Allamorph

[QUOTE=Raiha][COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]*child-like head tilt* What's a 'gaunt'?[/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE] [FONT=Arial]One that didn't bother to get capitalized. [B]Edit:[/B] Or, on second thought, it could be a concept I haven't yet finalized and accidentally switched with another. The creepy-meter remains the same, though.[/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri]Nicholas Flaherty sat cross-legged on the hotel bed farthest from the door. It was a fairly standard bed: slightly lumpy in places, with too-soft pillows, an itchy comforter, and that same brown faux-velvet blanket thing that always rested beneath the comforter and the sheets. Vellux, he thought it was called. The reason for its existence eluded him. He had pulled the deskâ??also standard, this one rectangularâ??into the walkway between the two beds and was studiously oiling his gun, a Ruger Blackhawk revolver that looked out of place with the era, even in his current cheap surroundings, and the same gun that had replaced his old Beretta several years ago. Nicholas didnâ??t trust automatics. They jammed. His ears registered the click of the lock, but he declined to look up. A glance at the digital clock on the nightstand told him it was time for Claget to return, and sure enough it was the recently imbued Hunter who stepped through the door. [b]â??And?â?[/b] Nicholas asked, dispensing with greetings. [b]â??Piggies,â?[/b] confirmed Claget, equally terse. He nudged the door shut with his foot and drew the chain. [b]â??Good tip.â?[/b] Claget didnâ??t answer. The bed across from him sighed as his partner sat down, and Nicholas heard him draw out his laptop and flip it open, his hand drifting into Nicholasâ??s peripheral vision to plug its power adaptor into the outlet over the nightstand. Claget was undoubtedly checking Hunter-Net as he did every other night; Nicholas waited until enough time had passed for him to sign in before speaking. [b]â??Thereâ??ve been a lot of piggies lately. I wonder if thereâ??s a connection.â?[/b] [b]â??Dunno,â?[/b] said Claget. [b]â??Someone posted a notice about another herd of them a while ago; looks like Eraser took care of it.â?[/b] Nicholas raised an eyebrow. [b]â??Probably wasnâ??t too obvious about it, either.â?[/b] [b]â??Heh.â?[/b] There was another moment of silence. Nicholas finished his oiling and held his weapon up to eye level, giving the cylinder a test spin. Satisfied, he began slipping cartridges into the chambers. He had no fear of an accidental misfire; single-action revolvers only fired after their hammers were cocked manually, since the trigger couldnâ??t do the job. Better than a safety. Clagetâ??s fingers paused their skittering over the keyboard, and he made an amused noise. [b]â??Sheildâ??s taking down a ghast soon,â?[/b] he remarked. [b]â??Hmm?â?[/b] Nicholas spun the cylinder again. [b]â??Yeah, Optical posted it for him.â?[/b] He flicked a few more keys. [b]â??She says itâ??s a big one, wants people to bring in high-level ordinance.â?[/b] Nicholas smirked. [b]â??Too bad,â?[/b] he said. [b]â??Sounds like it would have been fun.â?[/b] He sighted down the barrel to the corner of the ceiling, keeping his thumb away from the hammer. [b]â??Or at least more interesting than another herd of these accursed pigs.â?[/b] [b]â??You getting tired of this already?â?[/b] Claget queried, shooting him a grin. [b]â??Itâ??s just boring after a while,â?[/b] answered Nicholas. [b] â??Itâ??s always the same thing. Go in, shoot up the station, wait for the patrols to arrive for backup, take â??em out, mourn the casualties.â?[/b] He put his revolver on the nightstand and retrieved his scabbard from the back corner, unsheathing his sword to oil it as well. [b]â??I donâ??t like routine.â?[/b] Eyeing the Ruger, Claget switched the topic. [b]â??Iâ??m telling you, man, you need to get another gun.â?[/b] Nicholas raised an eyebrow. Theyâ??d had this conversation several times before, always ending the same way; by now their responses were almost reflex. [b]â??And I want to know whatâ??s wrong with the one I have?â?[/b] he retorted, continuing the game. [b]â??The barrel,â?[/b] said Claget, like always. [b]â??Itâ??s too long. Something comes at you hard and fast, youâ??ll never get it out of your holster in time.â?[/b] [b]â??Right,â?[/b] Nicholas murmured. This reaction would be interesting to watch. [b]â??So I ordered one.â?[/b] [b]â??Youâ??re kidding.â?[/b] [b]â??No,â?[/b] Nicholas assented,[b] â??I checked a few sources and had one sent to a drop box a few states north of here.â?[/b] He dug a piece of paper out of his pocket and tossed it to the other bed. [b]â??Here. I think youâ??ll like it.â?[/b] Claget unfolded the slip and scanned it. [b]â??A Ruger Redhawk Alaskan.â?[/b] He snorted. [b]â??Another revolver?â?[/b] [b]â??Double-action,â?[/b] said Nicholas, [b]â??since you complained about my rate of fire. Also very short, so itâ??ll be great for a shoulder-holster.â?[/b] [b]â??And itâ??s a four-five-four Casull,â?[/b] continued his partner. [b]â??Jesus, man, thatâ??s bigger than the one youâ??ve got now!â?[/b] He caught Nicholasâ??s stern glance and sighed. [b]â??Sorry, Preachâ??. Old habits.â?[/b] [b]â??For we know that our old self was crucified,â?[/b] returned Nicholas, [b]â??so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.â?[/b] Claget chuckled. [b]â??And which part was that?â?[/b] he half-sneered. [b]â??Romans 6:6.â?[/b][/FONT]

[quote name='Indi][COLOR="Indigo"']It's not obvious in my post, but my character is not located where the rest of you all are having fun. That will come later, so if you all could not include me in your posts unless I tell you to, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.[/COLOR][/quote] [FONT=Arial]Still stands, by the way. I were told to. :D Also, I left a few words out of that verse. Flaherty tends to misquote things.[/FONT]

[QUOTE=Gavin][CENTER][SIZE="1"][IMG]http://zeitgeistglee.250free.com/WinduForceCrush.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] That is all.[/SIZE][/QUOTE] [FONT=Arial]You are not black, nor are you awesome. Your Force is not strong. However, I hear laughing does wonders for the body these days....[/FONT]

"So I just . . . walk up to the guards and talk to them?" Nathan and Phaidra strode down the dirt road leading to the resort's front gate, tiny puffs of dust rising with every strike of their shoes. Sarvel the fox floated to Phaidra's left, quiet since the violation of one of her tails earlier. Nathan hoped he hadn't permanently scared the little thing. "Something like that, yeah," he replied encouragingly. He knew the fox's owner was scared, or at least a little trepidatious, at the prospect of handling such an exposed role fresh out of her homeworld. He at least had been afforded almost four centuries to build up his confidence before being tossed into the frayâ??and he hadn't started with covert missions, either. "It shouldn't be a problem, really," he went on. "Just talk to them. You'll be fine. Sarvel should probably stay out of sight, though," he added thoughtfully. "Painted foxes might make people suspect something. Especially bejeweled ones." He gestured at the Elemental's markings and decorative trinkets. Sarvel sniffed. "Silly humans." The remark made Nathan grin. Phaidra wasn't convinced. "Won't they suspect something anyway?" she asked. "Well, yeah, but that's mostly because they won't be used to dealing with people on foot, or in the dead of night," explained Nathan. "But that can work to our advantage. "See, if you just walk up and ask to be let through, they'll most likely turn you away. It's their job. But if you keep talking, and make up some ridiculous story that you think no one in their right mind would believe, they're liable to hesitate and make sure it isn't true because no one in their right mind would make it up. They'll think they have to check and make certain it isn't, and that's the diversion Alex and Chris will need to get behind them and get rid of them. "It's a principle I've used many times before: people will believe a lie, especially a strange lie, because they're afraid it might be true. And the more you act like it's true, the likelier they are to worry that it really is." He stopped and faced her. "And don't worry about anything going wrong. I'll be nearby the whole time, and if I think you're in trouble you can't get out of then I'll step in and do something." Privately, he figured it would have to be something utterly ludicrous, but he didn't think it would come to that. Phaidra looked like a woman who had been used to giving as well as getting orders, so he felt she was completely capable of assuming the attitude required to cow the guards into confusion. He clapped her shoulder. "I'm going to step off the road now," he told her, "but I won't be far." He grinned again. "Knock 'em dead." With that, he glided past the shinigami mage and melted into the shadows. Phaidra briefly wondered how that was possible with the garish outfit he wore.

[FONT=Arial]So last night I remembered it was Ani-Monday [I]before[/I] ten (for once), and caught this really peculiar movie called [B]Black Jack[/B], for reasons I can't right now fathom—aside from it being the main character's apparent moniker. Said character is a doctor—an unlicensed mercenary surgeon, to be specific, who charges exorbitant fees to perform complex, high-risk surgeries. (Which, admittedly, I had already explained with the 'mercenary surgeon' bit, but eh. Hooray redundancy.) Dr. Black Jack is a tall man who dresses almost exclusively in a tuxedo with a stringy red bowtie and a black topcoat, though unsurprisingly (at least to me) he doesn't bother using the coat's arms. His face . . . well, his face looks like this: [CENTER][IMG]http://bbdf21.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/blackjack1.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] From a little research, it appears that this was an OAV to a popular manga dating back to the 1970s. The art style, which reminds me alternately of what I've seen of Astro Boy (except colored), Street Fighter and Cyborg009, confirms this, of which I have two minds. I do enjoy the attention to detail given the majority of the adult characters, and several of the stills were quite pretty (if a little unnecessary), but I am rather not fond of the tube-legs of Pinoko or the massive schnozz of one of the pretentious art dealers, but what can ya do. The plot is a medical sci-fi thriller (or it tries to be; whichever) with a couple of propaganda themes, one of which runs underneath the surface nicely until it is thrust to the forefront because of time constraints apparently, and the other of which is shoved into the audiences face, up their nose, and into their hair like a banana creme pie after a tap on the shoulder. Also known as: Wut. The gist of the plot is thus: a fourteen year old girl whom Dr. Black Jack had operated successfully on two years prior for cancer has suddenly relapsed, despite the tumor's clean removal. The girl dies shortly after the doctor arrives, but the autopsy reveals that the cause of death was not relapse but instead advanced aging of every internal organ simultaneously, as if the girl were seventy-five or older. Coincidentally, the girl was a virtuosic artist, deemed another of the recently dubbed 'superhumans'; her last painting, gifted to Black Jack, received offers in excess of $1.5 million, which at that time was still a great deal of money for a private party to spend. Through various measures, the doctor's services are next secured by the Brain Pharmaceutical company, who are currently caring for the last surviving superhumans at their private research facility. Apparently, every person who had been dubbed 'superhuman' two years prior at the Atlantis Olympics (hey, that's what I saw on the sign) has fallen under a malady similar to the one that befell the recently deceased fourteen year old girl, and Black Jack has been hired to find a cure. Naturally, he does so, arriving at his singular conclusion in under a week; given his reasoning, I thought it highly convenient that no one on the blue-ribbon staff he had been placed in charge of made a similar connection. But such is media. :p The cause of the disease appears to be human experimentation performed by the Brain corporation. Moments after the doctor learns this news, the facility is virtually overrun by a medical watchdog organization known as MSJ—which in my mind is one letter too close to MSG—and all research is shut down. The woman in charge flees, but Black Jack resourcefully tracks her down and confronts her; she readily confesses, and then reveals that the wine they had shared during the conversation (hello, red flag much, anyone?) had been laced with a concentrated version of the drug that had caused the disease, intending to forcibly coerce the doctor into helping her find a cure. The rest of the movie revolves around what they call in the military 'hurry up and wait-for-drama', and then five minutes from the end of the movie comes the startling banana cream pie about the environment (WHAT???), Black Jack fades into obscurity, cue credits. All that to say "hunh". No, I was impressed by the concept. The plot was rather intriguing, and the voice-acting more often than not did the movie credit. But the presentation I felt was sorely lacking; there were too many conveniences, too many moments of overdrawn tension, or unprecedented and unresolved drama, or long-winded confessions by the villain. The ending, though well-designed, was glossed over as if by Speed Racer, and again that consarn Greenpeace-esque "save the earth" plug there at the end was pure contrivance, like Christianity in Beowulf. I didn't think the movie a waste of my night, but I do think it would have been better as a novel.[/FONT]

[quote name='Korey][FONT="Franklin Gothic Medium"']I had to play Seung Mina, Xiang Hua or another high tier character just to be in the loop.[/FONT][/quote] [FONT=Arial]That's actually rather amusing to me, what since my second and third characters are those same two in that order, and chosen because I like their styles. I could care less about 'tiers'. That's a load of arbitrary crap to me. But I agree, since my Talim got royally frilled with in 3. (So I hear. Although that could just be the button-spammers talking, and not people who could actually string her moves together.) Talim was just shy of broken in 2, what with the Double Crescents doing so much damage and not having any weaknesses and all, and she didn't need stances to attack from any-which-a-way. =P[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]I suppose my questions now are: when are submissions closed for voting?; and how long will voting be open? I've refrained from looking at the entries until now, but I kinda want to get movin', ya know? :p[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Buddy, you have no idea. [I]*grin*[/I][/FONT]

[QUOTE=Darren][SIZE="1"]Lastly, I can't stress this enough: [SIZE="4"]DO NOT MARRY HER![/SIZE] I know that some of the other members have suggested it, but this might not be the best option for you. I should know: My brother and his girlfriend got married briefly after they had his first-born, and they didn't even make it a full year. Now this could have something to do with how much they loved each other. (Because I've always thought his definition is more on the lust side) But just the same, having a child and trying to become an independent family is one of the most stressful things a young couple can go through. (Again, I've seen this first-hand) It's best to wait and see if you both still want to be together after the rough times are over. If you decide to get married afterwards, go for it. If you decide to split up, then you'll have had the child-rearing experience (and hopefully maturity) to know what to do next. Plus, you won't have to go through the annulment process.[/SIZE][/QUOTE] [FONT=Arial]Respectfully, man, that is possibly the most cynical, pessimistic, hopeless take on the situation I can think of. And I know you mean well. But I think you're focusing on all the wrong outcomes based on one (or more) scenario(s) you have witnessed. So let's look at your phrasing here and see what doubts you might have caused in the process of trying to help. First, you started with an example of what [I]can[/I] happen and suggest that the possibility should impact the majority of his thinking process. The implied statement behind that is "my brother didn't even make it one year; how long do you think [I]you'll [/I]last?" That's extraordinarily pessimistic; instead of having him ask 'how can this work', you want him to think 'what if it doesn't'? Why? Planning contingencies is one thing, but why set yourself up for failure (which was also implied through the tone)? The more you worry about things going wrong, the more likely you are to believe things have gone wrong. Second, you voiced concerns about your brother's true feelings. Whether you meant to or not, you've now cast doubt into his mind; the implied thought being "what if I [I]don't[/I] really love her?" Again, setting yourself up for failure. If you want to love a girl, then love her. It's part effort anyway. (And [I]I[/I] have personal experience to back that one up.) Third, you're right about the upcoming times being stressful, but you mention them as if they're somehow inherently bad. They are neither; they're just difficult, and they [U]can[/U] [U]be[/U] [U]overcome[/U]. And if this couple [I]does[/I] overcome them together, why would they then want to separate when the fair weather returns? Also, in the big picture the rough times are never really over. You get through one storm and get a few bits of calm before the next one, but with each one you conquer you are better able to face the successive trials. If this relationship lasts through this fire?which it has a good chance to do, despite the possible bleak outcomes?why break what the fire has now forged? And then the part that really gets me: [QUOTE][I][SIZE="1"]Plus, you won't have to go through the annulment process.[/SIZE][/I][/QUOTE] This implies that they'll separate anyway, and not 'officially' joining means less expenses all around. Good advice [I]economically[/I], but again you're focusing on the negative instead of the positive. Again, I know you mean well. But that was a stream of "if this goes south, you're gonna have to do [I]this[/I] and [I]this[/I] and . . . ," and that's just not healthy thinking. Point is, if you want something to work, and you think about how to make it work, your head's better set up to figure out ways to make it work. My father spent a year in México to make things work for us, and he only got to see us one day a month. I betcha he had doubts, too. But he didn't focus on them.[/FONT]

[quote name='Clurr;][FONT="Arial"']And the addition of Star Wars characters is very neat; having a lightsaber fight would be freakin' sweet.[/FONT][/quote] [FONT=Arial]I'm mildly concerned they might end up with a Vader that plays like Siegfried and a Yoda that plays like either Yun-Seung or The Assassin (SC2). But, from looking at how Brawl deleted almost all clones and made some dang good personalized movesets, it's only mild concern. And I second your :[ [quote name='desertphoenix][COLOR="DarkRed"'](Checks Wikipedia), they could of thought of a better name than Starkiller[/COLOR][/quote] Starkiller was the original version of Skywalker. Lucas had started with the idea of a main villain, but kinda got sidetracked; however, I'm fuzzy on the details, since I was only half paying attention when I learned about it.[/FONT]

[quote name='Lonley Fighter']Now about the marrage... after about 10 hours ( seriously... :animesigh) of telling eachother how we really felt it turns out she doesn't want to really think about that right now at this stage which is totally understandable so we both agreed marrage can take a back seat for now and we'll focus mainly on our child and income.[/quote] [FONT=Arial]Hmm. You guys sure you're not making a bigger deal out of it than need be? The reason the institution exists is to publicly recognize the mutual decision of two people who now wish to live as one, and the reason it is 'public' is so that the community can support you. It shouldn't be a term that causes people to quake upon hearing it. However, I agree that the decision cannot be a snap thing. In the Old World, if you (as a man in a male-dominated culture) screwed around and got the same results, instantaneous marriage would be the best means to save face for both parties. Since you seem to be less focused on the 'mistake' and more focused on what you need to do now, I don't really think you have any face in need of saving, so the decision can wait. I would recommend it, though. And I would like to counter both [COLOR="DarkRed"]Roxie[/COLOR] [I]and[/I] [COLOR="DarkRed"]Sandy[/COLOR]; marriage only for the kid or only for the girl, while good reasons, are still flawed. Marry her for both their sakes, and for yours. I think you might be happier that way. Sure seems like that's what's in your head. (^_^) [QUOTE][I]And college as of right now is an option but I don't want to put all that extra pressure on myself and I don't want my shcedule to say, kid, work, college. I know a lot of other people do it but I would much rather prefer kid and work besides, I'm only 18 college can wait a bit.[/I][/QUOTE] That works. And yes, it can. [QUOTE][I]And Allamorph, I'm sorry but I so can't stop being so nice to her, I'm that really nice guy that gets walked over right now.[/I][/QUOTE] Aw shucks, man, don't be sorry. It ain't a bad thing. Besides, I was half-joking anyway.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]I think the upper left block should read "create a new thread [I]and get[/I] ten replies", really. Unless you're really good at hacking and can just start a thread at post eleven. [/jerk][/FONT]

[quote name='yakiimo']I've not put anything in my gallery yet, though. I'm not certain I know how![/quote] [FONT=Arial]Ahh, the FAQ should help you out there; and if not, you can always ask [COLOR=DarkRed]SunfallE[/COLOR] about stuff. She's a friendly person. But! 's fun over here. The trouble is gettin' people to talk now and again, but once you get the hang of that, and don't go tryin' to get too over-serious.... ....stirring up [COLOR=DarkRed]Sandy[/COLOR] is entertaining.....[/FONT]

[quote name='Lonley Fighter']I'm a certified nurse's assistant and I'm working at a hospice center and the pay's great[/quote] [FONT=Arial]That's good news already. Means doing some classes on the side to build up to full nurse is an easy route, and won't really be a problem if you decide you want the status-boost; and yeah, I expect the pay there to be good. [QUOTE][I]and as far as her getting a job I'm kind of against it because, well...she's preganant and what if something happens to the baby so I prefer her not to work,[/I][/QUOTE] Oh, not [I]now[/I], silly. More like after she's had the kid and back to moving again. And as far as I know, working during the first (and possibly the second) trimester isn't really a problem. [QUOTE][I]I was cared for by my foster mom and dad for pretty much my entire life so I don't want my kid to feel like the way I used to you know[/I][/QUOTE] You're a good man for that. Never let anyone tell you different. (^_^) [QUOTE][I]To continue on I right now succumb to her every need no matter what it may be....[/I][/QUOTE] Well, within [I]reason[/I], man. :p I mean, pickles and ice cream ain't so bad, but I expect you to draw the line at the Cribomatic 4000. :D[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Yo, [COLOR=DarkRed]Odin[/COLOR]. When offering advice to a guy who's a little blindsided but trying to do the right thing, the best way to respond is as follows: [CENTER]Offer all advice in a [SIZE="3"]SUPPORTIVE MANNER[/SIZE][/CENTER] Regardless of whether or not you're right on all counts (which is highly debatable), the basic undertone of that post was: "Dude, you're an ***, and now all bright futures are gone, crushed, and burned. Congratulations." Nicely done. Right, [COLOR=DarkRed]Fighter[/COLOR], here's the thing. College is still an option, but it's highly contingent on how many jobs you get. Three full-time jobs will drain you faster than a keg at a frat house; and with the time that kind of extreme commitment requires, you may also end up spending exactly nil time with your kid, who [U]will[/U] need your presence. Now, two or three [I]part-time[/I] jobs would be a more feasible option, but even that might leave you grouchy and short-tempered around a young buoyant kid who doesn't deserve getting snapped at. (Which you would, even if you wouldn't mean to. I've said some really nasty things to my own siblings before I realized my mouth was open. Stuff happens.) If you end up with a full-time job, you can still take a class or two a semester and work through a degree that way. Sure, it's gonna take a lot longer than four years to muddle through, but it's certainly not out of the question; and I'm sure there'll be faculty who can appreciate your situation and who'll be willing to work with you. And in the meantime you're gaining good amounts of work experience to pad your resume. Seeking government aid is your decision to make. That's about all I can say there. And most of all, don't let stuff get ya down. Mistakes happen, but it ain't the end of the world, and least of all your life. It just means stuff gets harder. Like upping the difficulty on life. Definitely pwnable. =P[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Okay, I'm slightly put out because I start making calls to pinpoint the showing time at our drive-in and one of my friends tells me I'm supposed to be at a nice get-together this evening. So frill it, I'll be hanging with friends and totally missing the one movie I wanted to see on opening day. TOMORROW!! TOMORROW!! I LOVE YOU, TOMORROW!! [I]*shot*[/I][/FONT]

[quote name='Raiha][COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]And the reason the Hellhound didn't accidentally kill, viciously maim, or eat the domesticated female dog in his pleasure is [i]because[/i]...?[/FONT'][/COLOR][/quote] [FONT=Arial]Yeah yeah, I know, convenient and what. (Gwyllgi, by the way. Hell Hound is the half-breed by this logic.) I can always make up circumstances that would allow for the situation to occur. But I was kinda lazy while posting that, and didn't feel like rationalizing my steps. =P And hey, you're the one who pulled in the amorphous tentacles.[/FONT]

[quote name='Knuckles' Girl][COLOR="Navy"][FONT="Comic Sans MS"]Hell Hounds[/FONT'][/COLOR][/quote] [FONT=Arial]How convenient. :D [B][U]Gwyllgi[/U][/B] Stronger and faster than their Hell Hound descendants, these razor-tailed beasts almost exclusively make their dens miles from civilization unless they happen to be controlled by another powerful, sentient freak. Pack mentality is strong, and like the Hell Hounds, the gwyllgi alpha is female and usually has from two to four beta males attending her, depending on the size of the pack. The teeth of a gwyllgi are razor sharp, and their powerful jaws can shatter wood and dent iron. They are superb trackers and can maintain a scent through running water if it is fresh enough. Shooting them requires high dexterity and precision, for the beasts are freakishly nimble and often dart in to strike after dodging fire; melee combat is recommended, though no less dangerous. [U]Note:[/U] Hell Hounds were most likely spawned from a chance breeding between a gwyllgi male and a domesticated female dog.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Right now thoroughly digging Joe Satriani's [B]Crystal Planet[/B] album, courtesy of [COLOR="DarkRed"]Raiha[/COLOR], to whom I am now rather obliged. Good ones to check out would be either [URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fp4d0rD05ZU"][COLOR="Blue"]Lights Of Heaven[/COLOR][/URL] or his absolutely tight twelve-bar blues [URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwJdYzvNhWE"][COLOR="Blue"]House Full Of Bullets[/COLOR][/URL]. Man, you have no idea how bad I've been needin' some guitar.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]No back? Oooohh. Then I hope she uses spirit gum, 'cause that'd sag somethin' awful, and in just the wrong location. =P Love the wings' texture in the first one, love the texture on everything [I]but[/I] the wings in the second?seems a little blurry given the relative clarity of the girl. (Jays, I wish I could offer more than this.)[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Because I don't feel like countering pokémon with pokémon. [CENTER][IMG]http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q258/tiki81/Bleach/Ho_and_Ban_Bleach.png?t=1200247484[/IMG][/CENTER] Rock types are weak to water.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Little Richard lives twenty minutes away from our town, and comes to our Kroger to shop for groceries. Although what [I]else[/I] one would do at a Kroger escapes me at the moment.....[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]I'd just like to start by reminding all players who'll be using guns to keep track of your clip size. I get six shots, and then I reload. A P90 can spray bullets, but only fifty at a time. I mean, I don't think we'll be using Alucard's infinite magazines . . . will we, [COLOR="DarkRed"]Talon[/COLOR]?[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Sweet. Guess that means I'll be playing my hand now.[/FONT] [SIZE="1"][U][B]Name:[/B][/U] Nicholas Flaherty [U][B]Hunter-Net Name:[/B][/U] none [U][B]Age:[/B][/U] 36 [U][B]Hair:[/B][/U] Medium-brown [U][B]Eyes:[/B][/U] Grey; the exact hue changes depending on the light. [U][B]Height:[/B][/U] 5?11? [U][B]Weight:[/B][/U] 196 lbs. [U][B]Creed:[/B][/U] Wayward [U][B]Weapons: [/B][/U] [B][URL="http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z158/Allamorph/Misc/ruger_blackhawk.jpg"][COLOR="Blue"]Ruger Blackhawk single action revolver[/COLOR][/URL][/B] ? .44 Magnum; standard six rounds Nicholas considers this throwback to the age of the cowboy a psychological slap in the face to the freaks he hunts; the action of cocking before each shot makes his judgment more deliberate, more inexorable than the quick, easy crack-crack of automatic fire. It also gave spawn to his catch phrase just before he executes his mark: ?Click, click, boom.? [B][URL="http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z158/Allamorph/Misc/ranger.jpg"][COLOR="Blue"]Broadsword and Knife[/COLOR][/URL][/B] ? Fascinated from an early age by the Knights Templar, Nicholas acquired the weapons driven by the belief that he is the necessary revival of the order. He carries this tandem-sheathed duo at the climax of his hunt, to swat aside any less significant freaks or human lackeys. [B][URL="http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z158/Allamorph/Misc/knuckles.jpg"][COLOR="Blue"]Brass knuckles[/COLOR][/URL][/B] ? Nicholas added this weapon for his own amusement after renting [I]Constantine[/I]. The knuckles are the same basic design, except for the metal; Nicholas altered the specifications to silver-plated steel, for obvious reasons. Nicholas? arsenal is not necessarily restricted to these weapons. He uses what he has available at the time, and he is not averse to possible compulsory additions. He also possesses a moderate degree of expertise in martial arts, since he took several classes in his youth?as teenagers are apt to do. [U][B]Edges:[/B][/U] [B]Foresee/Auger/Delve:[/B] Nicholas had experienced visions of the past and future in dreams all throughout his youth. His ?Imbuement? marked both the start of his conscious visions and his attempts to control them; the visions are best facilitated by external influence, such as items of some significance or a certain room. He does not see them as separate abilities, but facets of the same talent, and simply refers to it as his Sight. [B]Demand:[/B] His main offensive Edge. Surviving onlookers have likened Nicholas?s exercise of this supernatural augmentation to a cat spying a bird across a field. His engaging smile disappears and his eyes become cold and hard as he stalks his prey, batting aside the occasional hurled trash can like a plastic bottle. As of now, Nicholas?s years of working solo have given him no instance to discover other latent edges. However, times change.... [U][B]Appearance:[/B][/U] Nicholas stands at about five-foot eleven and looks completely normal. From his hair to his grey eyes to his average physique, Nicholas is almost unremarkable, just another face in the crowd. His posture is not towering, or threatening, or stooped, or wary, or anything that would draw attention to him in any way, and his casual dress is equally forgettable, so that any observer?s eyes simply slide past him without consciously registering his presence. He has no facial hair, no scars, no piercings or tattoos or any other identifying marks; his only unique feature is his countenance, which is almost always quiet yet warm and inviting. [U][B]Biography: [/B][/U] Nicholas grew up in a Christian home, and though the Flahertys were not exactly devout, Nicholas was well-grounded in the doctrine and held firmly to his beliefs. In school he was known for his calm, rational outlook and his staunch will; he sometimes joked with his friends that not even the threat of expulsion bothered him, should such a situation ever arise. His friends always laughed and forgot, since Nicholas was usually the peacemaker when trouble arose and never held a grudge to anyone. After graduation, Nicholas went to college on several scholarships, declaring his major as Criminal Justice, to no one?s surprise. He adapted to the life easily and became somewhat popular in his dorm as the guy who solved problems. And naturally he paid close attention to the frequent discussions of which professors were easy and which were hard, and which were to be avoided at all costs. One of the latter group taught a class required for Nicholas? major, and was one of only two who offered it. When the professor?s name came up in discussion, veteran students claimed he had a vendetta against students; he would allow no one to pass with higher than a D, and he only permitted five students that distinction. When Nicholas remarked that this was both wrong and fundamentally flawed, his peers agreed but mourned that nothing could be done since the professor was tenured, and it was best to just try and avoid him. Nicholas replied there was always a way out, and that he?d think of something. He refused to speak further for the remainder of the semester. Nicholas took the class the next term under the offending professor. The reports had been right; the man was openly antagonistic during lecture and discussion, and repeatedly threw information at his students with less than half an hour?s warning, if that. Nicholas took pains to participate in all discussions, studied fervently, and attempted to ace every test?though he was never certain of the results, since the professor kept all papers. It proved close enough, for the man called Nicholas out the week after the third test for allegedly cheating. Nicholas denied everything and offered to take a second test. When the professor made a remark about cheating again, Nicholas suggested an oral exam on the spot, to which the man quickly agreed; the chance to publicly humiliate an upstart student was apparently too good to pass up, which Nicholas had hoped to be true. Nicholas held up under almost twenty minutes of rapid questioning, never missing a beat. Towards the end he began to provide answers before the questions were finished and started to press the man with counter-questions of his own; at any hesitation on the professor?s part Nicholas provided the correct answer immediately and calmly shot a second one, and then a third, finally delving into the professor?s own research and reciting it from memory only to meticulously shred everything with a steady stream of counter-arguments. Furious, the professor cut him off and began to assault Nicholas verbally, but after a few minutes of silence Nicholas withdrew a tape-recorder from his pocket, smiled, and left the room. That class was the only one Nicholas failed in his collegiate career. It was also the last class taught by that professor. Nicholas presented the tape, along with others he had amassed over the semester, to the dean of the university, and by means of unofficial channels the professor was pressured to resign. The man was unable to find another position anywhere else, and a year later received twenty seconds on the six o? clock news after committing suicide. Said Nicholas: [B]?He was in the way.?[/B] [U][B]Imbuing:[/B][/U] The dream he?d had last night had been the most intense to date. Nicholas had felt like he?d been in a whirlwind, surrounded by chaos and screaming and unable to even figure out where he was, let alone do anything to help, and he?d woken up in a cold sweat. He?d had it again as soon as he?d returned to sleep with the same results, and now this morning he couldn?t shake the fervid images, exerting a continuous effort of will just to keep his eyes on the road. As much as he would like to sort out the raging tempest, such things were best not done while barreling down the highway at eighty miles an hour. The stately house up to which he pulled his bronze Impala thirty minutes later looked as though a tree had crashed into its side?provided the tree was about ten feet around and had been swung by Godzilla. He had come out to interview the residing family, the Riddells, about a bizarre murder they had supposedly witnessed three days ago, but no one he?d spoke with on the force had mentioned that their house was under construction. Or needed to be. He swiped his automatic from his glove box, checked it, and closed the car quietly, creeping carefully to the front patio. He nudged the door with his toe and it swung lazily open. Not a good sign. Reflex led him to clear the room and move swiftly to the kitchen. His stomach churned. Most of Mrs. Riddell lay in the floor on the near side of the mini-bar, facedown. Just as well, since her head and half her torso now provided the new macabre décor. Forcing himself to look away before he added colors of his own to the mix, Nicholas noted that the exterior damage to the house was actually a hole where the sink wall should have been, as if the building had simply been ripped away. There was also a large indistinct tread in the ichor surrounding the corpse; good material for Homicide, he thought. The room was otherwise clear, so he moved to the bedroom hallway. As he passed and cleared the first and second bedroom?the former belonging to a teenage girl, judging from the typical wangsty paraphernalia; the latter her younger sister?s and decidedly pink?he became aware of what sounded like snuffling coming from the master bedroom, at the end of the hall on the right. He approached the door the same as he had entered the house, and as it swung open he caught a glimpse of the tall, hulking backside of something that could not possibly be human. Nicholas froze in disbelief; the . . . thing . . . was sniffing and gnawing on something held up to its misshapen maw, something that Nicholas slowly realized was the body of the husband. The creature was oblivious to his presence, but Nicholas could no longer think or move, only watch in disgusted stupor as it ate. Air brakes sounded out on the street, accompanied by children?s laughter. [I]?The bus. The daughter.[/I] The creature spun, slinging aside the half-eaten cadaver and locking its sunken eyes on Nicholas. Nicholas? gun whipped up and he started shooting, but he was firing in panic, and half his shots went wide. Three bullets struck the beast in the arm and chest, but they only infuriated it, and it cleared the room in a leap, swatting Nicholas back into the room to crash against the bed?s corner post. Nicholas? back screamed at him; he pushed himself up to one elbow and watched as the monster tore its way through the front of the house. The gaping hole it left opened onto the front lawn, and as his head spun he could hear the screaming of a young girl. He saw the creature snatch her up, and he stared, aghast, as it ripped her in half. His dream. He had to stop the demon?for that?s what it had to be. It had left him, the threat, alone to go after weaker prey. It was hunting the family, not exhibiting wild judgment, and he had to stop it before it got the eldest daughter. It was hurting people he should be protecting; it was in his way. Pain flared in his chest and he roared in surprise, but his thoughts focused only on the monster outside, and he stood, his breathing slowing. Against the wall lay a wooden bat; his gun was empty, so he caught it up and followed the path cleared by the beast. It was just standing in the middle of the lawn, holding the girl?s upper body over its head and letting the blood pour into its mouth. The sight reviled Nicholas, and that revulsion fueled his first blow. He broke as many bones as he could, and then some?never saying a word.[/SIZE]