ending its Imperialist ambitions overseas, but who’s to say what might happen in the coming months, and years? And who’s to say that Tong won’t take his sweet, lazy time in carrying out his mission, as he’s wont to do….?

[EXTRA DEMON SLAYER INFO]

THE DEEP / THE DARK (JUJUTSU KAISEN VERSE)

Tong is a “Jujutsu Sorcerer” (or “Curse User” depending on who you ask) originating from China, and is one of the few “Sorcerer’s” from his homeland to have any repute across the Jujutsu World, being known as the “Fledgling Phoenix”. Tong has recently arrived in Japan on a special mission given to him by a group known as the Eight Enigmas, a secretive group of Jujutsu Sorcerer’s that Tong counts himself a member of. Tong’s main mission is to observe, and assist any other Enigma’s who have also been sent to Japan on various tasks, but to say he has no intentions of involving himself in the strange happenings across the land of the rising sun would be a lie…

[EXTRA JJK INFO HERE]

THE WINDS OF CHANGE (FE: 3H VERSE)

Pang Tong is a foreign sorcerer and strategist from a continent far to the south of Fodlan who ended up stranded on the coast of the Adrestian Empire, and along with his traveling companion, eventually made his way to Garreg Mach Monastery, and the Officer’s Academy. Tong, being from a foreign land, and a powerful user of magic, has naturally faced great suspicion from Fodlan’s natives and the Church of Seiros, but he’s treated as a guest of the Church, and can be found hanging around the monastery (occasionally assisting the Church with various matters, reluctantly most times) or offering advice on magic to the students of the Officer’s Academy. Tong is deeply troubled by the state of Fodlan, however, and even more troubled by the forces that seem to control it, and one day hopes to set things here right, perhaps with the help of those in his homeland, if he can ever find his way back to them…

[EXTRA 3H INFO HERE]

SOARING PHOENIX (FGO VERSE)

Pang Tong (Caster) is the famed “Fledgling Phoenix”, a contemporary and reputed equal to Zhuge Liang. Tong has answered the call of Chaldea’s master and has pledged to aid them in their struggles against Humanity’s various threats, even if he can come off as a bit difficult, and lazy at times. Tong works best when he’s paired with his old friend and rival, Zhuge Liang, but otherwise tries to keep to himself. That said, given the state of Chaldea and his master’s other servants, sometimes he can’t help but interact with others.

[EXTRA FATE INFO]

THE WORST IN TURN (ELDEN RING VERSE)

Tong is a hermetic sorcerer and genius who at one time acted as advisor and preceptor to Queen Marika, being instrumental in their initial rise to power over the Lands Between. Tong was one of eight such legendary advisors and preceptors, collectively known as the ’Eight Enigma’s’, of which he was personally known as the great ’Fledgling Phoenix’, however through the years, his fellows turned on one another in bids to gain more power, and when all was said and done, Tong emerged as the last one standing, fully earning Marika’s trust, and their favour. Following the death of Marika’s son, Godwyn, however, during the Night of Black Knives, Tong’s rapport with the Queen sharply fell, and any further strategy or advice he tried to offer them fell on deaf ears. There was nothing Tong could say or do to stay the Queen’s grief, nor anything he could do to stop the chaos that would soon follow with event known as The Shattering.

With war now raging across the land between Marika’s children, Tong would initially find shelter in the halls of the Academy of Raya Lucaria, but in time, he would make his way back to the Capital, Leyndell, where he would pledge his services to the Omen King, Morgott. Tong’s service as an advisor and preceptor of the sorcerer arts under Morgott is something of a tenuous position, if only because Tong see’s them as the least terrible option among the other leaders in the Lands Between, but he works with them nonetheless, seeing to it that the Capital stands strong against those who try to invade, having already been instrumental in repelling countless attacks by the armies of Morgott’s siblings.

Tong believes, however, that while Morgott, and none of Marika’s children for that matter will ever truly emerge victorious in this war, that out there somewhere is the next Elden Lord, and it’s for that person he waits– to help guide them to their destiny, and bring true peace back to the Lands Between, one way or the other.

[EXTRA ELDEN RING INFO]

[mellowdreamer]

HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO VERSE.

this is a modern bending vigilante/hero au featuring zukka, mailee, yueki and a lot of hijinks!

the gaang are all 16-19 here, because while bruce wayne apparently has no problem with it, i’m not comfortable with having vigilantes who haven’t yet gone through puberty.

the avatar world is just one big city, and each of the nations/cities are different suburbs of the city.

kyoshi island, ember island, and boiling rock are small islands off of the city, similar to singapore’s sentosa island.

the city (republic city? i dunno, get back to me on this one) is full of heroes, vigilantes and villains alike. the fire nation is a criminal empire intent on taking over the city. the avatar is a hero who works to keep the balance of heroes and villains in the city, and stop the entire city from becoming a war zone. 

however, the avatar disappeared 100 years ago, and no one was chosen to take up the mantle since. in the avatar’s absence, the fire nation was able to begin its quest to take over the city.

the heroes of the southern water tribe that were left after the various raids have left the southern water suburb on a mission to defeat the fire nation or die.

hakoda, alias chief, left his two young children in charge of their territory, despite them being a) children and b) relatively untrained.

katara, alias painted lady, is the only waterbender left in the southern water tribe. sokka, alias captain boomerang, is the only trained combat hero left in the southern water tribe. all those remaining are either children or incapable of fighting.

side tangent: when sokka does well, he calls himself “grand marshal boomerang” and when he does badly, he calls himself “private boomerang”. thank you to the crimily for coming up with this one!!

one night, when katara and sokka are out on patrol, they get chased by fire nation goons into the ice off of the southern harbour. there, they get into a fight over sokka’s sexist remarks and katara’s yelling having attracted the fire nation goons, and katara’s waterbending gets out of control. she breaks open an iceberg, only to find someone in there.

the two siblings approach the iceberg and break the person out. they are shocked to find a young boy in the unmistakable uniform of the avatar, resting next to a creature they’ve never seen before.

they wake the boy up, to find that his name is aang and he’s the next avatar. and that he has no idea of the fire nation’s quest to conquer the entire city, or the fact that the air nomads – heroes that didn’t resign to just one area of the city – hadn’t been seen for the same hundred years that he must’ve spent in the iceberg.

katara and a reluctant sokka take aang back to the apartment building where the remaining southern water suburb residents have been living and introduce him to everyone.

later that night, the three go out on patrol together. it’s a quiet night, and sokka thinks they might actually get through it without any incidents, until they find a woman being mugged.

sokka and katara are about to intervene, but aang takes down both thugs in a matter of seconds. aang, ignoring the slack jawed shock of his friends, asks if they could go penguin sledding. katara goes to agree, but is cut off by the shout of “MY HONOUR” from a nearby rooftop.

zuko, alias dragon prince, runs from the rooftop before they could find him. his father ozai, alias firelord, had sent him and his uncle iroh – formerly dragon of the west, now retired – to find the avatar. zuko had been banished from the fire nation territory years ago, after speaking up about a plan that would’ve cost them a whole division of goons and refusing to fight his father in an agni kai.

the kyoshi warriors are similar to the birds of prey or the amazons; they’re an all-female crime-fighting unit not directly associated with any of the kingdoms or nations. suki is their leader, and they don’t have secret identities like the other heroes.

iroh, bumi, piandao, jeong-jeong and p*kku are all retired heroes and a part of the order of the white lotus.

toph is the blind bandit and a hero, albeit a less morally structured and ‘good’ hero than the avatar, the painted lady, and captain boomerang. she was a part of the underground fighting ring ‘earth rumble’ when the gaang infiltrated the ring looking for intel and convinced her that her powers could be used for something better than beating bitches blue and making bank while doing it.

azula is firebolt, and she is as brilliant as she is terrifying. she’s arguably more feared than the firelord, mainly because she’s the one who frequents other areas and actually goes on missions. ozai just sits on his stupid throne and yells at people and manipulates his children like the little bitch he is.

mai and ty lee are azula’s sidekicks, and are known as blade and tightrope respectively. also: they’re lesbians, harold.

yue is a part of the northern water tribe’s group of heroes, alongside her family. they tried to marry her off to hahn and have her trained in healing instead of fighting, but she rebelled and threatened to go out on her own, so they relented. yue’s hero alias is tui, but she will be called sailor moon at least three times.

jet and his freedom fighters are a group of anti-heroes who aren’t afraid to hurt innocent people in their pursue of ‘justice’.

zhao is a villain who works for the firelord, under the alias admiral, and he’s an asshole. using the yuyan archers, he manages to capture aang and takes him to a fire nation stronghold. zuko finds out about this, and not wanting admiral asshole to get the upper hand, dresses as the blue spirit for the first time to rescue aang.

during the siege of the north, zhao “kills” yue. she fakes her own death and disappears into hiding until the final battle, in which she kills zhao because it’s what she deserves.

the gaang know that yue is alive, because she’s nice enough to not do them like that, but they have to keep up appearances. because of this, sokka amps up the heartbreak and clings to suki a lot. that’s why a lot of outsiders begin to think that sokka dated yue and is dating suki, though in reality yue and suki are dating each other.

zuko and iroh, after the siege of the north and a trap set by azula, disappear into hiding and decide to take refuge in ba sing se, knowing that the fire nation wouldn’t think to look for them there.

ba sing se is a section of the city that has been fenced off in order to prevent an influx of heroes and villains. the dai li, who keep a tight grip on the suburb and ensure that the residents don’t know of the war raging outside the walls, are a group of “heroes”.

of course, the fence does nothing to prevent zuko and iroh, the gaang, and later azula, mai and ty lee from entering ba sing se and turning it into their own warzone.

iroh fulfils his dream of finally owning a tea shop and zuko, when not working in the tea shop, spends his nights lingering in the shadows of ba sing se as the blue spirit.

sokka, desperate for a warm drink and something to do while the others do their bending training, wanders into the jasmine dragon one afternoon and is served by “lee”.

neither know the other’s civilian identity, so there’s no shady business, just pining over the cute customer/server. sokka strikes a conversion and the two begin flirting chatting. it’s going really well, and you can almost see the romance blooming.

and then in walks azula, flanked by mai and ty lee, all in costume.

sokka and zuko both leap up from their seats and into fighting stances. both are confused as to why the other jumped up, and then azula calls zuko brother and it clicks in sokka’s mind.

he starts yelling at zuko for a lot of things, including yue’s “death” which is how zuko realises who he is. zuko starts yelling back because he’s only once met a fight he didn’t like. in the background of this argument, iroh is trying to fight azula, mai and ty lee to varying degrees of success.

it’s funny that i say degrees, because this is when azula sets fire to the jasmine dragon. iroh grabs the two dumbass arguing teens and shoves them outside as he too runs, telling zuko to meet at their rendezvous point at sunrise.

azula, mai and ty lee chase after zuko and sokka (who are still arguing as they run from the three girls). mai and ty lee don’t want to chase them, because zuko has always been better to them than azula, but defying azula would be a death sentence.

sokka pulls zuko into a building for coverage, and because azula is azula, she summons the dai li and has them surround the building. there would be no leaving without confronting the dai li, and thus zuko and sokka are trapped.

sokka confronts zuko and basically asks how he could justify the fire nation’s villainy, how he could support a monster who’s killing hundreds of people. zuko defends his father blindly because he’s been raised to believe that his father is right, that his father has to be right, and this southern water scum is wrong. but zuko’s losing his grip on the argument and is becoming more and more hysterical but sokka is so calm, so sure of himself, and the dam finally breaks.

zuko crumples to the ground in tears, and now sokka’s gotta deal with this because ozai is a shitface and has been brainwashing his son for years and wow fuck the fire nation.

mai and ty lee, having taken down the dai li, burst in to find zuko crying his eyes out in sokka’s arms. they teasingly ask if they’re interrupting something and laugh as zuko next to sprints out of the building, sokka hot on his heels.

this is the last straw for zuko, who defects from the fire nation, hangs up his dragon prince uniform and fully becomes the blue spirit, a hero who works with the gaang to eventually take down the fire nation.

also, at some stage zuko rescues a turtleduck that got stuck up a tree. don’t ask me how this happens.

[assortedmutts]

Character name?

Saul Israel Shapiro.

Origin story for their name?

That one scene in the Long Firm where the one guy goes Harry Starks? Sounds Jewish with utter disdain in his voice. I wanted something which sounds unmistakably Jewish and Saul is such an old school, ugly name in Hebrew and such a pretty name in English (pronounced Sha-ool vs. Sol). Saul Shapiro just rolls really nicely off the tongue. Israel was also a common name for Ashkenazi men around the 1940s, which I thought tied nicely to his running theme of intergenerational trauma.

Compare and contrast your character from their first concept to how they are now.

He started out as a supporting character in Merc’s 1920s verse (his employer, to be exact) and actually had an opposite transformation: from a ruthless, faceless villain, he has become far more personable and levelheaded. 20s Saul was borderline sociopathic and cared only for money and power, whereas modern Saul might make questionable (or straight out bad) choices, but IDK that I’d describe him as a bad person.

The extent of his power has significantly shrunk as well: from the owner of an alcohol importation, distillation and distribution empire, to the leader of a crew so small you could count them all on one hand.

What do you hope people get out of your character’s narrative?

Again, the themes I’m trying to explore here, for me (IDK if anyone will get anything out of it) are: Ashkenazi identity, the Jewish intergenerational trauma, self-annihilation through sacrifice as well as through the communal.

I lowkey kinda think all my characters explore the same themes, but possibly from different perspectives? IDK. It’s something I’m self-conscious about and, at the same time, am also trying not to give a fuck about.

Four of your favorite traits of your character?

Proud! Colorful! Dorky! Not afraid to be himself in the slightest!

A caregiver through and through

Diplomatique

The way he can flip a switch and become soulless and cruel in 0.2 seconds

Most challenging aspect of writing your character?

He’s actually been coming to me very naturally ever since I started writing him? Which I think is more of a trait of him being a ‘new’ character (sort of) rather than his being incredibly-well-thought-out or anything. I’m sure challenges will present themselves as I continue writing him.

If this is an OC, do you have any media inspiration for your character?

Any and all Jewish characters in Boardwalk Empire, Jonathan Safran Foer’s Everything Is Illuminated as well as film of the same name, Jake Arrnott’s The Long Firm, Harry Lloyd as Bernard Marx in Brave New World.

What do you find most unique about your character?

There naturally aren’t too many Jewish characters around, especially not ones whose Jewishness is as pronounced as Saul’s, or takes as big a part in their story as his; which is honestly not a complaint nor a dig at anyone, but I think it does make him stand out. I also think he’s an interesting mixture of hard criminal and utter dork or, at least, I’ve had that pointed out to me by other people as something that’s unexpected/interesting.

Favorite kinds of interaction dynamics?

I don’t think I have a particular type that I favor since I genuinely like exploring my boys  with all sorts, and getting to explore them with all sorts makes for unique interactions. I can talk about the kinds of interactions I’m currently looking to explore, which are: a possible beard! Members of the community and/or Undzer Shtik! Contacts from rival organizations! Law enforcement agents that are either investigating him or are on his payroll! Regular customers at the deli/regular servers in his favorite bars and restaurants whom he knows personally/fellow restaurateurs! Friends from Princeton!

Lastly, if someone was to audition to play your character in a movie, what would be the introductory description to who your character is?

Have you ever seen an erratic ferret? Ever seen anyone play a New York Jew? That, but up the neuroticism and quirkiness up to a thousand. Think John Mulaney in anything with Nick Kroll. Think a queer, modern, male Mrs. Maisel, except she has a gun now.

[stingslikeabee]

Melissa’s AU verses (including other Final Fantasy franchise entries)

Hi guys! So I thought I would make this post in light of a few recent blogs from other fandoms I’ve followed and in the hopes of giving my mutuals a quick reference guide for these AU verses I’ve established over the last months. The complete list can be found at my verse page - the most used ones are also in my google docs for mobile users.

At any rate, I’ve compiled below the more useful ones. :) Please click on their titles for more detailed information (if necessary!).

FFXV AU: this is mainly an AU for XV muses where Melissa (instead going by her original name of ‘Lilian’) is a Galahd refugee who relocated to Lestallum when the Wall was reduced to protect the Crown City only. When she got older, she eventually became the owner of a local restaurant, and acts as a tipster, too. She has no love for the Lucian royal family given her origins, but by no means support Niflheim’s claims either.

FFXII AU: in this FF entry, ‘Melissa’ is the alias she adopts to pose as a famous Bhujerban dancer, hoping to earn a place among the Archadian elite as an ‘exotic’ attraction - but in truth, she is working as a spy for the Marquis of Ondore and the Resistance after having her family killed by the Empire and feeding them intelligence obtained directly from the imperial capital’s heart. Any similarities with Mata Hari are 100% on purpose.

Yakuza AU: the Yakuza AU heavily borrows from Yuki’s storyline from Yakuza 0 to Kiwami 2 - Melissa (her real name this time around) is a foreign woman who remained in Japan after her family left and found employment as a hostess, being successful enough to eventually take the next step and retiring to become a manager herself. The ‘Honey Bee Inn’ is her club, and although she frequently worked and still receives Yakuza patriarchs in her establishment, the degree of involvement with the local mafia will depend on the actual thread/other muse. Can be used for other franchises which are merely set in Japan.

Alice in Borderland AU: a spin-off from the Yakuza verse, where Melissa is unlucky enough to land in the alternate version of Tokyo filled with deadly games. Still a hostess at the time this happened, she originally struggled with the first few games until she found the Beach - and some support in the figure of the Hatter, once a famous figure of the same hostessing/nightlife business. Melissa ended up taking a semi-official role at the resort under the scenes, providing customer service to the ‘guests’ - as well as making alliances with the people who can offset her weaknesses. 

Killer Queen - modern AU: this AU was made to accommodate mostly modern day-based franchises - rather than a brothel owner, Melissa (and this is her real name) is the owner of the Killer Queen bar, where she’s an informant of sorts to the highest bidder. Her morals are much looser and although she’s fundamentally good at her core, she doesn’t lose any sleep over the fact she might be helping criminals and outlaws with her business. She can handle her own in a fight and is more of a badass than in most of her verses.

House of Flowers - modern AU: another modern-based AU for other franchises - but this retains some of the plot elements of her original role as a former prostitute turned brothel owner - but rather than managing a physical place, Melissa (once more her alias) has set up a network of elite call girls, with loyal and wealthy clients who are very fond of the privacy and high quality services she provides as the manager/agent of her ‘flower’ girls. If you think this verse is borrowing elements from ‘The Secret Diary of a Call Girl’ - you are correct!

Feel free to hit me up and plot anything - it doesn’t matter whether or not we are already writing or the verse we’re currently using - I love expanding to new medias, so don’t be shy to say hello if anything sounds interesting to you!

Muah! :* Mari.