desmond28

I don't need to make alts because I will play alts vicariously through you! *watches characters*

I'd like to say this is an isolated scenario, but sadly it isn't. These topics and experiences do come up from time to time and I wonder how many keep silent about it and just give up rather than talking it through here. When things like this happen, whether it be seemingly or for real, it can sap the joy of RP instantaneously and it is difficult to get that joy back. I can completely empathize with Sapphire since I have experienced similar things myself and almost gave up entirely. That's when I came here to this site and met some great RPers. But it took 2-3 years to get there. I know sometimes hanging in there can be exhausting mentally, but... hang in there! Sapphire's a solid RPer and her boyfriend, too! I have confidence in them! =)

I am relentless with my character on death. He has lost several loved ones to death. He himself has killed many criminals over his career and in service to the Maelstrom. This is definitely not overlooked by me. It plays a huge role in his story, who he is, why he makes the choices he does, and why even if a happy moment comes along or even a happy day, it will soon be overshadowed by the faces of those he's killed or lost to death. That being said, Paul is violent and kills (if necessary) for his work, not as a murder. He operates within the law. In a social setting he is the most gentle person. He doesn't want to get involved in a dispute. It's like if you're a cook for a job, the last thing you probably want to do is cook when you get home. But for Paul, the instant a situation involves him, he can react in a split second. It's like a switch goes off and he's already plotted in his head how he will engage any hostiles.

The following is a family hearing for case number 43812 involving a child adoption gone awry. Inspector Desmond’s voice was professional but grim as he spoke. “Baby Girl Smith was found in the custody of two known criminals. These two also were in possession of four other children at the time.” “What happened to the other four children?” asked the chairman of the hearing. A lawyer speaking on behalf of family services answers. “Cecil was reunited with his parents. The three rescued girls are in the system until they are claimed.” “And despite all the coverage in the heralds no one has come forth to claim Baby Girl Smith who was also found with the others?” “No, they have not,” the Inspector answers. “My team has checked infirmary records, adoption records… I have personally been through all reports on missing children. No matches have been found.” “It’s why we are here today with this motion.” “Very well,” the chairman responds. “It pains me to think that in a world where so many desire a child a beautiful and healthy child like this goes unclaimed. Tragic… very tragic. Since this baby is declared as lacking she will remain with child services until all efforts have been exhausted. She will be placed with a temporary couple until a final ruling is filed.” Paul sat in his chair. He lost it to himself. Children are lost every day without choice, and people willfully abandon four? This is beyond tragic. It’s disgusting...

Finding himself at a tavern, Paul sat quietly by himself and observed the patrons from a dimly lit corner. The day was hard on him. Of course, it was nothing compared to what he had seen over his span of time in this world. Yet, it was just one more day to add to his already taxed mind. While he was good at what he did, there were always several more criminals to appear who felt the need to abuse women or children. Can one man make a difference; can several? The questions weighed on Paul’s mind as the spiced alcohol presently known as rum washed down his throat. Despite his best efforts, it never washed away the pain. Nothing did and nothing probably ever would. And who could he confide in? Who would be able to sympathize with his decades of pain, suffering, and loss? Who would understand his struggle with reasoning on the ‘why’ of his journey? Why am I here? What can I do in this dying world? Why do I continue to live while all other things die? The rum continued to wash down his throat. Maybe, just maybe this one time it would actually make him forget about the unimaginable sorrow that continues to crush his insides.

Welcome! Feel free to find me in game (Paul Desmond) or maybe I'll find you =)

Indictment Escalates ~ B.H. Tyler Two nights ago, the Warner family was indicted on child endangerment. As the case unraveled investigators became aware that the crimes untold were much, much worse. The Warners were found to be adopting children and then selling them in order to meet demands of their high debt. While details will be spared, rest assured that what went on is far worse than what you are imagining. Because of their new charges, one young female miqo'te was sent back into adoptive care. The lead investigator, Inspector Desmond, was available for a statement. "When a case like this involves families and young infants who can't speak for themselves, it takes great vigilance to make sure those who can't speak get justice. Authorities take every precaution to make sure not only infants, but children and their families receive the care they deserve. We're just thankful that this young child will get the care she needs." Many remember Inspector Desmond's work on the vigilantism case and particularly the vigilante known as Onryo. When asked if the rumors were true that Onryo provided authorities with the evidence of child trafficking, his response was: "Authorities do not need to work with vigilantes to make sure justice prevails." Some, however, think there is a watchdog for us in the night. Cries in an ally are often answered by a flash, a man in black, and then he's simply gone. Let's hope he sticks around and cleans up the streets.

The main question has been answered but I'll add my two cents' worth. I don't run into this too often myself. For my character I do play as a half-breed, but it is likely never to come up in RP. I don't even list it on my wiki. I think he's probably told three people in his life. The fact that his mother was a Seeker plays a huge role in his personality and how he views miqo'te. The fact that he is a half-breed is a basis for his intolerance for racial remarks or comments. It can really enhance RP and his history caused a great RP session to be an awesome three day session with a miqo'te character mine was keen on.

Really nice! Keep up the good work! I look forward to more

I'm definitely sympathetic since I've RP'd with you a bit here and there. I still remember meeting you back when I starting RPing in FFXIV. Maybe we should make it happen more often... ;-) Sorry to see you've had it rough. You've always been cool in my book.

Nebbs is straight up cool. And the character is great. I always enjoy the RP, character quirks, and little witch adventures that are sort of cliche but yet they aren't because they have Nebbs weaved through it

This is perfect for Paul, just perfect since it grossly exaggerates his work.

As he Paul made his way to the Carline Canopy he carried his typical bottle of rum. Inside the establishment, the inspector found a left-behind herald. He noticed one headline of interest. The poor Waterstrike victim still was not found. Perhaps I should reach out to the Grand Companies and see if I can aid in this case. Paul thought this quietly to himself. The fact that no ransom had been made was of particular note to him. Most victims did not survive beyond the first twenty-four hours... Later in the evening, in Ul'dah, a man in black moved through the shadows. He knew a few scum that frequented the grindstone. His objective: beat them until they told him what he wanted to know. If justice would not find the young Lord, then the man in black intended to himself...

Echolocation would be a feasible option and is more a common practice than one might think IRL. It is why you'll see some folks tapping their cane in front of them. It aids in echolocation.

Did this idea ever come to fruition? I thoroughly like it and could see my character visiting this place. The best thing? He's law enforcement, sort of. Basically he's a detective/investigator that deals with more heinous crimes than the petty ones. So I would see him hopefully catching wind of a place like this merely to eavesdrop and pick up a lead than to actually bust the place or its patrons. Some evil acts he doesn't even care if they happen. Assassinate a noble? Oh, the noble was corrupt and lived wealthily while selling slaves? Who was the evil one again? What I thought of when I saw read this topic: A hub like Maz Kanata has in The Force Awakens. A wretched hive of scum and villainy like the Mos Eisley cantina (though less public).

And the meme silliness looks fan-frickin-tastic!

These are far from dumb. I think they are excellent. Keep up the good work!

((In order not to pollute with topics, I'm adding a recent news story to this thread)) Murder, Kidnap, Vengeance ~ B.H. Tyler Three nights ago it was a grimly fateful night for a wealthy family in the Goblet residential area. In the Parker residence, Flames officers found the Parkers dead in the bedroom of their home. A little boy was found alive, the only lead to start the investigation. His sister: abducted. The bloodshed, however, did not end there. One of the responders of the crime scene, Sergeant Chadwick, was found dead in Ul’dah last night. It was the handiwork of the Viper. It has been confirmed he was involved in the abducting of the young girl. Inspector Paul Desmond was available for questioning and issued a statement to the public. “When a child is abducted people fear the worst. In most cases, their fears are realized. In this case, we are happy to report that the Parkers’ daughter was found and returned safely. The masked vigilante known as Viper returned her unharmed. “In an alarming twist of investigations, we uncovered a plot that went high into my department and involved the director, Sigfred Valor. Evidence shows that he was trafficking children for profit. Unwilling to cooperate or be taken in, he was executed by the Viper. “Since this plot has been uncovered, we have learned that Sigfred wanted the vigilante caught because he threatened his criminal syndicate. With this in light, we have ceased all investigations and the matter on the Viper is closed.” For citizens and writers, the matter is not closed. They continue to experience aid and speak of him. If one asks the right people, they will hear stories of how they were attacked, about to be killed, and then a man in black rescues them. Or if you talk top personnel at infirmaries, they will tell you about the bodies of the criminals the vigilante felled. A curious piece of information recently surfaced. A few of the people inquired will tell you that he is Onryo, which means vengeful spirit. The consensus is this: people are happy to know that there is this spirit who wanders the night and takes vengeance on behalf of those who can’t or who are no longer able to.

What the fair lady spoke seemed to spark excitement in the crowd. An argument soon follows between a pair, one whose brother works in said justice system while another makes accusations. After few words are exchanged, punches are soon exchanged. Paul shakes his head. Why do things always go wrong on such a beautiful day? he wonders to himself. But he moves to intervene before the whole crowd turns into a riot, but it seemed that was well underway as two more fights broke out. The middle-aged man was long gone by now. Paul moves to break up the fight, swings were thrown at him but he blocks, dodges, and subdues, binding the first pair by the hands behind the back. By now Flames made their way to the scene to cease control. Paul gives the report to what happened to the sergeant of the squad before leaving. He had much to think about. ((This will end the scene. For any who have posted feel free to make final posts. Thanks for participating!))

A feeling of familiarity set in Paul's mind as the golden-haired woman spoke. The feeling of familiarity pushed aside, he focused on what she said. Were it so easy, he thinks to himself. The middle-aged hyur seemed to get excited from the woman's comments. "Yes, yes! Focus on a real threat!" he bellows with surprising volume. Paul repeats his previous statement to himself. If he was in charge, perhaps they would be working with the Viper rather than against him. Nevertheless, he had to answer to someone who, in turn, had to answer to someone else. It was this someone else that really wanted the Viper found and brought in. Paul goes back to that feeling of familiarity. Why did she seem so familiar? Maybe he could get a better look...

If only he, or rather everyone knew what was really going on, what Paul was truly doing to rectify the situation. Even still, he was not here to make a public statement. He wanted to locate someone, a person he was now sure would appear at such a forum. He disappears from the middle-aged man's space and moves through the crowd again, moving toward the back to watch the passersby and those who arrive. The middle-aged man begins speaking with someone that made their way up; a concerned citizen. "I think you're right. Vigilantes can't be left unchecked. Mhmm, just sign your name there and I'll inform you when." Paul is approached by a stranger in a cloak as the forum goes on. They converse quietly and then he hands Paul a folded parchment. He slips it on his person and the cloaked figure leaves.

My brother just did it last night and it worked.

The middle-aged hyur continued to address passersby as Paul moved back to the group. The movement caught the attention of the older man. "Ah, Inspector Paul Desmond himself, the lead investigator on the Viper case. Tell us, to what do we owe the pleasure of your presence?" "Just listening to what people say." "What is it you say on the matter? I think we'd all like to know." Paul merely smirks. Perhaps it wasn't the best idea to attend the forum. Still... he was curious what sort would show up. "It doesn't matter what I think," he replies. "It matters what the law reads." "Typical... You heard it, citizens! Even the good inspector just follows orders, lacking the heart to do the right thing."

I love my character too much to kill him. I actually had him killed at one point, seemingly, but it was under my control and I was the only who knew it was going to happen. It was a pretty cool shocker to all involved, lots of fun. That being said I am not open for random people thinking they can harm my character without explicitly going over it with me beforehand. So injury is the only thing that I would allow if it suited my story. I also don't do incapacitated states that will render my character unavailable for extended periods, unless I'm personally going to be out of the game for some time. On the other hand, I do some neat events with the FC I'm in that my character could easily be injured or knocked out, but again I join that knowing such a thing could happen. Killing is out of the question.

The man scribbles down notes in a fury. Others seem to agree with what was said, still others felt the vigilantes should answer to the law, others just didn't care, seemingly watching for entertainment. He listens to another speak up as the question for direction is said. Paul makes his way over to the au ra and says, "The Quicksand is just this way." He points in its direction.