Shy

[center][img]http://img276.imageshack.us/img276/6429/green5wi.jpg[/img] [font=trebuchet MS][i]Current Green Team Leader[/i]: DeathKnight[/center] This mission thread is created exclusively for [I]current[/I] Green Team members to post in. Players have been notified about the posting order via PM. Please direct any questions you have in regards to the event to [url=http://otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=49109]The Legionnaires Underground[/url] thread.[/font]

[QUOTE=Takuya]So here's my idea: instead of creating a required post order, why not simply limit the frequency people are allowed to post? For example, limit Gold Team members to one post every three days (note: this is only an example). Gold team members could, of course, post less frequently than once every three days, but not more frequently. This would allow Gold Team members who can post twice a week to have the same level of participation as Gold Team members who are on every day, while at the same time giving Gold Team members eager to participate the chance to do so without waiting days or weeks for their turn. Now, obviously the maximum post frequency (mpf) would vary between mision threads. For example, Gold Team might be limited to once every three days, while Blue Team members are allowed to post every other day, and red Teammembers once every five days. The MPF for a mission thred would be based on the number of people in that particular mission thread, as well as their avalibility. And a mission thread's mpf could be changed for each specific mission if necessary. Any questions or comments?[/QUOTE] [size=1]I think the MPF system (as I'll call it from now on, unless you have a better name, Takuya) is a very interesting alternative to a chapter/mission-based system, or simply having no posting restrictions at all. There are several upcoming projects I'd like to work on in The Arena, and the next time I catch you online I'd love to discuss the possibilities of using such a system. But The Legionnaires will continue using the system I have already established. I assure you that the frequency of posts will change with future missions, and hopefully any complaints Sage and other members have can be addressed as the event moves forward. Aside from that, I'd like to ask that any bickering be kept outside of this thread. The purpose of The Legionnaires Underground is to address various members' questions, comments, concerns and suggestions. Please use that valuable time and energy to create artwork, or prepare side-stories for [b]The Legionnaires: Arbiter[/b], which will be launching (later than originally scheduled) sometime this weekend. Thank you again for everyone's concerns and suggestions, I'd like to see you folks keep up the good work. -Shy[/size]

[size=1]To answer some of your questions... [b]Gavin:[/b] The specific details of the Body Bags thread will be unveiled when the actual threads are created. Unfortunately that's all I can say for now, as many of these details are still being hammered so they remain affair, and don't piss everyone off. Speaking of which... [b]Sage:[/b] My opinions on the subject pretty much mirror those of Ajeh's. Many of us have busy schedules, and simply aren't able to post every day. The missions that have been sent out are simply the [i]first[/i], and not the standards for all missions to come. Some will contain many, many players while some will only contain a handful. Also, some missions will be on a weekly posting schedule, while others may have much quicker or much slower ones (depending on member's availability.) Posting order is just the way I prefer to do things. This prevents overlapping or contradictory posts, and makes everything much more organized overall. Your concerns are valid, Sage, but I feel that there will be a great deal of character interaction in these missions. Part of the fun is writing for not only your character, but for those around you. One has to acknowledge that this game is group-oriented, and a single player posting constantly would interfere with that mentality. Nobody is having fun yet because the game barely begun. It's been one day, and within the week I'd expect things to pick up. You just have to be patient, and trust my judgement in the matter. [b]Ajeh:[/b] Certain mission briefings have been left vague so that players can fill in the specific details of the story themselves. You post will (hopefully) not only include your involvement in the mission, but those of the other players around you as well. -Shy[/size]

[size=1][b]Sage:[/b] Yes, giving your character that second ability is perfectly fine. As for posting, and the fact that some people will be unable or unwilling to post in the RPG when their turns come up. The posting order may be rearranged through your Group Leader. However, if someone's turn comes up and they do not post within one week, then they are skipped for the rest of the mission. Their failure to post will be taken into account when posting 'Body Bags' threads, and when deciding whether or not to include them in future missions. [b]Fallen:[/b] It really depends on the death, since every one is different. I imagine that the individual player will get to write their own death in many cases, but I can't guarantee that will always happen. -Shy[/size]

[center][img]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/retri_trib/silver2.jpg[/img] [font=trebuchet MS][i]Current Silver Team Leader[/i]: Dagger[/center] This mission thread is created exclusively for [I]current[/I] Silver Team members to post in. Players have been notified about the posting order via PM. Please direct any questions you have in regards to the event to [url=http://otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=49109]The Legionnaires Underground[/url] thread.[/font]

[center][img]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/retri_trib/blue2.jpg[/img] [font=trebuchet MS][i]Current Blue Team Leader[/i]: Ozymandius Jones[/center] This mission thread is created exclusively for [I]current[/I] Blue Team members to post in. Players have been notified about the posting order via PM. Please direct any questions you have in regards to the event to [url=http://otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=49109]The Legionnaires Underground[/url] thread.[/font]

[center][img]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/retri_trib/gold2.jpg[/img] [font=trebuchet MS][i]Current Gold Team Leader[/i]: Baron Samedi[/center] This mission thread is created exclusively for [I]current[/I] Gold Team members to post in. Players have been notified about the posting order via PM. Please direct any questions you have in regards to the event to [url=http://otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=49109]The Legionnaires Underground[/url] thread.[/font]

[center][img]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/retri_trib/red2.jpg[/img] [font=trebuchet MS][i]Current Red Team Leader[/i]: Gavin[/center] This mission thread is created exclusively for [I]current[/I] Red Team members to post in. Players have been notified about the posting order via PM. Please direct any questions you have in regards to the event to [url=http://otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=49109]The Legionnaires Underground[/url] thread.[/font]

[size=1][b]Zidargh:[/b] Yes, of course you may contribute fan art. As Retribution said, The Legionnaires Art Thread covers this sort of thing. [b]Retribution:[/b] Yes, Group Leaders can die -- in fact, I'd expect it. Not all deaths will be pre-orchestrated through the Body Bags threads, since some of them need to be a surprise. -Shy[/size]

[QUOTE=Sage]Seems that I'm in the Gold Team, so from now on, [color=gold][B]Gold Team rules![/B][/color] ;D [B]There are many players in the list that aren't in the teams, why is that?[/B] You said yourself that everybody gets to participate in the first missions, but apparently it isn't so... I just hope that they get a chance to at least post before they are killed off. ;) Hmm, so Aiyisha is my team leader, so he will create the mission thread, yes? Can't wait to get into the story![/QUOTE] [size=1]Good questions, Sage. I'm glad you're excited about the event. 1) You are only on the Gold Team for [i]this[/i] mission. Players will move between groups regularly. The only players who are 'stuck' in a Mission Thread are the Group Leaders. On your next mission you could be in any thread. 2) At least for now, not every available character will be participating at once. For this first round of missions we have about 20 players, which is the greater majority. Players will be used as the story demands, and everyone will get to participate in at least one mission before being killed off. 3) I will be creating the Mission Threads later tonight. Expect a PM from either myself or your Group Leader regarding the posting order, and description for the mission. -Shy[/size]

[center][size=5][b]:::The Legionnaires:::[/b][/size] [b]Ozymandius Jones[/b] - Sparks [b]Fallen[/b] - Impulse [b]Kitty[/b] - Tech [b]Ajeh[/b] - Face [b]Minako[/b] - Pandora [b]Raiyuu[/b] - Mirror [b]Retribution[/b] - Dust [b]Starr Struck[/b] - Vernacular [b]Nuevoxraiha[/b] - Saturn [b]Who Am I?[/b] - Speedy [b]Dagger[/b] - Okita [b]Generic NPC #3[/b] - Persona [b]Sage Kaley[/b] - Echo [b]Aiyisha[/b] - Unhate [b]Circeus[/b] - Pygmalion [b]Sage[/b] - Melinoe [b]Break[/b] - Joseph [b]Gavin[/b] - Augur [b]Shy[/b] - The Arbiter [b]Takuya[/b] - Liquid [b]Solar Princess[/b] - Aura Partson [b]Imi[/b] -Era Gender [b]Domon[/b] - Arachnid [b]Sakura[/b] - Sakura Hiwatari [b]Unborn Lord Xion[/b] - Z [b]DeathKnight[/b] - Kaida [b]DDG[/b] - Vinovka [b]Baron Samedi[/b] - Tetros[/center] [size=1][b]A note about sign-ups:[/b] I was pleasantly surprised by the response that this thread has received, both in terms of activity and in terms of quality. There were more than several 'close calls.' I did my best to choose characters who fit within the universe I had planned, and who had something unique to bring to the stories. If you'd like to discuss with me why you were not chosen for the project, and are looking for suggestions to help your future sign-ups in other RPGs, please PM me. I'll do my best to respond to all of them, although it may take me a while. Thanks again to everyone who has contributed. Any questions related to the event itself may be asked in [url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=49109][b]The Legionnaires Underground[/b][/url], which has just launched. -Shy[/size]

[center][img]http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/7571/legionnaire1undermod6uw.jpg[/img][/center] [FONT=TREBUCHET MS][size=1][u]Thread Contents[/u][/size] [b]Current Team Assignments [color=gray](Last Updated 3/10)[/color][/b] [b]Players [color=gray](Last Updated 12/15)[/color][/b] [b]Mission Listings [color=gray](Last Updated 3/10)[/color][/b] [size=1][u]Event Links[/u][/size] [url=http://otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=50790][b]Body Bags [PG-L][/b][/url] [url=http://otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=49122][b]Blue Team [PG][/b][/url] [url=http://otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=49119][b]Red Team [PG-V][/b][/url] [url=http://otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=49124][b]Silver Team [M-LSV][/b][/url] [url=http://otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=49120][b]Gold Team [PG-LSV][/b][/url] [url=http://otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=49183][b]Green Team [E][/b][/url] [url=http://otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=51182][b]Join Hero Patrol[/b][/url] [url=http://otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=51561][b]Hero Patrol [PG-L][/b][/url] [url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=48876][b]Join The Legionnaires[/b][/url] [url=http://otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=49208l][b]The Legionnaires: Arbiter [PG-LV][/b][/url] [url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=48994][b]The Legionnaires Art Thread[/b][/url] [size=1]*Threads in gray have not been created.[/size][center][size=5][b]:::Current Team Assignments:::[/b][/size] (Note: Group Leaders are listed in [i]italics[/i].)[/center] Blue Team Writer CharacterOzymandius Jones SparksStarrStruckVernacularWraith ImpulseSakuraSakura Red Team Writer Character Gavin Augur Raiha Saturn Circeus Pygmalion Ezekiel Era Kitty Tech Silver Team Writer Character Dagger Okita Generic NPC #3 Persona Sage Kaley Echo Gold Team Writer Character [i]Baron Samedi[/i] [i]Tetros[/i] Sandy Melinoe Takuya Liquid Green Team Writer Character DeathKnight Kaida Raiyuu Mirror Unborn Lord Xion Z Vinovka DDG Soliel Aura Body Bags Writer Character -- -- [center][size=5][b]:::The Players:::[/b][/size] [b]Ozymandius Jones[/b] - Sparks [b]Wraith[/b] - Impulse [b]Kitty[/b] - Tech [strike][b]Ajeh[/b] - Face[/strike] [b]Minako[/b] - Pandora [b]Raiyuu[/b] - Mirror [b]Retribution[/b] - Dust [b]Starr Struck[/b] - Vernacular [b]Neuvoxraiha[/b] - Saturn [strike][b]Who Am I?[/b] - Speedy[/strike] [b]Dagger[/b] - Okita [b]Generic NPC #3[/b] - Persona [b]Sage Kaley[/b] - Echo [strike][b]DeadSeraphim[/b] - Unhate[/strike] [b]Circeus[/b] - Pygmalion [b]Sam Sandy[/b] - Melinoe [strike][b]Break[/b] - Joseph[/strike] [b]Gavin[/b] - Augur [b]Shy[/b] - The Arbiter [b]Takuya[/b] - Liquid [b]Soliel[/b] - Aura Partson [b]Ezekiel[/b] -Era Gender [strike][b]Domon[/b] - Arachnid[/strike] [b]Sakura[/b] - Sakura Hiwatari [b]Unborn Lord Xion[/b] - Z [b]DeathKnight[/b] - Kaida [b]DDG[/b] - Vinovka [b]Baron Samedi[/b] - Tetros[/font][/center][center][size=5][b]:::Mission Listings:::[/b][/size][/center] #105: [i]The Children's Army[/i] - Red Team #106: [i]Hollywood Monster[/i] - Silver Team #107: [i]Big Explosions in the Desert[/i] - Blue Team #108: [i]I Don't Believe In The Sun[/i] - Gold Team #109: [i]Time Code[/i] - Green Team #110: [i]Tetros[/i] - The Arbiter #111: [i]Return[/i] - Body Bags #112: [i]Spider Town[/i] - Green Team #113: [i]Assassination Vacation[/i] - Red Team #114: [i]Gods and Monsters[/i] - Blue Team #115: [i]Atlantis Attacks?[/i] - Gold Team[size=1]I apologize for the disorganized nature of this thread, but there is an awful lot of information that needs to be expressed in [b]The Legionnaires Underground[/b]. It?s been decided that posting order will be announced via PM?s, along with detailed mission briefings. [b]Body Bags[/b], where players will vote over who lives and who dies in the RPG, will begin after every player has had a chance to participate in [I]one[/I] mission. Beyond that, there?s no guarantee that certain players will live to a see a second mission. Sage has launched [b][url=http://otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=48994]The Official Legionnaires Art Thread[/url][/b], for players to showcase various works related to the RPG. The [i]sixth[/i] Group Leader, The Arbiter, will post almost exclusively in [url=http://otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=49208][b]The Legionnaires: Arbiter[/b][/url] thread. In addition, all players are welcome to post in the thread with stories of their own. Certain plot information and histories will be posted in The Arbiter, so it?s important that interested players stay up-to-date with it. Special thanks to Generic NPC #3 for providing much-needed html assistance with the event. Retribution created all of The Legionnaires artwork and logos, and they're the coolest person ever for doing so.[/size] [b]This is a general thread for your questions, comments or concerns about this event. Have fun.[/b] [size=1]-Shy[/size]

[size=1]Excellent work everyone. Manic: I can't believe you made one for Chamber. He's such a fourth-string X-Man that you're my hero for using him in anything. -Shy[/size]

[size=1][b]animekid17[/b] and [b]Axel666[/b], both of your posts suffer from terrible quality, and make little sense. Please look elsewhere in this, and any forum for examples of the quality of posts we expect on the boards. This is your first warning. Thread closed. -Shy[/size]

[center][img]http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/444/legionnaire4rectest8oh.jpg[/img][/center] [font=trebuchet ms]Welcome to [b]The Legionnaires[/b], an OtakuBoards event which hopes to capture the attention and imagination of the entire forum. This follows the format of the various stories which have inhabited our ?Adventure Arena? over the years, but hopes to break new ground with the sheer scope of the storyline, and the massive number of players involved. We?re aiming for over three dozen players, but all members of the boards are welcome to participate. With the Fall approaching, many members will have terribly busy school and work schedules. Not everyone can post in an RPG every day, or even every week. These things have been taken into account, so that members will not feel pressured to participate more than they want, or are able to. The goal here is to get everyone involved, and have fun doing it. Now, onto the basics.[/font] [font=trebuchet ms][center][size=5][b]:::The Story:::[/b][/size][/center] It?s the present day, and The Legionnaires are the world?s greatest hope for survival. They are heroes-for-hire, and just as motivated by the paycheck as they are their sense of duty. The Legionnaires is a hero syndicate and they have assembled the world?s greatest heroes: soldiers, magicians, cowboys, robots, swordsmen and various others to help complete their missions. That, in effect, is the basis of this RPG. You are The Legionnaires, and your characters will interact and accomplish various missions throughout the course of the game. But be warned, these missions are dangerous, and even the world?s greatest heroes find themselves at the receiving end of a bullet sometimes. Players are going to die, and as the group shrinks down the main storyline will progress. What is this story? You?ll have to play to find out. With each mission a new clue will be unveiled, and perhaps your character will discover the truth before it?s too late. This, for lack of a more exciting term, is a big deal. This is [I]the[/I] Big Deal at OB for the coming months, and should be treated as such. If you?re not in The Legionnaires you?re missing out. [/font] [font=trebuchet ms][center][size=5][b]:::How Posting Works:::[/b][/size][/center] With so many players participating at once, it would be impossible to tell a cohesive story in one thread. Of the players involved, The players will be split to several smaller groups, with each group?s adventures taking place in a specific ?Mission Thread.? Each mission should be looked at as a self-contained chapter in a much larger story, and members will be continually passed back and forth between mission threads and groups as the story dictates. No single player?s story will be quite the same. The entire forum will be playing host to multiple ongoing ?Mission Threads,? with any number of players. Although broader information about missions (ie: who posts where, and the location of the mission) will be available for public viewing, members involved in the individual missions will be debriefed via PM by either myself or a [b]Group Leader[/b]. This information will include posting order, and reveal who (if anyone) is to die during this particular mission.[/font] [font=trebuchet ms][center][size=5][b]:::Group Leaders:::[/b][/size][/center] Each of the Mission Threads will be assigned a designated "Group Leader.? This Group Leader is a founding member of The Legionnaires, and holds authority over the rest of their group during missions. Unlike regular players Group Leaders remain in their designated Mission Thread throughout the course of the RPG, but as Group Leaders they will play more pivotal roles in the storyline than many players. This is not to say that Group Leaders are exempt from death, quite the contrary. Among The Legionnaires, being a Group Leader is a highly coveted position, but does require a greater amount of commitment from the player. As the game progresses, it?s more than likely that several Group Leaders will be killed. Their roles may or may not be replaced as the story dictates. [b]Members will be approached to become Group Leaders based on the quality of their sign-ups.[/b][/font] [font=trebuchet ms][center][size=5][b]:::Who Lives and Who Dies:::[/b][/size][/center] As the story progresses, The Legionnaires are going to be finding themselves in all sorts of trouble. Because of this, many,many, [i]many[/i] characters will be killed during the course of the RPG. Every so often several characters will be chosen at random, and of those choices you, the members, will vote for your favorites. Simply put, the popular vote survives. This voting will take place in [b]Body Bags[/b], a series of regular voting threads whenever execution time begins. Those who are to die during their missions will be informed via PM on their mission debriefing.[/font] [font=trebuchet ms][center][size=5][b]:::Underground and Arbiter:::[/b][/size][/center] Members will know which threads they have been assigned to via [b]The Legionnaires Underground[/b], which will contain an up-to-date team roster, group assignments, posting order, and play host to any questions players may have regarding the RPG itself. This thread will be one of two Legionnaires threads to be posted out of the Community Events forum. The other will be [b]The Legionnaires: Arbiter[/b] and will be a place for members to post side stories, poems, or anything else related to The Legionnaires that would be out of place in the Mission Threads. The Legionnaires: Arbiter is a chance for players to expand the histories of their characters, and feature them in all new adventures that take place out of the confines of the main story. Also, myself and Group Leaders will be divulging various information regarding The Legionnaires, their opponents and the world at large through Arbiter.[/font] [font=trebuchet ms][center][size=5][b]:::Sign-Ups:::[/b][/size][/center][b] Code Name / Call Sign: Gender (If Applicable): Location: Age: Personal Appearance (Images are acceptable): Personality/Behavior: Personal History: Special Skills or Abilities:[/b][/font] [font=trebuchet ms][center][size=5][b]:::Other Required Sign-Up Fields:::[/b][/size][/center] Different ?Mission Threads? may contain different OB thread so as not to alienate any one group of membership. Also, it is unrealistic to expect a full commitment from everyone. [b]Player?s Availability (How often will you be able to post? There is no such thing as too much or too little): Which Otaku Thread Rating Do You Expect Your Posts To Fall Under? (E - Everyone, PG - Parental Guidance, M - Mature):[/b] Some people may only be able to post on a weekly, or even bi-weekly basis. By providing us with the following information in your sign-up, we will be able to better place your character within the confines of the story. [b]Please post your sign-up in THIS THREAD.[/font] [size=1]That's all I've got. Sign-ups start now, and end [b]August 21st[/b]. Any questions regarding sign-ups can be posted in this very thread. The Underground thread will launch with the RPG itself. Group Leaders will be announced in The Underground, along with the completed team roster. There is no set number of members I'd like to allow, although things will obviously loosen up a bit since so many members are needed to participate. However, we will not sacrifice quality of the project just for the sake of letting a large number of members in. Do your best to create a character you would like to play as, since the priority here is having fun. -Shy[/size] :whoops:

[size=1]So how exactly does the roleplaying portion of this RPG work? Are all of the characters supposed to exist in the same world, or even interact with one another? What kinds of characters are you expecting, and what kind of stories do you intend to tell with them? Oh, and do people sign-up in this thread or The Inn? -Shy[/size]

[font=trebuchet ms][center][size=3][b]Issue #9: Scandal[/size][/center][/b] Jolinda began to shudder and shake from the cold outside. It was three in the morning, and the film siren was forced into hiding from the vicious press on the rooftop of her small flat. Although she didn?t bother to look down once, she knew they were still there. Every few moments a brilliant flash would appear from the streets below; another sleazy photographer hoping to get an exclusive look at the heartbroken star of ?My Hero.? Living in the tallest building on Waltz street, she could evade the cameras for the evening. Here she was, a star, trapped on top of her home in a faded gold nightgown. It was a long night, and she had only managed to nod off to sleep for a few stolen moments. It was going to be an even longer day. As the sun rose hours later she slowly crept downstairs into her home. Her personal possessions had been scattered along the floor, the phone was off the hook, and there was a hole in the window. Someone, or multiple someone?s, must have been broken in the night before. Right away she noticed that all of the personal photographs that once adorned her walls had disappeared. Jolinda sighed, but ignored the mess and headed straight for the bathroom. It was six, and in only a few hours she was expected to audition for a new feature film project. Although action adventure had gotten her name in the public spotlight, they meant little to her. She knew that to be taken seriously as a talent she needed to get herself starring roles in more dramatic pieces. This audition was her big break, she was auditioning to play Joan of Arc. This was the type of work she could be proud of, and she all too well that the Academy looked kindly on female leads who died at the end of their pictures. She stared into the mirror for a moment, examining the dark circles under her swollen eyes. It had been days since she got a good night?s sleep, and since she had learned about Larry?s infidelity all Jolinda seemed to do was cry. No amount of make-up was going to do the work of a full night?s rest, hopefully the producer?s of the film wouldn?t notice. ?So are you familiar with the story of Joan of Arc?? The director asked, stroking his long, pointed beard, ?It?s such a universally profound tale, you?d be surprised how many people don?t know a thing about the real Joan.? ?Well when I lived in Redeem my Mother would always tell us Bible stories, or stories about great people who died for the Lord, it was just one of her eccentricities. But Joan of Arc was a young woman living in France during one of their wars with England, and then she heard the voice of God and decided to cut off her hair and enlist in the army.? ?You?re right so far,? the Screenwriter let out a grin, ? Then what happened?? ?And then Joan fought with the armies of France, and won. She saw visions of the battles to come, because God put them there, and because of that she was unstoppable. In her last vision she saw her own capture, but she didn?t try to run away. She knew it was her destiny, or something. It was her calling.? ?And then??? ?And then? they burned her at the stake, right? Sad story that one was.? The group let out an uncomfortable fit of laughter. Jolinda feigned a smile. ?You seem to know yer stuff, doll face. Would you mind if we ask you to??? The Director motioned towards the door. ?Oh, no problem! I?ll be outside, waiting, sir!? She rushed out of the small room and closed the door behind her. For a moment she waited patiently, until the sound of voices started to emanate from a window a few feet down. Slowly Jolinda walked over, and realized she was able to hear in on the results of her audition. ?So whaddya? think? She?s certainly got the looks.? ?Tired and crazy, yeah. Poor thing has circles under her eyes my kids could hula-hoop with.? ?Well, the studio told us she is going through a difficult time with her divorce?? ?People aren?t gonna flock into theaters to see [I]that[/I]. We?re going with realism here, but Hollywood realism. This is a business after all.?\ ?Is it too late to call up Liz Taylor?? ?Liz Taylor? That will be half of our budget right then and there.? ?Look. I don?t care how great this Jolinda girl is, you know the Studio doesn?t want us to give her any work in the first place.? ?That damn husband of hers?? ?That damn husband of hers helped get this Studio on the map. What Larry wants, Larry gets.? ?It?s a shame..? ?Yeah, I know. Let?s call her in and tell her the bad news.? Tears began to roll down Jolinda?s face as she heard her name being called. She darted in the opposite direction, running past the various soundstages and employees. Quickly she made her way to the entrance, enclosed by an enormous metal gate. Alongside the gate was a humble security guard, Mike, whose only job for the past twelve years had been to open and close the gate with the simple press of a button. He sat in a small enclosed shack, listening to the radio and eating a cheese sandwich. ?Mrs. Goode!? Mike called out, ?You leavin? so soon? How did the audition go?? ?[I]Miss[/I] Goode,? Jolinda made every attempt to keep her composure, ?Tell the men at the Studio that I have lost interest in the project. This place is beneath me!? ?That?s too bad, but I know how you movie stars get with your egos. You want I should call you a cab?? ?No thank you, just open up the damn gate. I need to get out of here as soon as possible.? Suddenly, the radio interrupted their regularly scheduled program for an important news bulletin. [I]?This is Walter Mitchum at KEYS radio news with a special report. Larry B. Goode, famed movie producer and agent, was found dead in his hotel room only moments ago, of repeated stab wounds. No witnesses were at the scene, and police are unwilling to name any suspects. Please stay tuned to KEYS radio for more information at the story develops.?[/I] Mike looked as if he was staring at a ghost, Jolinda stood motionless in front of the gate. ?You? I?. I?m sorry about your loss.? There was an awkward pause. Jolinda fell to her knees. ?Actually, actually please call me a cab. I need?. I need? I need to see my husband.?[/font]

[size=1]Titles are hard, but writing everything else is even harder.[/size] [quote][center][font=trebuchet ms][size=5]The Last One [PG-V][/size][/center] It?s been five days and I still taste him. His sweat, his desires, his heart, I feel it all pumping inside of me. For a moment his passion was mine, his love and his desires belonged only to me. Now I sit here, a lonely face with an empty glass, hoping the next drink can dull these feelings quelled up inside. Every night he walked into this place, smiling at the bartender and giving her just enough of a tip so that she would smile back. One could set their watch to the punctuality of his visits. He was a man with a million places to be, but still found the time to make an appearance. He always wore a suit, the type a man should wear while reading ?The Great Gatsby,? or another arcane novella from days gone by. This most unique style of dress was highlighted by a bright necktie, which changed each night. One thing that never changed was his drink, a shot of whiskey and a glass of ale to wash it down with. He had a million places to be, and whatever those places were, he needed to get there drunk. The patrons knew him well, some more than others. With his proper manner of speaking, and polite demeanor he had become known as ?The Ambassador.? In our time together I only knew him as ?Walt.? Walt was quick to tell a joke, or make a new friend, but only rarely took a real interest in someone and for one special evening I was that someone. Although he didn?t remember, we had met before. Twice, actually. ?You bought me a drink once,? I smiled; he let out an uncomfortable fit of laughter. It was charming, and filled the room with an air of innocence I had only dreamed about before. Maybe it was the girls from the secretary?s pool I had surrounded myself with, or the way I wore my hair that made me stand out that night, I?ll never know. Walt said little to me, and the noise of the bar covered up our small talk like a blanket. What was said carried little weight, we were just two faceless people in a bar sharing an evening of drinks together. Both of us had our reasons for being there, I just didn?t know he would come and make such an impact on my night. He held my hand softly from behind as I commented on the music being played. Walt agreed, and it was comforting -- he was comforting. He suggested we go outside to smoke a cigarette, I ran my fingers through my hair softly and followed Walt to the door. We took a few steps outside, and he turned to look me in the eyes. The night was young, the moon was full. We had a lifetime of nights to spend together. There, in that one spot, he kissed me on the lips. ?I?ve been waiting to do that all night,? he grinned, the smile spreading across his face. ?So have I,? I held onto him tightly, resting my head against his chest so that I could feel his heartbeat. His fingers traced their way across my figure, and I raised my toes just enough so that I could reach his neck with my lips. Walt flinched, saying the touch of my tongue tickled his neck. I held onto him even tighter than before, pushing us against the cold brick wall in the heat of passion. ?Don?t worry,? I whispered, ?It won?t hurt for very long.? He never made a sound as I bit into his throat. I clenched my teeth, harder and harder, savoring every drop of blood that spilled from my face to the cold pavement. He moaned softly with his last breath, not in pain or desperation, but almost in passion. Within a few moments the body dropped to the floor, cold, dead, only a shell of what been there before. I stood back, looking over my prey a final time before running into the dark city streets for cover. I turn around, and notice the countless windows that adorn the night?s sky. I find myself drawn to them. For the first time I am thankful that I can?t see my own reflection. It was on that night I truly became a monster.[/font][/quote] [size=1]-Shy[/size]

[size=1]The third part of my ongoing "Coma" story. The first two portions can be read by scrolling above and clicking on the link labeled "Coma." Geesh.[/size] [quote][center][font=trebuchet ms][size=5]Coma: Part Three [PG][/size][/center] ?Where are we going?? she asked. ?We?re on patrol, Betty. We?re just looking around the area, making sure there ain?t some kind of suspicious activities going on.? ?Do you ever actually find anything?? ?I found a girl on the side of the road today. A suspicious one, too,? he said, ?Seems to ask a lot of questions and I don?t like questions.? Betty paused for a moment, ??I don?t understand.? ?Of course you don?t, sweetheart. You?re from the big city. But this is the Diamond Pass, and people don?t bother to ask too many questions here? they just know.? ?They know? They know what?? ?Everything they need to. They know what it is I do when I?m driving around, they know what their neighbors do for a living, the principal of the schoolhouse. We don?t got Yellow Pages here. No need for ?em. You learn to live right like I have, and you learn a lot more about the people around you than might elsewhere. And these are all good, solid, right people.? ?It must be nice,? she muttered to herself. ?But one thing I?m itching to know is, if you don?t mind me contradictin? myself in such a way; where are you going, Betty? Not many girls are willing to leave their cars in the middle of nowhere like that.? ?It was a crappy car,? Betty traced the title of the photo album, ?Sweet Memories? with her fingertip, and sighed. Pops the rear view mirror to get a better look at his mustache, ?If you don?t want to talk about it, that?s fine, darlin?. You won?t have been the first woman who ever gave ol? Pops the silent treatment.? He just smiled, humming a song about someone?s hometown in Georgia, and the young girl who had died there. Pops had never been there before, but held a special affinity to music about the state. When he was younger he had dreamed about finding his own young girl from Georgia, and maybe writing a song about her as well. In his fantasy, obviously, she didn?t end up dead. Randomly, Pops vocalized his train of thought. ?You know, I read once that Georgia was named after the King of England. But that can?t be right, can it? I mean, you think the Georgians would have renamed the place after we kicked the British.? He looked over at the girl, who sat restlessly in her seat. Although she didn?t know where she was going, it certainly couldn?t have been any worse than where she had been. Pops continued, ?It?s just I figured I?d ask you, since your eyes looked so tired. I figured it was because you did a lot of reading. Maybe you?d know.? Betty smiled, ?Maybe they kept the name for George Washington?? ?Or, I reckon? after the war they had better things to do with their time than rename the states. Just kind of interesting when you think about it.? ?Get me something from cooler, would ya??? Pops motioned towards the rear of the car. ?Oh, yeah. Sure.? A menacing set of black iron bars separated the front and back rows; presumably to keep prisoners from maiming the officer who was driving at the time. Behind those dividers sat a simple Styrofoam cooler, comfortably nestled between a bullhorn and a handgun. Betty unlocked the bars, allowing herself to reach a pair of sodas bobbing up and down in the cooler?s melted ice. She opened up Pops? can of ?Ginger Juice? and handed it to him. ?Thank you, kindly,? he looked over, noticing Betty had grabbed herself a drink, ?Just help yourself if you?d like anything.? She sunk into her polyester cushion and stared out the window once more. ?His name is Tim,? Betty muttered, ?He was my boyfriend until a couple of hours ago. He?s the reason I left.? ?Well I?m awfully sorry to hear that.? ?It was just? he cared more about his little fantasy worlds than he did about me. He would come home from work, when he had a job, that is, sit in front of the television screen and connect himself to another 15 hours of Oberon, or Coruscant, or something.? ?Everyone?s got their hobbies. I whittle on Sunday afternoons, and the missus can?t stand how I get sawdust and wood shavings all over the carpet?? ?No. I tried to be supportive, Pops, I really did. He asked me to join his gaming group, and I came along for every meeting of the Dungeon Master?s guild. I even dressed up in those ridiculous outfits for him.? Pops blushed, ?I don?t really think that?s something you ought to spread around. We in the Diamond Pass ain?t so progressive as the rest of Oregon.? ?No, it wasn?t like that. I dressed up for his little nerd conventions, because ?all of the other girlfriends were doing it.? I?ve been Wonder Woman, Elvira, Catwoman,? Betty clinched her fist, ?She-Hulk! I still don?t even know what a ?She-Hulk? is.? The purr of the engine began to soften as the car slowed down. Betty looked at the speedometer of the broken old cruiser, watching it drop lower and lower. Pops pulled over, stopping the cruiser and putting on his parking brake. He exited the car, and leaned over the faded white roof. Betty soon followed. ?We?re here,? Pops took off his glasses for a moment, as if to admire his destination with an untainted view. Betty turned around, noticing a small, rustic, if not completely dilapidated restaurant behind her. ?Pops,? read a neon sign over the diner. Every letter but the second ?P? had managed to burn itself out. ?Is this place yours?? ?Yeah, you could say that. I?ve been starving ever since I stopped to pick you up. I figure now?s as good a time as any to grab ourselves a bite.? Pops closed his door and began to walk towards it. ?You do eat, don?t you? I know how you Medford girls like to look after your figure?? ?Actually, eating sounds great,? she grabbed her purse and photo album once more, following her guide into the diner.[/font][/quote] [size=1]-Shy[/size]

[font=trebuchet ms][center][size=6]Shy's Soapbox[/size][/center] As you may have guessed, this is a blanket thread for my writing on and off of the boards. Rather than create multiple threads for multiple pieces I figure it would be in the forum?s best interest to do this sort of thing. Included here are links to any previous threads containing my writing (at least, the stuff I like) so that it won?t have to be re-posted. Also, contained here will be an index of writings I've done inside of this very thread. As always, your comments and critiques are what I [I]thrive[/I] on. Comments on other threads should be posted in those other threads (unless they are terribly inactive, or have no Underground thread.) General comments on how attractive I am, or how nice I smell may be posted here as well. Many different writings will be posted over time, so feel free to comment on something even if it is not my most recent work. Each piece will contain it's own rating, but generally the content in this thread will be rated [PG] [color=darkblue][size=3][b]Anthology[/b][/size][url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=15420]Video Game Inspired Poetry [E][/url][url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=16941]The Angry Student [PG][/url][url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=20176]More Angry Student [PG][/url][url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=24697]Jealousy [PG][/url][url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=44296]Ice Cream World [PG-LS][/url][url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=45474]Coma [PG-L][/url][/color] [color=darkgreen][size=3][b]Adventure Square[/b][/size][url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=14994]Project Gamer [PG-LV][/url][url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=18461]The Legend of Zelda: World of Ruin [PG][/url][url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=24914]Don?t Shoot the Goomas [PG-LV][/url][url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=33962]Kill Adam: Volume 1 [M-LSV][/url][url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=43281]Star Wars: Rebel Scum [PG-LV][/url][url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=41246]hero [PG-LV][/url][url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=44747]Vignette [PG-LSV][/url][url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=41330]Kill Adam: Volume 2 [M-LSV][/url][url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=45628]BeatleMania: Redux [PG-LV][/url][/color] [color=indigo][size=3][b]Inside This Thread[/b][/size][/color]The Gorgon [PG-L]Coma: Part Three [PG]The Last One [PG-V][/font] [quote][center][font=trebuchet ms][size=5]The Gorgon [PG-L][/size][/center] ?It was nice to see you tonight,? he kissed me softly on the lips, ?It?s always nice to see you.? ?No, it isn?t,? I shrugged it off, trying not to stare into his eyes, ?But it?s nice of you to say that.? I had looked into Ryan?s eyes once before, and lost a year of my life in the process. Here I was 365 days later with an empty heart, and whatever it is one could call our relationship. The times had changed, but we had not. I just stood there, waiting, looking into those eyes and ignoring the world around me. To me he was a Gorgon, a monster. ?I wouldn?t say something I didn?t mean,? he reached out for my hand. I pulled away. ?You?ve always done it in the past. I?m not expecting you to change for me? not anymore.? He smiled. ?Are we really going to have this conversation now? I thought we were happy with how things were.? ?I was never happy with how things were. All I said was that I was willing to wait, and get some sort of definition on what I am to you.? ?And what exactly do you want to hear?? He stepped back, raising his voice slightly, ?Do you want me to say that I?m in love with you?? ?I want you to say something sincere. I want you to completely disregard my feelings for once. Just be honest. I want to hear the truth.? ?Now you?re the one saying things they don?t mean?? He was right. I didn?t want to hear the truth. ?Am I--? I took a shallow breath, trying to maintain some sort of composure, ?[i]Was I[/i] ever anything more than an easy fuck to you?? Ryan opened his mouth. The words flowed slowly but surely out of it, but I can?t remember a single thing he said. It didn?t matter, either. No matter what those words were, I knew at that moment we were over. We both knew, although I imagine he figured it out a lot sooner than I did. This was my lot in life. ?I can tell you I?m sorry,? Ryan closed his eyes for a moment, ?You knew what you were getting into?? As he began to trail off, I wrapped my arms around his waist. I leaned in closer, giving Ryan our final kiss. It was a sweet gesture, if not one completely devoid of passion. Even after a year together, I doubt that he could tell the difference.[/font][/quote] [size=1]-Shy[/size]

[QUOTE=Siren]Isn't it obvious? Screw flight. Screw heat. Screw super strength. Hell, even screw ice powers. My super power of choice would be the ability to shoot Anti-Symantec Death Rays from my finger tips. It would be the best power ever. I could rid the world of the evil that is Symantec.[/QUOTE] [size=1]For a second I thought you wrote "Anti-Semetic Death Rays," and I started laughing uncontrollably because of how inappropriate that was. And then I realized what you actually wrote, and laughed even harder. Oy. As for super-powers, I think telekenisis would be really nifty. With an insane amount of practice, you could do just about whatever you want with it. Flying? Sure! Force-fields? No problem! Split someone's spinal cord in half? Great! Not that I'd ever use my powers for evil... mm... -Shy[/size]

[size=1]How mundane... and not in a bad way... this just feels like something I'd write. It's very real, almost to the point where I feel like this is in the wrong forum. I could share a few work-related stories of my own right now, heh. You pretty much nailed an employee's complete and utter disrespect for their customers in this one. Especially when you sell something like Meatloaf, it's difficult to respect the people who come in at 11am to purchase it. It also amuses me the politics of working at such an insignificant job. The fact that you can call someone at Boston Market your "bitch" is ridiculous, but very telling. This is exactly the kind of stuff I touched on in my "Ice Cream World" story, and I think there's a lot of untapped potential in telling these kinds of offbeat and suburban stories. Well done, Alex. -Shy[/size]

[font=trebuchet MS]?Here we are again,? Abby stared down at the small computer screen she held in her palm, ?834 Pepper Lane.? The year was 2093, and at one point in the timeline, this point, 834 Pepper Lane belonged to Miss Abigail Rhodes. The humble London flat was the closest thing she ever knew to a home, and Abby just wanted to see it one more time on this, her day off. In less than a decade a massive electro-hover transport would derail, killing hundreds and destroying this entire neighborhood. It was one of the saddest says in Abby?s life, which is why she didn?t make a point of visiting it often. Technically she wasn?t supposed to interact with parts of the timeline that effected her, since with any time travel there is a risk of paradox and contamination. Although she lived by the rules, this was one of the few occasions in which she would deviate. And she would deviate often, interacting with old schoolmates, people who had been rude to her on the subway, anyone whose path she had crossed during her formative years. It was her mission, her real mission, trying to overcome the losses she had sustained as a child. The T.C.A. paid the bills, and made her ?therapy? (as she called it) entirely possible. More importantly, what she was doing was illegal. If Abigail were to ever create a noticeable disturbance in her own timeline, she would be tried to the fullest extent of the T.C.A.?s authority. She was playing with fire just standing there and admiring her childhood home. ?Abigail,? a voice called out from afar, ?You know you?re not supposed to be here.? Abigail froze, turning her head slightly to see who had discovered her whereabouts. There stood an older woman in a sun dress, staring down at a young girl - Abby as a child. Little Abby sat there quietly in the distance, picking a bright yellow flower that was growing in one of the planters. Abigail let out a sigh of relief, and watched the small scene play out between herself as a young girl, and her elderly caretaker, Ms. Porter. ?Why are you outside, Abby? You know your parents wouldn?t want you playing outside. It?s not safe.? ?I wanted to pick flowers,? Abby replied, ?I?m very safe!? The older woman glared. ?No, not at all. You know in East Africa someone made a special kind of flower that makes you sick when you pick it, people are getting ill all over the nation. In this day and age you don?t know what to trust anymore, not even the flowers.? ?But a flower is just a flower, Ms. Porter. I don?t understand.? Ms. Porter grabbed Abby?s small hand and began pulling her towards the flat. ?Your parents have a lot of enemies, Miss Rhodes. It?s safer for the both of us if we keep you inside.? The two went inside the flat, Abby still struggling to stay outdoors. Oddly enough Abigail Rhodes, T.C.D. agent, didn?t remember this exchange ever happening. She picked up the flower she had dropped so many years earlier, and sighed. [b]BEEP! BEEP![/b] Abby?s T.C.D. beeper blared as she pulled it from her pocket. ?Time disturbance, 1965. England? read the beeper?s alert screen.[/font] [size=1]-Shy[/size]

[left][color=darkblue][font=trebuchet MS][center][size=4]Up, Up and Away[/size][/center] ?Nothing personal, lady,? Jack threatened his hostage with a pistol, ?I just needed [I]somebody[/I] and you were there.? ?I understand, but I think you made a poor choice.? ?And why?s that?? ?Don?t you ever read the [I]Daily Planet[/I]?? The ground began to tremble. Lois smiled. ?Let?s just say I?ve got friends in high places.?[/font][/color][/left]

[size=1]So for all of you New Zealanders out there, I pose this question: How many of you like, or have even heard of this band? I heard them on a local radio station here in the US (they play international music during the weekends) and became addicted to their single "Raindrop." I'm just interested in knowing more about them, their current album, and their past releases. [center][img]http://www.degreesk.com/children/images/large/47.jpg[/img] [i]degrees.k, I think.[/i][/center] Unfortunately none of this band's music is available in the States, or even on the larger online music sites I frequent. It would be possible to purchase an import album; but my complaint is that the CD I want only contains about ten tracks and would not be worth the ridiculous 30 dollar price tag. Their latest release "Children of the Night Sky" is pretty good from what I have heard so far. Really, I was only able to listen to the "Raindrop" song in its entirety once, and everything else has only been in short samples available on their website. Um, yeah. If anyone out there has a way of getting this music to me, I'd be more than grateful. I don't buy a lot of import music, and I don't want to spend 30 American dollars on a handful of tracks. You can learn slightly more about degrees.k at their website by clicking [url=www.degreesk.com]here.[/url] -Shy[/size]