Application for Beautiful Dreamer
May. 24th, 2023 09:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hgsPlayer
Name & Pronouns: Matatabi, they/them.
Age: Over 18.
Contact Details:![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
matatabibito or the game Discord.
Canon Info
Canon Name: Cinnabar (but they're one of the only characters whose name is written in Japanese, so it's pronounced as "Shinsha.")
Canon Age: Unknown, but well over 1000.
Canon: Houseki no Kuni.
Character Summary:
Long after the Earth has been reduced to a single barren island in an endless ocean and humans are little more than a memory, genderless semi-immortal beings born from solid gemstone are nurtured by Sensei, an android created by the long-dead humans. The Gems' idyllic lives are occasionally shattered by the invading Lunarians, who seek to kidnap Gems for seemingly no purpose other than to grind their bodies into a fine, sparkly glitter to decorate their home world. One of these Gems is Shinsha, also called Cinnabar, whose body is made of a fragile, highly poisonous stone that the Lunarians consider worthless. Cinnabar continually oozes liquid mercury, which kills the island's vegetation and damages other Gems on contact, but which can also be used as a powerful defensive weapon. Cinnabar decides to isolate themselves from the other Gems and take on the lonely and ultimately pointless task of acting as the island's night watch (Lunarians always attack during the daytime). Most of the Gems treat Cinnabar with a mixture of pity and apprehension... when they remember that Cinnabar exists at all.
And then Phosphophyllite, a naive and lazy young Gem, is assigned the dull task of cataloging the island's flora and fauna... which they immediately try to pass off on Cinnabar, figuring that the latter must see a lot of nature on their patrols. Cinnabar rescues Phos from a Lunarian attack, and the impulsive Phos promises to find Cinnabar a fun job - something that only they can do, something that will free them from their self-imposed solitude and give them a place among the other Gems. Of course, Phos almost immediately forgets about the promise, but Cinnabar is still touched by the first moment of genuine connection they've experienced in hundreds of years.
Time passes, and Phos changes in dramatic ways... but Cinnabar continues to act as their confidante and voice of reason. When Phos reveals that they've figured out that Sensei is hiding something from them - a potentially sinister secret involving Sensei's relationship to the Lunarians - Cinnabar confesses that they've had the same suspicions for a very long time. But Cinnabar has chosen to trust Sensei, because they believe that protecting the other Gems is more important than learning the truth. Phos manages to convince or coerce several other Gems into running away to join the Lunarian cause, but Cinnabar's strong sense of duty prevents them from going with Phos. The shock of Phos's betrayal forces the remaining Gems to grow closer, and Cinnabar proves to be both a competent fighter and a cool-headed leader. The others begin to make genuine efforts to include Cinnabar in their daily lives. For the first time in their millenia of existence, they begin to feel accepted and loved... even though on some level they wonder if that love is little more than convenience. Ultimately, they decide that it doesn't matter, and they take a stand against their former friend.
...And then a bunch of other stuff happens (rocks fall, everyone dies) but this section is already getting long and that covers all of the important characterization bits!
AU Info
AU Name: Shinsha Akashi.
Age: 17. Aging down by at least 1000 years looooool.
Suitability: NA.
AU History:
Shinsha was only an infant when their mother died, leaving them in the care of relatives. After Shinsha's physical weakness and poor coordination prompted a doctor's visit, it was discovered that they were intersex... and suddenly, it was deemed "best for everyone" if Shinsha was sent to live in a children's home (foster care is uncommon in Japan, so even children with living families are often sent to orphanages). Although they were initially raised as a boy, when they were sent to a Buddhist-run home for older children in rural Touhoku, they were allowed to dress in female clothing (although they retained a very masculine manner of speaking). The other children found Shinsha strange and gloomy, and generally avoided them. During the long walks to and from the nearest middle school, Shinsha collected flowers and leaves and insects so they could ask Sensei what they were called. "Sensei" was the head monk of the temple associated with the orphanage, and the only person that Shinsha ever really connected with. He made sure that Shinsha's introversion, nonconformity and love for nature were never stifled. But Shinsha was acutely aware that they, like the roadside flowers, were unwanted weeds that had no place in the world.
During summer holidays when Shinsha was 13, a visiting child from out of town asked them to help with their vacation homework: a sketchbook of plants and insects from the local area. Despite some grumbling, Shinsha agreed - it was the first time that anyone had ever specifically asked them for help. The younger child was lazy, though, so Shinsha ended up doing all the work while they played. As the sun set, the other child stumbled and nearly fell off a steep embankment... but Shinsha managed to save them, instead themself tumbling down the rocky cliff. Due to their weak constitution, Shinsha broke several bones in the fall and was trapped until emergency services arrived. The other child was naturally distraught, but Shinsha confessed that they didn't particularly care whether they lived or died, since they'd been born with no useful purpose in life. The child promised to find something special that only Shinsha could do.
But the summer friendship was quickly forgotten, as such friendships usually are, and Shinsha never saw the other child again. They spent months in the hospital recovering from their injuries, tormented by nightmares. But even through the worst of the nightmares, they clinged to the idea that there must be something that only they could do, something that would make them worthy of love. Shinsha awoke as a Dreamer and managed to fight off the Nightmare, then woke up in their bed back at the orphanage (much to the surprise of the old monk). He realized that Shinsha was a Dreamer, and arranged for them to enroll in Promised Morning Academy once they reached high school so they'd have a chance to make friends with other Dreamers.
But Shinsha's awakening as Dreamer Cinnabar was more of a curse than a blessing. As a Dreamer, they were more graceful and athletic than they'd ever been in the waking world, and their Sandglass weapon - a telekinetically controlled mass of liquid mercury - was extremely powerful against Torments. But the mercury also poisoned any Dreamer who accidentally came into contact with it, and wherever it touched the ground of the Dream Sphere, plants withered and died. While Cinnabar was able to absorb some of the mercury into their body, they were constantly surrounded by little floating globs of quicksilver poison. Horrified, Cinnabar realized that the only way to protect others was to stay as far as possible from them. Still, they were driven by a powerful need to be useful, so they took on the task of patrolling the far reaches of the Dream Sphere... alone. Occasionally they encountered others (usually Dreamers in need of rescue), and they even briefly mentored a younger Dreamer, but for the most part, Cinnabar maintained their self-imposed isolation.
In school, Shinsha was similarly avoidant. Ashamed of their powers, they hid their status as a Dreamer and rarely spoke to classmates. Ongoing medical issues gave them a convenient excuse to skip school. Even so, Shinsha managed to score top grades, especially in biology classes. The commute from the orphanage to Yumemigaoka was lenghty, so their relatives agreed to pay for them to live in a small apartment near the Academy. They also had a small inheritance - enough to pay for small luxuries, like the large collection of houseplants that came to take up nearly all the empty space in their apartment.
Currently, Shinsha continues to patrol the Dream Sphere alone while hiding their identity as a Dreamer from their classmates.
AU Personality:
In the waking world, Shinsha is a wallflower - reserved, quiet, and somewhat awkward. Between their frequent absences from school and their reticent personality, many classmates at Promised Morning Academy completely forget that Shinsha exists. Those who do notice Shinsha's presence often find them to be an easy target for casual bullying, but the "fun" soon wears off when their target fails to react with anger or tears. At most, they might make a snide comment. To those who don't know them well, Shinsha can seem cold and emotionless... but Shinsha is actually a highly emotional person who's learned to suppress their feelings. Due to feeling unwanted even by their own family, they constantly worry that they're a trouble or a burden to others, and that any affection they do receive is nothing more than obligation. Under Shinsha's stony exterior, they struggle with anxiety, loneliness, and a lack of self-worth.
As Dreamer Cinnabar, their personality is considerably bolder, and they don't hesitate to scold inexperienced Dreamers who get themselves into dangerous situations. They're competent and self-reliant, and they have little patience for people who aren't. The Dream Sphere is a dangerous place, not a pastel-colored playground. Sometimes, though, Cinnabar can be too harsh... a choice they justify by the need to keep others at a distance. Their mercury-based Sandglass weapon is difficult to control and can easily injure anyone who comes too close, even outside of combat. Cinnabar is ashamed of their power and hates to be seen fighting, even though they're a powerful and experienced Sentry.
Even so, Cinnabar has a deep desire to be needed and wanted, so they've assigned themself the "job" of patrolling the Dream Sphere (even if few Dreamers know about or appreciate what they do). When others ask for help, they might grumble, but they'll never refuse. Being useful is almost (but not quite) like being needed, after all. If Cinnabar is strict with other Dreamers, then they're even stricter when it comes to themself.
The only time Shinsha really allows themself to relax is when they're alone with their collection of houseplants. Each plant is lovingly nurtured and cared for, even the ones that aren't rare or beautiful to look at.
Other AU Changes:
Shinsha is intersex in this AU - Klinefelter syndrome (XXY chromosomes), to be specific. The condition often causes incomplete or absent male puberty, taller than average height, lack of coordination, physical weakness, low bone density, and communication difficulties. Shinsha identifies as agender but is fine with any pronouns in English. Japanese makes it easier to avoid specifying third person pronouns, so I'm going with they/them in the narration to reflect that.
Shinsha's gender is, shockingly, one of the few aspects of themself that doesn't cause an identity crisis. They were raised male up until middle school, then tried living as a girl for a few years, and ultimately concluded that both options were annoying in their own ways. Shinsha has no time for annoyances, so they don't particularly identify with any gender. They're aware that their gender-bending behavior often makes others question what they are, but they don't feel the need to provide any answers.
Dreamer Info
Dreamer Title: Dreamer Cinnabar.
Appearance:
Archetype: Sentry.
Power Considerations:
Cinnabar's Dreamer weapons are floating blobs of liquid mercury (with a shiny rainbow sheen) that are controlled telekinetically to form shields and blunt weapons. At baseline, they can generate about a cubic meter of the stuff, and absorb most of it into their body when not in use. The mercury is highly toxic and will cause damage to any living thing it touches.
RP Sample:
Shinsha & Amane
Cinnabar & Mantle
Other Notes:
Name & Pronouns: Matatabi, they/them.
Age: Over 18.
Contact Details:
Canon Info
Canon Name: Cinnabar (but they're one of the only characters whose name is written in Japanese, so it's pronounced as "Shinsha.")
Canon Age: Unknown, but well over 1000.
Canon: Houseki no Kuni.
Character Summary:
Long after the Earth has been reduced to a single barren island in an endless ocean and humans are little more than a memory, genderless semi-immortal beings born from solid gemstone are nurtured by Sensei, an android created by the long-dead humans. The Gems' idyllic lives are occasionally shattered by the invading Lunarians, who seek to kidnap Gems for seemingly no purpose other than to grind their bodies into a fine, sparkly glitter to decorate their home world. One of these Gems is Shinsha, also called Cinnabar, whose body is made of a fragile, highly poisonous stone that the Lunarians consider worthless. Cinnabar continually oozes liquid mercury, which kills the island's vegetation and damages other Gems on contact, but which can also be used as a powerful defensive weapon. Cinnabar decides to isolate themselves from the other Gems and take on the lonely and ultimately pointless task of acting as the island's night watch (Lunarians always attack during the daytime). Most of the Gems treat Cinnabar with a mixture of pity and apprehension... when they remember that Cinnabar exists at all.
And then Phosphophyllite, a naive and lazy young Gem, is assigned the dull task of cataloging the island's flora and fauna... which they immediately try to pass off on Cinnabar, figuring that the latter must see a lot of nature on their patrols. Cinnabar rescues Phos from a Lunarian attack, and the impulsive Phos promises to find Cinnabar a fun job - something that only they can do, something that will free them from their self-imposed solitude and give them a place among the other Gems. Of course, Phos almost immediately forgets about the promise, but Cinnabar is still touched by the first moment of genuine connection they've experienced in hundreds of years.
Time passes, and Phos changes in dramatic ways... but Cinnabar continues to act as their confidante and voice of reason. When Phos reveals that they've figured out that Sensei is hiding something from them - a potentially sinister secret involving Sensei's relationship to the Lunarians - Cinnabar confesses that they've had the same suspicions for a very long time. But Cinnabar has chosen to trust Sensei, because they believe that protecting the other Gems is more important than learning the truth. Phos manages to convince or coerce several other Gems into running away to join the Lunarian cause, but Cinnabar's strong sense of duty prevents them from going with Phos. The shock of Phos's betrayal forces the remaining Gems to grow closer, and Cinnabar proves to be both a competent fighter and a cool-headed leader. The others begin to make genuine efforts to include Cinnabar in their daily lives. For the first time in their millenia of existence, they begin to feel accepted and loved... even though on some level they wonder if that love is little more than convenience. Ultimately, they decide that it doesn't matter, and they take a stand against their former friend.
...And then a bunch of other stuff happens (rocks fall, everyone dies) but this section is already getting long and that covers all of the important characterization bits!
AU Info
AU Name: Shinsha Akashi.
Age: 17. Aging down by at least 1000 years looooool.
Suitability: NA.
AU History:
Shinsha was only an infant when their mother died, leaving them in the care of relatives. After Shinsha's physical weakness and poor coordination prompted a doctor's visit, it was discovered that they were intersex... and suddenly, it was deemed "best for everyone" if Shinsha was sent to live in a children's home (foster care is uncommon in Japan, so even children with living families are often sent to orphanages). Although they were initially raised as a boy, when they were sent to a Buddhist-run home for older children in rural Touhoku, they were allowed to dress in female clothing (although they retained a very masculine manner of speaking). The other children found Shinsha strange and gloomy, and generally avoided them. During the long walks to and from the nearest middle school, Shinsha collected flowers and leaves and insects so they could ask Sensei what they were called. "Sensei" was the head monk of the temple associated with the orphanage, and the only person that Shinsha ever really connected with. He made sure that Shinsha's introversion, nonconformity and love for nature were never stifled. But Shinsha was acutely aware that they, like the roadside flowers, were unwanted weeds that had no place in the world.
During summer holidays when Shinsha was 13, a visiting child from out of town asked them to help with their vacation homework: a sketchbook of plants and insects from the local area. Despite some grumbling, Shinsha agreed - it was the first time that anyone had ever specifically asked them for help. The younger child was lazy, though, so Shinsha ended up doing all the work while they played. As the sun set, the other child stumbled and nearly fell off a steep embankment... but Shinsha managed to save them, instead themself tumbling down the rocky cliff. Due to their weak constitution, Shinsha broke several bones in the fall and was trapped until emergency services arrived. The other child was naturally distraught, but Shinsha confessed that they didn't particularly care whether they lived or died, since they'd been born with no useful purpose in life. The child promised to find something special that only Shinsha could do.
But the summer friendship was quickly forgotten, as such friendships usually are, and Shinsha never saw the other child again. They spent months in the hospital recovering from their injuries, tormented by nightmares. But even through the worst of the nightmares, they clinged to the idea that there must be something that only they could do, something that would make them worthy of love. Shinsha awoke as a Dreamer and managed to fight off the Nightmare, then woke up in their bed back at the orphanage (much to the surprise of the old monk). He realized that Shinsha was a Dreamer, and arranged for them to enroll in Promised Morning Academy once they reached high school so they'd have a chance to make friends with other Dreamers.
But Shinsha's awakening as Dreamer Cinnabar was more of a curse than a blessing. As a Dreamer, they were more graceful and athletic than they'd ever been in the waking world, and their Sandglass weapon - a telekinetically controlled mass of liquid mercury - was extremely powerful against Torments. But the mercury also poisoned any Dreamer who accidentally came into contact with it, and wherever it touched the ground of the Dream Sphere, plants withered and died. While Cinnabar was able to absorb some of the mercury into their body, they were constantly surrounded by little floating globs of quicksilver poison. Horrified, Cinnabar realized that the only way to protect others was to stay as far as possible from them. Still, they were driven by a powerful need to be useful, so they took on the task of patrolling the far reaches of the Dream Sphere... alone. Occasionally they encountered others (usually Dreamers in need of rescue), and they even briefly mentored a younger Dreamer, but for the most part, Cinnabar maintained their self-imposed isolation.
In school, Shinsha was similarly avoidant. Ashamed of their powers, they hid their status as a Dreamer and rarely spoke to classmates. Ongoing medical issues gave them a convenient excuse to skip school. Even so, Shinsha managed to score top grades, especially in biology classes. The commute from the orphanage to Yumemigaoka was lenghty, so their relatives agreed to pay for them to live in a small apartment near the Academy. They also had a small inheritance - enough to pay for small luxuries, like the large collection of houseplants that came to take up nearly all the empty space in their apartment.
Currently, Shinsha continues to patrol the Dream Sphere alone while hiding their identity as a Dreamer from their classmates.
AU Personality:
In the waking world, Shinsha is a wallflower - reserved, quiet, and somewhat awkward. Between their frequent absences from school and their reticent personality, many classmates at Promised Morning Academy completely forget that Shinsha exists. Those who do notice Shinsha's presence often find them to be an easy target for casual bullying, but the "fun" soon wears off when their target fails to react with anger or tears. At most, they might make a snide comment. To those who don't know them well, Shinsha can seem cold and emotionless... but Shinsha is actually a highly emotional person who's learned to suppress their feelings. Due to feeling unwanted even by their own family, they constantly worry that they're a trouble or a burden to others, and that any affection they do receive is nothing more than obligation. Under Shinsha's stony exterior, they struggle with anxiety, loneliness, and a lack of self-worth.
As Dreamer Cinnabar, their personality is considerably bolder, and they don't hesitate to scold inexperienced Dreamers who get themselves into dangerous situations. They're competent and self-reliant, and they have little patience for people who aren't. The Dream Sphere is a dangerous place, not a pastel-colored playground. Sometimes, though, Cinnabar can be too harsh... a choice they justify by the need to keep others at a distance. Their mercury-based Sandglass weapon is difficult to control and can easily injure anyone who comes too close, even outside of combat. Cinnabar is ashamed of their power and hates to be seen fighting, even though they're a powerful and experienced Sentry.
Even so, Cinnabar has a deep desire to be needed and wanted, so they've assigned themself the "job" of patrolling the Dream Sphere (even if few Dreamers know about or appreciate what they do). When others ask for help, they might grumble, but they'll never refuse. Being useful is almost (but not quite) like being needed, after all. If Cinnabar is strict with other Dreamers, then they're even stricter when it comes to themself.
The only time Shinsha really allows themself to relax is when they're alone with their collection of houseplants. Each plant is lovingly nurtured and cared for, even the ones that aren't rare or beautiful to look at.
Likes:
Dislikes:
- Flowers and plants. Shinsha is knowledgeable about botany, and their special skill is being able to keep even the fussiest houseplants alive. They're a member of the Gardening Club at Promised Morning Academy.
- Cute things. While they value plainness and practicality, they secretly love anything small and fluffy.
- Taking long walks. They're the studious and introverted type, but they don't like being cooped up indoors all the time.
Dislikes:
- Being a Dreamer. Shinsha feels like their powers are a curse. If becoming a Dreamer is supposed to represent the awakening of your true self, then what do their horrible powers say about them?
- Getting dirty. They're fastidious about their clothes, both in the waking world and in the Dream Sphere. They'd like to wear something pretty, but they're sure they'd just ruin it, and they worry that they'd look stupid.
Other AU Changes:
Shinsha is intersex in this AU - Klinefelter syndrome (XXY chromosomes), to be specific. The condition often causes incomplete or absent male puberty, taller than average height, lack of coordination, physical weakness, low bone density, and communication difficulties. Shinsha identifies as agender but is fine with any pronouns in English. Japanese makes it easier to avoid specifying third person pronouns, so I'm going with they/them in the narration to reflect that.
Shinsha's gender is, shockingly, one of the few aspects of themself that doesn't cause an identity crisis. They were raised male up until middle school, then tried living as a girl for a few years, and ultimately concluded that both options were annoying in their own ways. Shinsha has no time for annoyances, so they don't particularly identify with any gender. They're aware that their gender-bending behavior often makes others question what they are, but they don't feel the need to provide any answers.
Dreamer Info
Dreamer Title: Dreamer Cinnabar.
Appearance:
Archetype: Sentry.
Power Considerations:
Cinnabar's Dreamer weapons are floating blobs of liquid mercury (with a shiny rainbow sheen) that are controlled telekinetically to form shields and blunt weapons. At baseline, they can generate about a cubic meter of the stuff, and absorb most of it into their body when not in use. The mercury is highly toxic and will cause damage to any living thing it touches.
Potential Powers:
- Airborne Poison: In addition to acting as a contact poison, Cinnabar's mercury can also give off toxic vapors that stun Torments. Probably not a good idea to breathe it in...
- Increase Mercury: Cinnabar's capacity for generating mercury increases (about two cubic meters at D rank). The quickest way to summon it is not pretty, though...
- Imperceptibility: Cinnabar covers themself with a coating of mercury, which makes it difficult for Torments to sense their presence. If only they were invisible to other Dreamers, too.
- Advanced Mercury Manipulation: Cinnabar can use their mercury to create more delicate objects, human figures, long extendable arms, and other creations. While the shapes melt fairly quickly, at D rank they would remain solid enough for Cinnabar to climb a ladder of mercury or pick up an object with mercury fingers.
RP Sample:
Shinsha & Amane
Cinnabar & Mantle
Other Notes:
