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[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]Excellent sign-ups thus far, ladies and gentlemen. However, this is just to remind everyone that sign-ups are still very much open. No-one is definitely in yet (other than myself and The 10th, of course), and all four open spots are still up for grabs! So don't be afraid to put your all into a sign-up for the chance to join in this RP. I'll talk to The 10th soon and discuss a closing date for sign-ups, by which time we shall make our decisions as to the final cast. This is shaping up to be really good, so thank you very much. [/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]What he said. Just a note on the chapters created by you. The draw of this RP is that we can really span genres with it - one minute we could be in a universe where no-one ever colonised America, the next we could be in one where steam power never became obsolete (mm-mm, steampunk universe). As such, we're looking for really different ideas for each universe - we don't want a universe where the dinosaurs never died out, followed by a universe where lizards are the dominant species - those ideas are too similar. Also, when someone is controlling a chapter, they essentially become God (in out-of-character context). All ideas for that particular chapter will need to go through whoever has created it, not us, although we will have the final say on certain things including the overall plot arc which The 10th and myself will be taking care of. I haven't gone through it with The 10th, but I think a sensible way to plan the chapters would be for the chapter creator to PM myself and The 10th with a simple form, something like this: [U][B]Universe X [/B][/U](where X is probably the chapter number) [B]Characteristics: [/B]A brief description of what is different about this universe, any notable inhabitants and anything else you think could be important. [B]Anomaly: [/B]What is the nature of the anomaly we are attempting to fix? Is there a bizarre creature not of this world roaming around? Buildings appearing where they shouldn't? Aliens attacking Earth for no apparent reason? [B]Mission: [/B]How are we going to go about fixing the anomaly? Once the PM has been sent and approved by us, you will then post it in a similar format (although probably leave out the final section) in this thread for the rest of the group to see. Once that is done, you will begin your chapter in the RP proper. This seems the most straightforward way of doing it, but if anyone has any suggestions then please post them here. Myself and The 10th have had a few in-depth discussions about plot, the mechanics of our abilities and a few other things, so we're pretty knowledgable. If you have any questions, then please don't hesitate to post them here, and we will endeavour to respond as quickly as possible. I think that's all from me for now. Enjoy! [/FONT]

[center][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2][B]Name: [/B]Adam Jackson[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2][B]Age: [/B]28[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2][B]Gender: [/B]Male[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2][B]Appearance: [URL="http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b16/Blayze54/David_ring.jpg"][Adam[/URL][/B][/SIZE][/FONT][B]][/B] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]Adam tries to take care of himself as best he can, but he is often distracted by the wonderful and bizarre things which confront him in new universes. As such, he can seem a little dishevelled at times, but he is still a handsome man with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]His outfit doesn?t tend to change all that much ? he usually wears dark blue or black jeans, a pair of scuffed, beaten-up Doc Martens and some form of t-shirt of button-down shirt, usually a reasonably bright colour, under his well-worn, slightly crumpled brown leather jacket. He also wears his wrist strap at all times and, when he needs to, his mesh gloves.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2][B]Personality: [/B]Adam is capable of almost boundless enthusiasm ? he loves travelling between universe, finding new things and enjoying new experiences. While charismatic and jovial, Adam seems to be a man with a heavy shadow over his soul ? perhaps due to being witness to the destruction of his reality. Beneath his light-hearted and peaceful exterior, Adam has a ruthless streak, and is capable of great ruthlessness and righteous anger. Having witnessed so much bloodshed in his life, Adam has taken an oath never to take a life ? he carries no weapons, and has an almost arrogant disdain for people who do, thinking of himself as ?better? than them.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]However, while his spirit appears dark and sorrowful, Adam is capable of great forgiveness as well as cold fury. He is also incredibly intelligent, far in advance of any of the other members of the group as well as most other humans. Back in his own reality, Adam was an unnaturally gifted young cosmologist, dedicated to researching the possibility of parallel worlds and a way to travel between them. As such, finally getting that opportunity is tremendous boon for Adam, hence his enthusiastic and excitable nature.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2][B]Special Skills: [/B]Adam is both a scientist and a technological wizard ? he can repair and upgrade various pieces of technology with the simplest of tools, and he also seems to understand the mechanics of the Wanderers? abilities, and of the concept of parallel universes better than the others in the group. As such, he is usually the first one to travel through a tear, where he will ensure that everything is safe for the rest of the group.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2][B]Weapons/Equipment: [/B]As stated before, Adam carries no weapons. However, he has a number of pieces of equipment which help him with his repairs and analysis. The first of these is a [URL="http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b16/Blayze54/wriststrap.jpg"][B][leather wrist strap][/B][/URL] which he wears on his left wrist. Contained underneath a flap on this strap is a small screen, which is used to analyse anything from flora and fauna to the air itself ? it tells the reader whether the atmosphere is safe, the classification of various plants and animals, as well as dozens of other pieces of information. He also keeps biological data on each member of the group stored on this device. However, it?s most important function is to alert Adam to the nature of the anomaly that exists in that universe, and allows the Wanderers to track it down and repair it.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]The second piece of equipment he uses is a [URL="http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b16/Blayze54/Sonic_Screwdriver_Mark_2.jpg"][B][silver pen-like device][/B][/URL] which seems to be able to fix almost any electrical fault in other devices. He simply aims one end at the fault, pressed a button on the other end, and the fault is fixed. It also seems to have other uses, but the full extent of these is unknown to Adam at this stage.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]The third piece of technology he uses on a regular basis is a pair of [URL="http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b16/Blayze54/NewblackglovesRashid6.jpg"][B][black mesh gloves][/B][/URL], which allow him to manipulate the doorways between worlds with much greater ease and precision.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]However, he has many other pieces of technology which he uses ? his pockets are often full of bits and pieces, wires and microchips. He sometimes jokes that his pockets are bottomless, as he keeps so many things within them.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2][B]Writing Snippet:[/B][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]A faintly metallic tang filled Adam?s nose and the back of his throat as he raised himself shakily to his feet. He rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand, blinked a few times, and looked around. People bustled to and fro, always busy, always in a hurry to get somewhere. London was always the same: vibrant, multicultural, and ever so hectic.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]Reocvering from whatever had happened to him as quickly as possible, he began patting himself down, checking for injuries.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2][B]"Arms, legs, chest, neck, head, all still there. I think I'm alright," [/B]he said, his voice gravelly, as though he had only just woken up. He coughed a few times to clear his throat, and began looking around to find somewhere he could buy a bottle of water.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]As he did, he took in the sights of Piccadilly Circus, smiling to himself. It must have been a dream, all those thoughts and memories of fire, death and destruction, because this was the same old London, those were the same old people, and in the sky, those were the same old zeppelins...[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2][B]?Zeppelins?? [/B]he murmured to himself, looking at the great flying monsters inhabiting the sky above the city, [B]?There were never zeppelins there before.? [/B]Dozens of them, maybe even hundreds floated above, emblazoned with company logos and personal crests, and no-one down on the streets was taking a blind bit of notice.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2][B]"That's different..."[/B][/SIZE][/FONT] --- [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]EDIT: The Backstage thread is NOW UP! [URL="http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?p=839516#post839516"][B]Click here to access it.[/B][/URL][/FONT][/center]

[center][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2][IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b16/Blayze54/TheWanderersAuditionI.jpg[/IMG] [/SIZE][/FONT][/center] [center][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2][B][U]Prologue[/U][/B][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]Dust and trash fluttered on the cold November breeze as the light rain misted gently from the grey skies above. There was no noise in the deserted streets, just the far-off sounds of a police siren wailing through the late afternoon. The wind howled and whistled through the narrow alleyway, crumbling red brick walls on both sides, and a selection of metal dumpsters taking up most of the space.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]From nowhere, a ball of pulsating blue light flashed into existence in mid-air, expanding and elongating until it was a long, thin vertical line of energy. With a crackling noise and arcs of blue lightning coruscating from the edges of the line, it opened into a full-blown rip in mid-air, revealing the swirling vortex of blue energy within.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]With a pulse of energy, a single figure exploded out of the tear, landing with his knees bent on the sodden concrete. His scuffed leather boots hit hard, and he brushed off his dark jeans with black-gloved hands as he got slowly to his feet. He ran his hand through his dirty blonde hair as he looked around, surveying his surroundings, and grimaced as the tendons in his neck cracked loudly.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2][B]?That was a rough one,? [/B]he groaned under his breath, [B]?Must be a Sunday. I always hated Sundays.? [/B]He looked around again, and sniffed loudly, taking in the local smells.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2][B]?Seems to be oxygenated, that?s a plus at least. Chip fat,? [/B]he sniffed, [B]?We must be in London. Deserted, but seems safe enough.?[/B][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2][B][/B][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]He straightened his crumpled brown leather jacket and turned round to face the tear once more. He took a couple of steps towards it, then leant further in and shouted into the glowing, pulsating energies.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2][B]?Guys! I think it?s safe to come through now!?[/B][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2][B][U]Multiverse [/U][/B][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]We consider our universe, a collection of billions of stars, and the planets which revolve around them, to be unique, precious. But, unbeknownst to us, the mere mortals placed on the planet called Earth by sheer blind chance, our universe is not the only one. It is not even part of a small cluster of exclusive realities, but part of something much, much bigger.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]Millions upon billions of realities exist alongside one another, an infinite number of possible alternate universes, each created by a single, seemingly insignificant, inconsequential choice made by a single being. There are billions of new universes, each similar to our own but different in many ways, existing parallel to our home universe, but so very far away. Some differences are tiny, miniscule details in an individual?s life changed in some tiny way; others are huge, with far-reaching consequences.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]These parallel realities are also slightly out of sync with each other in terms of time. One could appear to be fifty years ahead of the next, another could be seem to be a hundred years in the past. This means that some of them could have technology far in advance of others, and event which are yet to occur in one universe may have happened already in another.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]The conglomeration of all these universes is known by those few beings aware of it as the ?Multiverse,? and it is impossible for any mortal creature to travel between them. The powerful and violent energies that exist between worlds would rip apart any being that came into contact with them.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]But there is an exception: the Wanderers.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2][B][U]Wanderers [/U][/B][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]Seven years ago, one of these innumerable realities was destroyed by an unknown cataclysmic event. Every single living being was wiped from existence, everything turned to dust, the dust to atoms, and the atoms to nothing. Everything was destroyed in an instant...[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]Everything, that is, except for a small number of people with a combination of genetic abnormalities which allowed them to survive not only this cataclysm, but also the brutal and destructive energies that exist between realities. As their own universe ended, they were hurled into different realities, each of them waking up in a brand new universe.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]These people, these Wanderers, through blind biological chance, were gifted with the ability to open ?tears? in the very fabric of reality, doorways into the next universe, and cross between them, surviving the ravaging energy which would destroy any mere mortal.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]They each discovered soon after that, as their universe was destroyed, the versions of themselves that existed throughout the Multiverse blinked out of existence. Versions of their friends, family and loved ones, however, lived on. But the Wanderers discovered that these were alternate versions of their loved ones, different from the ones they lost in the destruction. For the most part, they distanced themselves from these alternate versions, not wishing to lose anyone else.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]Driven by an instinctual urge, an evolutionary imperative, these Wanderers travelled across entire worlds in order to find each other. Their compulsion was rewarded four years after the destruction of their home universe, and the Wanderers were re-united.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]After eighteen months of tracking them down through dozens of different realities, the Wanderers managed to hunt down and trap a race of evil creatures that had been ravaging the Multiverse, damaging dozens of different realities. It proved to be their toughest challenge yet, but they trapped these creatures within a newly-created pocket dimension containing nothing ? no light, no dark, no up, no down. It was simply a void created solely to imprison these creatures.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]The Multiverse itself was compromised by the damage caused to so many realities, and abnormalities began appearing throughout the different universes. Ungoverned tears began opening across the Multiverse, and different realities began bleeding into one another. Future technology would appear in Victorian England, dinosaurs would start roaming the Wild West. It was up to the Wanderers to fix these anomalies and restore the Multiverse to its former strength.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2][B][U]Information [/U][/B][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]Welcome to Wanderers, the new RP collaboration from myself and The 10th. We will be playing the part of the Wanderers, exiles from a reality that no longer exists, dedicated to fixing the faults in each of the many universes. We?re looking for four characters besides ours, making a group of six altogether, and there will be competition ? it?s not first come, first served.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]Here?s the hook: you will each get to create your own chapter, taking our group to a brand new world, with differences that you can choose. Once we have all the players, we will draw up a rota for who is creating each chapter and post it in the Backstage thread. Speaking of which, the Backstage is where you should direct any and all questions, comments and queries. It is also where you should post your ideas for your personal chapter for myself and The 10th to approve. I will also post some important information in this thread.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]Also, we have a special role which needs filling by one of the participants. This is very important to the story, and it will need to be filled by an especially skilled writer. If you wish to take this special position, please PM either myself or The 10th and we will judge who we think will fit the role best.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]In the meantime, this is what we need from your sign-ups:[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2][B][U]Sign-up Sheet [/U][/B][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2][B]Name: [/B][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2][B]Age: [/B][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2][B]Gender: [/B][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2][B]Appearance: [/B]picture or detailed description ? either is great, both gets you extra brownie points.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2][B]Personality: [/B][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2][B]Special Skills: [/B]What skills did you have already or have developed on your travels? And what makes you useful to the group?[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2][B]Weapons/Equipment: [/B]You can feel free to use your imagination on this one ? many of the parallel worlds we have visited are out of sync with each other in temporal terms, so some of them will have technology far in advance of our own, which they have ?procured? for themselves. Don?t go too mad, though ? we don?t want any guns that can destroy the Multiverse, or gloves that can bring people back to life.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2][B]Writing Snippet: [/B]This should document your first experience on a parallel world. This will be the reality you arrive in directly after the destruction of your own, and your snippet should represent this. It should be of reasonable length, well-written and nicely descriptive.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]---[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][SIZE=2]That's about it for now, if you have any questions or any feedback at all please don't hesitate to post it in the [URL="http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?p=839516#post839516"][B]Backstage thread[/B][/URL], which IS NOW UP![/SIZE][/FONT][/center]

[SIZE=1]Just watched [B]Who Framed Roger Rabbit [/B]with the girlfriend this evening. I'd forgotten how good it was, especially considering the actors were ostensibly reacting to nothing - they didn't even have a ball on a stick like the one they used for Dobby in Harry Potter. Hoskins in particular is awesome as ever. However, my favourite film to watch for a well-established actor acting alongside cartoons/CGI/puppets for the duration of a film is still[B] Muppet Christmas Carol[/B]. Fantastic to watch Michael Caine acting completely straight whilst talking to Gonzo in a top hat. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Currently listening to [B]Duke Special [/B]and his most recent album [B]I Never Thought This Day Would Come[/B]. I only discovered the Duke earlier today and I'm already pretty hooked. He's got a really cool singing voice - his Northern Irish accent comes through pretty thick and it sounds really good alongside his off-kilter piano playing. He apparently sometimes plays just by himself with a gramaphone playing old vinyl records, sometimes with a big band playing loads of crazy instruments. He also invented "hobo chic," apparently. Favourite song is currently [B]Our Love Runs Deeper Than This[/B], but I haven't had a really good listen to the rest of the album yet. However, even after a quick once-over, I thoroughly recommend [B]Duke Special[/B]. [/SIZE]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]"Maestro," [/B][/FONT][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]said Nico with a bow, taking a step back from Kai on the deserted street. Kai shifted his feet a little, taking a deep breath as he did. He made sure he wasn't about to destroy anything, and rubbed his hands together, blowing on them as if to give them good luck. [B]"I'd take a couple more steps back if I were you," [/B]Kai suggested, and Nico, with an obliging nod, did as he said. Kai closed his lids over his crimson eyes, brought his shoulders back so his hands were as far apart as possible, and, with a concerted effort, brought them together, palms splayed, in an almighty clap. The effect was instantaneous - a wall of sonic energy rumbled down the street, bulbs smashing in streetlights, car alarms wailing, and long, fine cracks appearing in the concrete of the street. Kai looked shocked at the magnitude of what he had just done, but nowhere near as shocked as Nico did. [B]"I wasn't expecting that to happen..." [/B]Kai said, turning to Nico with a slightly sheepish grin on his face, [B]"...I guess I can't control it too well right now." "That was incredible," [/B]Nico gasped, the power that Kai had just displayed apparently stunning him. [B]"It was," [/B]said Kai, [B]"But I think we'd better get out of here, quickly." "Why's that?" "Because I hear sirens!" [/B]Nico listened to the wind for a second, before recognising police sirens and nodding to Kai. Both men ran as fast as they could away from the scene of the crime, back towards Kai's apartment. --- [B]"Nice place," [/B]Nico said as Kai handed him a beer, [B]"Little smaller than I was expecting." "Well, the band's not doing as well as you might think," [/B]replied Kai, levering the cap off his own bottle, [B]"Blowing up a PA system tends to leave you somewhat of a pariah in the music circuit." "So do you think that was something to do with what's happening to us?" "Could be. I mean, it was definitely sonic energy that ruined that gig - it's too much coincidence to assume that it was something different." "There seems to be a lot of coincidence following us around," [/B]said Nico, taking a sip of his beer, retreating into thoughtful silence. [B]"True," [/B]said Kai, plucking up the courage to ask the big question, [B]"Can I ask you something?" "I think you already have," [/B]replied Nico with a laugh, which Kai reciprocated. [B]"Something else. Does the word "Chronus" mean anything to you...?"[/B] [/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]After aun uneasy, sleepless night, Kai sat cross-legged on the floor of his apartment, an ice-cold bottle of beer sat no more than a foot away from him, his bass sitting across his lap, wires running over the floor around him. One lead ran from the output socket on the bottom of the instrument into the input socket on the amp, and a second lead ran from the output socket of the amp to the pair of chunky cans that were clamped over Kai's ears. He plucked idly at the strings, the fingers of his left hand flying over the fretboard, pressing down and releasing in time with his plucks. He had listened to the ever-so-slightly creepy answerphone message more than a dozen times, running the details over and over in his head, trying to silence the echoing voice that now rumbled around his mind. After the fifteenth time, he switched his mineral water for beer, and decided to try and write a new song to distract himself. But no matter how hard he concentrated on the strings, on the heavy wood of the instrument, on the music theory he knew was stored in his mind, he couldn't drown out that single, repeated word. [I]Chronus...Chronus...Chronus... [/I]After half an hour of playing, he placed the instrument back on the stand, tore his headphones off and switched the amp off. Grabbing his beer and standing up, he stormed over to the kitchen. He thumped the play button on his answer machine once more, placed his beer down on the counter, and began rummaging around in the cupboards to try and find his phone book. [B]"...give me a call when you get this message. Thanks, bye." [/B]As the beep sounded, Kai finally laid his hands on the thick, dusty volume, which he yanked out of the cupboard, ignoring the pots and pans that fell to the floor as he did, and slammed it on the counter, a cloud of dust billowing out from under it as he did. He flicked through the book as quickly as he could, his eyes scanning down the page until he found the number for a Nico Stanley. Luckily, it didn't seem to be a common name, and there was only one listed. He ran his finger along the page to the number, grabbed the phone and punched the digits in. He picked up the phone as he held the receiver to his ear, and carried it into his practice area. It rang five or six times before it clicked over onto the machine. He listened to the pre-recorded message, then plucked up the courage to leave his own. [B]"Nico Stanley? This is Kai Gabriel. You left a message on my machine earlier today, about the news report. If you want to meet, there's a bar on the corner of Garrison and Fifth called Cad's. I'll be there in..." [/B]he glanced at his watch[B] "...two hours, that means twelve thirty. If you're there I'll talk to you then. Have you...no, never mind. Bye." [/B]He replaced the receiver and dropped the phone back onto the counter, rubbing his eyes. He was tempted to ask whether Stanley knew what "Chronus" was, but there was every chance that he was just a reporter looking to dig up some dirt on the band. He wasn't sure, though. Something in the man's voice suggested that he [I]needed[/I] to talk to him, rather than just wanting to. Plus, as soon as he heard Stanley's voice, that word had started echoing in his mind. As crazy as it sounded, he felt some kind of connection this stranger, something deeper than just a desire to meet. Perhaps, through a simple meeting, he could ascertain what was happening to him - his eyes, the strange ability he seemed to have developed, and now the discomfort he was feeling in his shoulders. Groaning and massasging his shoulders, Kai headed to the bathroom, stripping his white vest off and turning to look at his back in the mirror. There were strange red lines of pain running down his shoulderblades, looking like the beginnings of an open wound, or long, thin burn marks. As he touched them with his fingertips, they throbbed. He grunted in discomfort and grabbed a tube of antiseptic cream from the mirrored bathroom cupboard above the sink, and smeared some of the cooling white ointment on the marks. The discomfort settled almost instantly, and he closed his eyes, breathing out through his nose. He splashed his face with water, pulled his vest back on and slung his jacket over it. Pulling on his boots and zipping them up at the sides, he headed out of his apartment. --- Thirty minutes later, he sat in a cubicle in Cad's bar, sipping a Coke, his sunglasses over his eyes even in the dingy underground bar. Every few minutes the door swung open, a bell clanging as it did, and Kai's attention snapped to the door. After the first few looks, he realised it was redundant, as he had no idea what this man looked like. [B]"Kai Gabriel?" [/B]came a voice from the front of the cubicle as Kai was sinking deeper into his own thoughts, [B]"My name is Nico Stanley." [/B]Kai looked up, and saw a young, lithe man, who looked as though he spent a lot of time in the sun. However, the most remarkable thing about this man was that he, like Kai, was wearing sunglasses indoors. [B]"Fuck me," [/B]Kai gasped under his breath. This was too much coincidence for one day... [/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]Kai stepped gingerly off the subway, his bass tucked safely away in the gig bag strapped to his back. He was exhausted, partly from playing a late gig in a crappy dive bar that was all Reverent Power could manage since the incident, and partly because he hadn't slept at all well the previous night. His dreams were full of angels and demons, beasts and machines, and he had spent the best part of the night lying awake, shivering through the cold sweat that soaked his skin. He wore a black canvas jacket with a large collar over his white t-shirt - his sweat-soaked shirt had been thrown triumphantly into the baying, throbbing crowd as he walked off stage, finally feeling as though he had his edge back. It had taken a few weeks for his ribs to heal, and a few months for his hearing to fully return, and he had not been gig-fit for some time. But now he was feeling better, having got over the trauma he had suffered during that fateful gig. The only things that hadn't recovered were his eyes. Still crimson, he resorted to wearing a pair of mirrored aviator sunglasses over them at all times. During the day and at gigs, he looked cool, but during the night he looked like a junkie, but he was used to the stares. With a concerted effort, he forced himself up the stairs that led out of the subway station and into the neon jungle that was his home district. Chinese restaurants, off-licences and bars stayed open this late, catering to the needs of nocturnal people such as Kai. He stopped briefly to grab a noodle-based snack from one of the Chinese places, and hungrily forked the greasy food into his mouth, savouring every MSG-laced mouthful. Dropping some money onto the counter, he nodded to the owner and left, heading back to his apartment. Swinging a left down an unlit alley, he finished off his noodles and dropped the container into a dumpster, wiping his mouth with the paper napkin the restaurant had supplied him with. [B]"Hey, mate," [/B]came a gravelly, unhealthy-sounding voice from the shadows, [B]"You got some change for me?" "Sorry," [/B]said Kai, rummaging through his pockets, [B]"I've got nothing." "Come on, you must have something." "Honestly, I haven't got anything. I just spent the last of my money at the noodle bar across the street." "What about that fancy thing on your back?" "That's my guitar." "Must be worth something." "Are you seriously suggesting I give you my guitar? Are you crazy?" "Nah, mate," [/B]came a second voice from behind Kai, [B]"We ain't crazy. Just hand over the stuff, and no-one gets hurt." [/B]Kai whirled around to see a second man, dressed in scruffy black clothes, twirling a switchblade around his fingers. [B]"You don't want to do this," [/B]said Kai, keeping his cool, [B]"You really don't want to do this." "Take them glasses off, man," [/B]the second mugger said, [B]"You look like a dick." [/B]He reached out and grabbed the glasses off Kai's face, revealing the penetrating crimson beneath. [B]"Oh shit," [/B]hissed the mugger, his eyes widening with fear, [B]"What the fuck is wrong with you, man?" "I told you you didn't want to do this," [/B]Kai replied, his voice enhancing, growing deeper, booming, echoes flying around the narrow alley, [B]"Now go, before you get hurt!" [/B]The mugger staggered backwards, falling to the floor then scrambling to his feet and making a run for it. The first man clearly thought this idea was prudent, and followed him, emerging from the shadows to pass the crimson-eyed, ethereal-voiced being that stood before him. Kai relaxed, and released the energy he had been forcing into his own vocal cords to make his own voice change. He smiled a little to himself, having found this technique useful over the past couple of months, and clambered up the fire escape to his apartment. As he swung in through the window - he could have come in the front door, but his landlady was a friendly elderly lady, and he didn't like waking her when he came in late - he pulled the gig bag off his shoulders and set it down. With a few swift motions, he unzipped it and pulled his pride and joy out of it. An original MusicMan Stingray bass guitar in a RedBurst finish with humbucker pickup. He placed it down on the guitar stand that stood next to his new amplifier, and his collection of other instruments. Realising that the salty noodle snack had dried his throat out a little, he wandered over to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of mineral water from inside. He had beer, too, but he had been drinking during the gig, and now he just needed simple refreshment. Swigging from the bottle, he thumbed through the mail that had arrived earlier, before noticing the tiny flashing light on his answering machine. He hit the play button, concentrating to muffle the sound a little so it didn't wake up his neighbours, and listened to the message. [B]"Hi, um, this is Kai Gabriel, right?" [/B]came the slightly hesitant voice, [B]"My name is Nico Stanley, and I was wondering if I could talk to you. I heard about your gig on the news, and the story has kind of stuck with me, you know? Anyway, my number's in the book, so give me a call when you get this message. Thanks, bye." [/B]The beep sounded, but Kai was deaf to all but one sound. A single word, echoing round and round in his head, growing until it was screaming inside his mind. [I]Chronus.[/I] [/FONT]

[SIZE=1]*high fives Mykul* [/SIZE][quote name='Drizzt Do'Urden']I must say that assuming we will not hear the beating of the insidious wings as they descend is a folley.[/quote] [SIZE=1]I don't think anyone assumed you wouldn't hear the wings, we just implied that you wouldn't be quick enough to do anything about it when you did.[/SIZE] [quote name='Drizzt Do'Urden']If a chronos screams in the woods and three baal's are around to hear it, who cares?[/quote] [SIZE=1]Who says anything about screaming?[/SIZE]

[quote name='Knuckles' Girl][FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=Blue][COLOR=Navy]In all technicalities Dritz and I would be the alphas of our pack being the oldest so that's established since we're the older of us three. No fighting, just looking up simple facts. And no there will be no bowing at our feet, if we are going off a wolf pack we are social and will work together more than we fight. I hate to see what happens when conflict springs up within the Sin clan, full of pride and superiority.[/COLOR] [/COLOR'][/FONT][/quote] [SIZE=1]I'd hate to see what the other Baals think of this. Much growling and clawing is soon to follow, I feel.[/SIZE]

[QUOTE=Drizzt Do'Urden]You silly creatures with your "machines" and your trickery. You don't realize that Wolf-packs are among the strongest societies in the world. All your cunning and technology only breeds more conflict. It is truley the animalistic nature in all of us that holds us together, the "pride" of the pack. I do say that when this is over you will see myself and my fellow Baal descendents standing together dripping the blood of you pitiful creatures...its sad really.[/QUOTE] [SIZE=1]Yeah, we'll see how your "pack mentality" holds out when you enter a berserk rage. If you can't control yourself, will you be able to tell the difference between "friend" and foe? I'll be scared when you have a better weapon than your fingernails. Terrifying. [/SIZE][QUOTE=The 10th][FONT=Book Antiqua]You make a valid point indeed-- you could plunge me into a world of darkness, one where I couldn't use my refined eyes or ears to find you. But guess what I [I]can[/I] use, friend. My [B]nose[/B]. Just how powerful is the smell of a Baal, you ask? Come and find out Mr. Overconfidence. Sure it'll be less accurate than using my other senses, but you Chronus probably reek of feathers and such. And don't worry, I won't need my "intense empathy" to feel your arrogance fade into fear. :animesmil[/FONT][/QUOTE] [SIZE=1]Right, I'll be sure not to, say, cut a fart or eat an onion when you guys are around. While you're titting around sniffing I might, I dunno, hit you with a chair.[/SIZE] [SIZE=1]*sniff sniff* *wallop* *Baal clan cries* [/SIZE]

[quote name='The 10th][FONT=Book Antiqua']Whoop-dee-do. That makes you useful when? Oh right, at a disco or a rave. Those of us with real skills can actually contribute to most battles. We Baal will laugh heartily when you attempt to defeat your opponents by shouting obscenities at them... and fail. :D[/FONT][/quote] [SIZE=1]Oh yeah, 'cause I forgot that you like being a blind, deaf, part-animal dribbling monster. Power over light and sound means the ability to take them away, too, genius. We'll see who has "real skills" when you're thrashing around punching walls in impotent fury. Touch me and see how confident I am, "intense empathy" boy :blowup: [/SIZE][quote name='Vicky][SIZE=1]And for all you other little clan members, which alien was the Commodore? Was it Sin? Was. It. [I]Sin[/I']? Oh hell yeah foo'![/SIZE][/quote] [SIZE=1]Yeah, that went well. Not counting when the ship crashed, or when the whole truce broke down because Sin was too much of a baby to get along with the other kids, or when the four survivors had to go hide in caves. Great job, Horns.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]You Baal clan members have no subtlety - it's all animalistic aggression with you people. The Chronus have the power of sound [I]and [/I]light going for us, so suck on it. Blindfolded angel beats mouldy-skinned cyborg, alien wolfman and crazy-ass demon any day of the week.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]We don't celebrate Father's Day, not least because my dad's birthday is some three days before. He's not great at receiving gifts even on proper occasions like Christmas or birthdays, so I'm not sure how he'd go about getting presents on a "holiday" invented by greetings card companies in order to boost their revenue in the summer months.[/SIZE]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]Alright! The first post of this competition is up and ready for a reply. I'm hoping Muuh Puar comes through, because it looks like it's shaping up to be a fun little scrap.[/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]The stench of sea salt and rotting wood filled Echo's nostrils as he took in the scene in front of him, and the harsh sound of birds squawking above him assaulted his ears. [B]"Someone seriously needs to hang out some air fresheners. This place could do with a scent of pine," [/B]he said to himself, voicing every thought he had out loud. The conglomeration of creaking, rotten wooden hulls stretched out for miles in every direction, and he could only assume that his opponent had been dropped at the other end. [B]"Guess I'd better get going," [/B]he said, taking a deep breath and envisioning the probabilities of his situation. Orange trails snaked out across the battlefield, highlighting each of his options, and he studied each one before choosing one which, while it was not a straight-line journey, seemed the most safe. [B]"I can get the job done quick, or I can get the job done right," [/B]he said with a smile, before heading off at slightly under sprint pace, a speed that he could keep up for some distance. He sped along the length of the mast he had been dropped off at the top of, keeping his footsteps light so he didn't break anything, and leapt off the end, turning in a perfect mid-air somersault before landing, crouched, on the deck of a ship that appeared to have crashed into the one he had appeared on. He slid backwards a little on the slick, damp wood, but found his grip and stopped himself as quickly as he could. He got to his feet and ran towards the prow of the ship, dropping down and grabbing onto the edge of the deck, shimmying himself down onto what appeared to be a series of planks leading across the water. The orange trail before him led across the first two, then jumped over onto a different series of planks adjacent to the one he was on. He shrugged and followed the trail, leaping with incredible grace over to the adjacent planks. As he looked back, one of the seagulls that had been circling overhead fluttered down and landed on the other walkway. As the bird's weight touched down, the planks cracked and gave way, dropping the angry bird into the water momentarily before it took flight once again. [B]"Close one," [/B]he muttered, an astounded look crossing his face briefly, and he began edging his way along the walkway he was now standing on. Frustratingly, it took several minutes for Echo to move a few feet forward, but as he shuffled along, he finally reached a more sturdy-looking section of hull, which he leapt onto with ease. He took a moment to wipe the perspiration off his brow with the back of his glove, and grabbed the water bottle from the back of his belt and took a swig, refreshing himself. Clipping the water bottle back on, he stopped and took a few deep breaths, listening to the constant creaking and swaying of the wreckage. Then he heard a new sound, one which seemed entirely unfamiliar to him. Something clacking, grinding, like ceramic or highly polished hardwood. He opened his eyes and turned around to face whatever it was that was making the sound. [B]"Holy shit," [/B]he exclaimed, genuinely surprised by the sight that confronted him. Skeletons. Living, moving, armed skeletons. They hauled themselves out of the water and up onto the deck that Echo stood upon, dozens of eery, bleached-white skeletons, their bones hung with seaweed and rotten wood. [B]"No offence," [/B]Echo smirked, [B]"But you guys [I]stink[/I]. Might want to think about investing in some deodorant in future." [/B]The undead creatures turned to face him, their jaws opening and closing, but no sound emerging from them. Their voiceboxes, along with their muscles, their skin and their organs, had long since rotted, like the ships they now stood upon. Their weapons, however, had not. They rushed at Echo, rusty swords, knives and harpoons flailing on the ends of their arms, and Echo turned to run across the wreckage. But, as he turned, more of them dragged themselves out of the ocean to block his exit. [B]"You guys are no fun," [/B]he said, reaching onto his back and withdrawing one of his swords, [B]"So I guess I'll have to play you at your own game!" [/B]He leapt at the first rank of skeletons, aiming to take out enough of them that he could escape and face his real opponent. Knocking many of them over, he forced the rest to move backwards, towards the edge of the platform they currently stood on. As they did, he felt a shifting in balance, and noticed that the platform was beginning to tilt. He smiled, and watched as an orange trail lazily flitted along behind him, over the tops of the skeletons that had been blocking his escape and off the edge of the platform. [B]"That's the problem with you skeletons," [/B]he said, not quite believing he was saying these words even as they escaped from his lips, [B]"No brains." [/B]He winked at the "leader" of the group, and leapt along the trail, slamming his foot into the spine of the skeleton at the back of the group, forcing them all down to one end of the platform. He adjusted his balance, and ran up the tilting platform as it raised to an angle of forty-five degrees, and leapt off the top, watching the hordes of undead beasts slide back into the ocean as he flipped over. Landing on the next platform a little awkwardly, he lost balance and fell onto his front, sliding along the wet, dirty wood. He groaned, and hauled himself to his feet. [B]"Maybe this probability thing isn't quite as reliable as I'd thought," [/B]he said, twisting his neck until he heard a resounding crack. As he rubbed the sides of his neck, he heard a commotion up on one of the higher parts of wreckage that towered above him. Jogging along to the bottom of a ship that was in much better condition than the others he had been on, this one being nearly a complete hull, he found a series of raised planks that must have been used as a ladder of sorts. He grabbed on, and hauled himself up onto the deck, where he was greeted with a rather odd sight. A dark-skinned man, his black hair falling around his face in dreadlocks, was flailing a battered old katana sword at an advancing group of skeletons that had somehow clambered up onto the deck of this ship. [B]"You guys are crazy!" [/B]he shouted, a loud, barking laugh following his words as he attacked the skeletons over and over again. [B]"You're telling me," [/B]said Echo, leaping up onto the deck and drawing both of his swords to face the man who must be his opponent. At least, he was the only person for miles around who actually had skin. The black man swivelled his head to look at Echo briefly, then launched one final, pummeling attack which knocked the majority of the skeletons off the edge of the deck, and the rest into bony heaps at the far end of the ship. Then he turned his whole body to face Echo, his katana glinting. The first drops of rain fell from the dark, leaden sky, signalling the beginning of a mighty storm, and the man simply said: [B]"Son of a bitch!" [/B]Then he raised his weapon and charged at Echo... [/FONT]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]Let me know if my character is too similar to yours, Vicky. I had started writing a profile for a troubled rock star character before yours went up, and I like my character so I didn't want to change it. Hope the sign-up style is alright, too. This looks like it should be fun! [/FONT]

[center][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b16/Blayze54/KaiGabrielBanner.jpg[/IMG][/FONT] [/center] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode] [center] Beads of sweat rolled slowly down Kai Gabriel's flushed forehead, being flung away from the skin every so often as he flicked the hair out of his face. The stale stench of sweat and alcohol mingled with the ever-rising heat in the large, black-walled room permeated his nostrils, and the bright red lights burnt through his closed eyelids with astonishing intensity.[/center][/FONT][center] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]The heavy thumps of the bass drum rumbled through Kai's body as his calloused fingers thundered on his bass strings, bashing out a complex triplet-based rhythm as the frontman, shirtless and sweating heavily, encouraged the pulsating, screaming crowd to clap along with the bass drum. He opened his eyes and smiled over the crowd, raising the neck of his bass as his fingers thumped out the final few notes of the song, jumping in time with the final smash on the drums. The crowd went wild, and Kai ducked between his amp-stack and the drum riser, pulling his bass strap over his head and dropping his bass onto it's stand. He ripped his sweat-soaked black shirt off, revealing a tight black sleeveless top, and muscular, tattooed arms. He twisted his leather wriststrap around to a more comfortable position, and slung his guitar strap back over his head.[/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]His boots thudded back onto the stage as Jonny, the frontman, spoke to the crowd, introducing the next song. Kai turned to his amp and twisted the volume knob up further, snapping his hand back as the dial gave him a strong, painful static shock. A sudden pain flared up behind his eyes, and he pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger, feeling the cool metal of his tungsten finger-rings on his skin.[/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]"You ok, Kai?"[/B] asked Isaac, the drummer, and Kai nodded, grabbing his beer from the floor and taking a huge swig. The pain began to fade, and he smiled at his friend and bandmate as he walked up to the microphone, feedback whining in his ears.[/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]He and Jonny howled out the lyrics to the intro of the next song in unison, and as Issac slammed his sticks down onto the drumskins, Kai's finger swung down towards his E string. As it hit home, the sound that erupted from the amp was far in advance of what the technology was capable of.[/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]The front of the amp exploded outwards, shattering into pieces as smoke and sparks shot from the inner workings of the device. Kai was knocked forwards and off his feet, almost falling into the gap between the stage and the crowd barrier. His beer bottle shattered into pieces, the lights directly above where he was standing blew out and smashed, and the crowd standing directly in front of Kai were blasted with a wall of sound.[/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]Screams of pain and surprise filled Kai's ears as he drifted into unconsciousness...[/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]---[/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]A few days later, Kai woke up in the bed of his own London studio apartment, his head still pounding, the pain behind his eyes flared up once again. He struggled to haul himself out of bed and over to the front door, where a pile of mail lay waiting for him, including a copy of the previous day's newspaper, which had a full report of the incident.[/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]"Chaos As Rock Gig Goes Awry!"[/B] claimed the bold headline. The article went on to give details:[/FONT] [B] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]"Rock band Reverent Power lived up to their chaotic reputation last night as bassist Kai Gabriel'S (26) amplifier exploded, due to an unknown electrical fault. Several members of the crowd were injured as a result, and former heroin addict Gabriel himself was rushed to hospital with a suspected concussion. Further details on page 7..."[/FONT][/B] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]Kai threw the paper to the floor and padded into the bathroom. He dropped the plug into the hole and filled the sink with ice-cold water, before plunging his face into the bowl and leaving it there until he ran out of breath.[/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]As he withdrew himself from the water, his hair clinging in damp locks to his face and neck, he began to hear something. Just a whisper, in the back of his head.[/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]"Chronus..."[/B] it whispered, a pounding rhythm playing behind the whisper, [B]"...Chronus..."[/B][/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]He closed his eyes and shook his head, tilted his head up to the mirror, and opened his eyes as the pain behind them subsided.[/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]Crimson.[/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]His eyes were crimson, the colour of blood, bright and almost glowing as he looked into them. He kept his glare on his reflection, and relaxed a little as the intensity of the colour lessened, until they were a darker shade of red than a few moments previously.[/FONT] [B][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]"Fuck me..."[/FONT][/B] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]---[/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode][B]Kai Gabriel[/B], bassist and backing vocalist of [B]British [/B]rock band [B]Reverent Power[/B]. A former heroin addict, Kai has two thick horizontal lines tattooed on his neck, to represent the two years he has been clean. Since a near-fatal overdose, he has become more balanced and well-adjusted, cleaning up his act as much as possible. However, he still has a fondness for the finer things in life - alcohol, tobacco, money and women - leaving out only the drugs part of the rock and roll lifestyle.[/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]Kai is also a descendant of [B]Chronus[/B], with the ability of[B] sonic energy manipulation[/B]. This means he can control soundwaves, directing them and enhancing them through his innate ability. He hasn't mastered his power yet, but he can take something as quiet as a whistle or a finger-click and amplify the sound to a powerful wall of sonic energy. On the flipside, he can also decrease sound levels, to the extent that he can essentially "steal" a person's voice.[/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]His eyes are red, so he keeps them covered for the most part with a pair of mirrored aviator shades. He has not developed his wings yet, but they are sure to follow soon.[/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]He wears three solid silver-and-tungsten rings, one on the index finger of his left hand, and one each on the ring and pinky fingers of his right hand, and has a pair of silver rings pierced through the top of his right ear.[/FONT] [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode] [B]EDIT: [/B]Image now attached [/FONT] [/center]

[SIZE=1]This is officially my new favourite thing ever: [/SIZE][center][youtube="Christopher Walken's Three Little Pigs"][/youtube][/center]

[SIZE=1]My car is getting messier with every day. Currently in the boot (/trunk) I have: - 2 blankets - jump leads - de-icer spray and scraper - torch - a groundsheet - a pair of Etnies trainers In the actual car itself, I have: - a laptop bag (with no laptop) - another ice scraper - a hammer (I'm not a serial killer) - an empty Coke bottle or three - a whole bunch of tickets from car parks - a cloth for wiping the windscreen Glove compartment: - the car's service manual - the locking wheel nut - far too many CDs, most of them not in their right cases Wow, I didn't think it was too bad, but when you write it all down there's a load of crap in there... [/SIZE]

[quote=Vicky] [quote=Botar][I][COLOR=darkgreen]I just added to the joke, thats why I put spoilers on it. Isn't it funny guys? Huh? Isn't just hilarious? Isn't it the most funniest thing you ever heard? Huh guys!?[/COLOR][/I][/quote] [SIZE=1]Funnier than you're face. And [I]that's[/I] funny. =p[/SIZE][/quote] [B][SIZE=3]You got Vicky'ed![/SIZE][/B]

[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]Robert checked his watch as he flicked through the thick files that Marian had given him. 3.30 - it was just about time. [B]"I've got to go," [/B]he said, downing the tiny cup of espresso and throwing his jacket back on, [B]"I'll be in contact as soon as I can." "Not so fast," [/B]Marian said as he tried to leave, grabbing him by the arm and stopping him from going, [B]"You're coming with me to the gala tonight." "Ummm..." [/B]Robert replied nervously, [B]"I don't have anything to wear. That tux was for one night only." "I'll get Frederick to find you something stunning to compliment my new dress," [/B]she said with a smile, [B]"I need some arm candy." "Arm candy? Is that what I am now?" "Well, you've been gone for years, and now you're unemployed. What else are you going to be?" "Fine," [/B]sighed Robert, [B]"I'll go. But I have a few things I need to take care of first." "Be back here at 7. If you're late then bad things will happen to you," [/B]she said with a seductive wink, turning and walking away from Robert. A tiny shudder of pleasure ran down Robert's back as he gathered the papers up from the coffee table and stuffed them back into the file before leaving. --- Thirty minutes later, Robert was crouched on top of a small, four-storey building opposite a bank with the Nottingham logo emblazoned across the front. He lowered his binoculars as the two security guards loaded a series of strongboxes into a silver Transit van. He loaded an arrow into his bow, with a thin wire cable attached to the end. Taking careful aim, he let loose the arrow into the grey concrete above the bank's window. Tying off the loose end of the cable, he hooked a rolled-up cloth over the cable and launched himself off the roof. Sliding down the cable, he dropped onto the top of the van, and rolled off sideways. He landed as gracefully as a cat, and grabbed the first security guard in a tight sleeper hold, lowering him gently to the floor. Jumping in the driver's side door, he crawled across the seats and slammed the passenger door open, timing it so it knocked the second guard to the floor. He hopped out of the van and dragged both guards into the alley close by, taking their keys and jumping back into the driver's seat. [B]"Sorry boys," [/B]he said, igniting the engine and slamming the van into reverse, [B]"Needs must." [/B]--- [I]Sherwood's Bar [/I]Robert screeched into place outside the front of the bar, making sure the back doors of the van were facing the front door of the bar. He leapt out, ran round to the back and pulled the pair of strongboxes out, dragging them into the bar. [B]"Frank!" [/B]he shouted, stacking the boxes behind the bar, [B]"Look after these, and give them to Allen when he gets here. I reckon he can get through the code-lock and transfer the funds to our friends at the various London-based charities." "No problem, Rob," [/B]replied Frank, the good-natured bartender, [B]"Anything else I can do for you?" "Yeah, could you give them this note?" [/B]Rob said, scribbling something down onto a napkin, [B]"Just let them know I might not be back by midnight, but I'll be here as soon as I possibly can. I've got a gala to get to. If they need me desperately they can call me, but that's only for emergencies." "'Course I can, Rob. Don't keep that lovely girl out too late, alright?" [/B]Frank said with a wink, and a broad smile crept across Robert's face. --- Rob stepped outside the back of the bar, flipping his phone open and dialling a number, a few sheets of paper that Marian had given him in his other hand. [B]"Hello?" [/B]came a crackly-sounding voice from the other end of the line. [B]"Much?" [/B]asked Rob, [B]"It's Robert." "Robert Locksley, as I live and breathe," [/B]Much replied, his voice perking up, [B]"I thought you were overseas, mate." "I got back a month or so ago. I need a little bit of information." [/B]Much Millson was probably the best person to go to for any kind of information in London. He had more contacts than anyone inside Nottingham, and he was an old friend of Robert. [B]"Shoot." "Can you tell me anything you know about something called "Operation Sha-Mat"? I've come across some intel and I'm not sure what it is." "Sha-Mat?" Never heard of it, mate," [/B]replied Much, [B]"I can have a dig and see what comes of it if you like?" "Nice one. It's probably nothing, but it would be good to know. I'll come and pay you a visit so we don't have to do this over the phone." "Alrighty. See you later, Locksley!" [/B]Much said, hanging up. Robert flipped his phone shut and shoved it back into his pocket. Checking his watch, he headed back inside, ready to head over to Marian's. --- The clock ticked ominously towards 7 as Robert knocked three times on Marian's door. The effeminate young man who had welcomed him in earlier opened the door. [B]"Ah, so you must be the six foot one chap I picked out the dazzling tuxedo for. It's in the second bedroom," [/B]he said, pointing an elegantly-manicured finger to another door within the apartment. [B]"Can I see Marian?" [/B]asked Robert, stepping in and shrugging his jacket off. [B]"See Marian? You want to see Marian?" [/B]Frederick replied with a snorting little giggle, [B]"Darling, no-one's allowed to see Marian before she's completely ready. She'll be so unbelievably ravishing that you would, without a single doubt, crumple her dress." "Fine," [/B]said Robert, taken aback, as he headed into the second bedroom, listening as Frederick minced off screeching Marian's name. He saw the beautifully-tailored tuxedo hanging up for him, and grimaced a little. An evening with the people he was working so hard to take down. Joy. [/FONT]

[B][SIZE=1]Muuh Puar[/SIZE][/B], [SIZE=1]I challenge thee! Let's do this thing.[/SIZE]

[QUOTE][COLOR=DarkOliveGreen]Crap. I posted my (as of yet) incomplete sign-up before I read this thread. Should I change my sign-up to a new character, seeing as slipheedpilot seems to have sort of reserved Guy Gibson?[/COLOR][/QUOTE] [COLOR=Black][FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]If you could, that would be great. If, like Boo, you could use a character from Robin Hood and adapt them to be part of this new universe that would be great. If you can't find one you want to use, then create a brand new character that fits within the world.[/FONT][/COLOR]