Zhavi

A bottle of wine would make Zhi happy. Wait. No. . . no it wouldn't make her happy, but it would ease her current and ongoing suffering. She'd wedged herself into an alcove further up the wall, once home to a lamp fixture before the building's formerly well-to-do owner had abandoned it to age and a less caring new owner. She'd had to curl awkwardly around the thing, and dig her feet into the sides to prevent herself from slipping out, but they would only be able to catch sight of her if they looked up and stared hard at the exact right spot. Say what you would about Limsa Lominsa's habit of overdone architecture, the constantly evolving styles of the tower city were incredibly useful for spying on others. However, her feet hurt, so there was that. As the two men progressed in their discussion she leaned back, not bothering to try to watch them (leaning out would only increase her chances of getting caught or falling, neither of which would be pretty). She listened instead, pulling her tail around to deal with the itching that'd bothered her all night. Sure enough she started finding movement -- lice, again, after she'd just had a purge -- and one by one she crushed them between her fingers as she found them. Not that it would matter; they bred faster than rabbits, but it made her feel better to kill them individually. The conversation took a turn, and her attention was caught away from the ongoing problem of lice. Ferigen was openly taunting Mujuuk now? There was an interesting bit of information. Curiosity caught, Zhi jutted her head forward a hair and opened her mouth, dragging air over the scent-organs in the roof of her mouth. Unfortunately, she was a storey over the three men, and the current of air through the alley wasn't cooperating. She got a hit of vomit and cheap vendor food, alongside fish and seawater, and closed her mouth with a snap. What a pain. Her stomach roiled, and she leaned back into the alcove with a grimace. Sighard sounded like he was all nerves, but Zhi couldn't help but wonder. Was Mujuuk considered a threat, or was Ferigen just batting at the Keeper before he planned to slap him down? Zhi didn't have enough information, and for someone playing her own part in the game that was dangerous. The two men left, leaving Mujuuk in the alley. There was the sound of glass against stone. Zhi winced, hoping the bottle hadn't cracked; she'd rescue it from its fate given the first opportunity. In the meantime, she tallied up her own problems as she listened to Mujuuk pace around, not sure if he was doing something or just blowing off adrenaline. It would help if she could smell what was going on, rutting wind being a fickle prick as usual. She turned her thoughts back towards business, and resumed picking lice from her tail. She could split Brindle's watch on dockside rumors while she tailed Mujuuk, but that would leave more holes in her net. She needed more informers -- and that was something she'd have to take care of after dear little Mujuuk'd had enough of his tantrum and gone to bed. The time for her to make her move would be soon, but she would need to be prepared. If she played it right she would be able to make money off the top of the job by careful dispersal of her knowledge, but it wouldn't do to fall behind in other areas and find herself caught out.

Oh, threats? We can do those too!

Haha, aw man, stuff is so complicated. >< Thanks for the quick fix!

That's because. . . I bet it was a cruel trick all along -- quick, more Jewel Staite to comfort our wounded expectations!

Is anyone else not able to see the wiki? When I click on it all I get are weird symbols and letters.

You know, I don't even know what makes a good introduction, but yours is pretty spiffy. It's always interesting to learn about where other rpers have come from and what they're about. Morally grey characters are my favorite too, so high five! Welcome aboard!

Watch how I soar! Except the OP isn't soaring. The OP is failing. Failing us. But hey, we almost have the whole Firefly crew going now! I'M HELPING!

Servers are back up! I logged in just for a second, unfortunately I have to go to bed, but for those of you who are able, go go go!

I always think of it this way: where there is commerce, there is a common language. Maybe it's just a trade language, but something. Then again, I've always been one to make up whatever I need for rp -- so long as it does not go against or break current lore. If something changes later, whatever, I'll make it work.

Ohhhmigosh those pencil sketches make me uber happy. Love the toned paper, too, the white highlights really give it that extra oomf.

Thanks much, guys! Skin texture is one area where I've really been trying to improve (along with proper color -- lighting/shadows is one of my main weak spots alongside clean edges), so it's really nice to hear that :3 Took today off work to tackle a paper. . .been sketching on breaks, hehe. Zhavi absconding with some poor sod's important evidence. Tried for a bit less wide-eyed anime-ishness in the face. THERE ARE NEVER ENOUGH POUTY MIQO'TEEEEES! (never fall for Zhi's pouts! It's a trap!)

I'm not ashamed to admit that I drooled over these a bit. Fan-freaking-tastic art, a veritable treat for the eyes.

It was the jealousy. The overwhelming, illogical jealousy that you got to see Jewel Staite in person. *fistshake*

Art's a hobby of mine, so I figure why not share (because any chance to get advice is a good chance)? Here's some of the more recent stuff I've done, starting with my first attempt at drawing Zhavi. Another character of mine named Tagi, based off some Turkish folklore. Tagi again, practicing lineart. I need to practice lines. Bertran, a crippled merchant representative for a major political family. He has numerous PIMP HATS and CANES. Qamra, a mix-species mutt who's not all there in the head. Fidget, my very first attempt at full-body color. Also first time coloring underboobs. Boobs. O_O BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU JUST GOTTA HAVE RUFFLES AND LACE. rip Savia, you never saw the light of day.

Spring had brought with it wind from the ocean, and its usual bursts of rain. It was the only time Limsa Lominsa was ever cleaned, her excesses leaked back down to the ocean in muddy fits and spurts. The ocean was a tireless receptacle for the city's waste. That was a fact. It was common to see bloated bodies nudging their way down city canals and between the various islands, bumping into docks until the Yellowjackets fished them out or the tide swept them away. Spring was a good time to shed the smell of death and rot that hung over the lower tiers of the city even at the best of times. Zhavi hardly noticed it any more. It'd never been about noticing death. Rather, avoiding it was the real ticket. Any scrag worth a day's worth of labor knew that. Best to let the poor lifeless sods seek their worth with Nald'thal, and spare them the shame of acknowledging their ultimate ends. So, Zhavi nudged the chewed off finger aside with her foot, over to the gutter where the rain would sweep it away. She didn't even bother to wonder what had gotten to the poor blighter, or if by some chance the finger belonged to someone yet living. It was pale and nasty, half-heartedly chewed up and left alone as if even the vermin couldn't stomach it. Her attention, so quickly distracted, was misplaced. She caught the clothes thrown at her by her erstwhile companion -- if she could be called that -- out of reflex. Bad luck to look away during dealings, but godsspit it was so sunny out. Sunny and sprinkling, as if Azeyma had seen fit to lift her skirts and daintily piss all over all of them. Poxy harlot. Seemed like something she'd a mind to do, make no mistake. Zhi looked back up to said companion, the only other occupant in the alley, and didn't bother to hide her smirk. "Y'hirin' me t'play maids'n'bedchambers with ye, Mink? Di'n't think it in ya." Zhi's smirk transformed itself into a leer. The rejection was swift and expected. Mink had always been inscrutable, the sort of Hyur woman who had any number of lovesick paramours chasing after her whilst pretending disinterest. She was confident, and capable, and that made her an attractive catch. "Our arrangement," Mink said. Zhi pouted. "'Ere I was thinkin' you 'n' me'd gotten 'round to launching, sweeting." Mink's stare said it all. "Right then, I'll shove off since yer less wobsy'n a empty chamberpot." "Sennight." "Keep yer gil warm for me, honey-pot, cuz I'll be back t'keep it company like we promised. In a sennight." Zhi's pockets already weighed heavier for her run-in with Mink. The woman paid well, for all she was only someone's grunt. Whose, Zhi wasn't asking. She'd tracked back to two other grunts, and then been ever-so-politely discouraged by three pairs of fists and a few boots besides. She'd taken it on the chin, as it went, and kept to her place. No matter that, she'd new bridges to cross. She parted ways with Mink, heading for an inn for a wash and a quick change into her new clothes. She had gil to earn. _________________ Several days later Dusk was a relief. Zhavi didn't even pretend to understand Miqo'te of the Keepers who strove -- or pretended -- to be legitimate businessmen. Far as she was concerned all the real dealings went down soon as Azeyma started to bugger off. Daytime was an insult, and a pain besides, so after a few days trailing a daytripping businessman she was starting to wonder how she'd been so cockered as to think it was a good idea in the first place. Had she been told the mark was a daytripper? She squinted, considering. No. Probably not. She should make it a point to start asking. Not that she'd the luxury of refusing good-paying tickets, but it was the point of the matter, and that was that she was night's creature through and through. Not some churl like Naoh'to Mujuuk, fresh heir of Reid Trading Company. Well, not so fresh. That piece of business was old news. Zhi had kept up with him, even before he'd become one of her problems. One of many. He was just a sidejob, really, not even the best paying -- but gil was gil. Asides, his little spat with Ruarc Ferigen was enough to set the lower city alight with gossip, and she'd made it a point to keep fresh enough to lure in a job or two. Yeah, so she'd known the sod was a daytripper. So what. Wasn't no reason not to blame her employer as was proper. It was always the employer's fault, and that was fact. Mujuuk was moving again. She pulled herself out of her reverie and waited a few beats, tailing him with a subtlety that was her pride and joy. Mebbe he'd do something entertaining and stave off her boredom, for once. Yeah, and chocobos would push out gil turds.

Oh wow. 0o Glad it was able to be resolved and hurray for the hosting company!

Hahaha, I hear you -- at the end of the day, it's about what makes you comfortable. Forum rp is sorta like that, yeah -- maybe more like chess by email? It's almost always slower than mmo/chat rp, but there's a bit more freedom in terms of how much you can write in one go. In my case, it's a way to do ffxiv rp for now until the semester is over, until I can reliably be in game for more than short spurts of time. Ooooh, yeah, my character can use more refining too (I actually just came back a few days ago after a looong time gone) -- characters are ever a work in progress, eh? I really look forward to seeing the evolution of your character!

Information? Yes please! I love love love those types of characters! Also, hi! Nice to meet you and cheers for buffing up your story and broadening your horizons. If you mean by 'thing' what I think you mean, I've happily encountered few closeminded rp communities. Indeed, rpers are usually more openminded than most online in my experience. I hope you're able to find what you're looking for! If you ever want to do some forum rp with the information trade, I would be so down. Politics (maybe especially low-down gritty street politics) is one of my favorite things to rp.

Ohh snap, I am most definitely going to bookmark that for when this semester ends in May. Thank you so much for bringing it to my attention! (I'm still a lowbie noob at this point though, but definitely for the future)

If it's the start to a comedic rp I will be delighted.

Hee, thank you very kindly! Oh man, I am so hopping aboard the fun train.

Hey there! I hear you on the MMO front, I also primarily do forum rp rather than MMO rp, for much the same reasons (jokes on me though, since I won't be able to do much in game just yet -- but if you're ever down for forum rp here and your character is in Limsa. . . ) So whatcha got planned for Ylari?

I'm taking it as a jab at poorly developed ic relationships . . . or ooc relationships? If it's oocly true, I will be sad. Details, OP!

[align=justify]Personal Profile Character Name: Zhavi Streetrunner (see wiki for list of aliases) Gender: Female Race: Keeper Miqo'te Domestic Profile Civil Status: Resident by birth. Place of Residence: The streets. Occupation: Runner/Courier/Information Fence/Sometimes Seller of Illicit Goods (aka scrumbagger) Free Company: None. Social Profile Zhi is a lowdown dirty piece of work. She haunts the criminal element in Limsa, running messages and illicit goods between discreet parties. She's a brassy lass, putting forth the sort of smack-talking front you'd expect from a girl born into a pirate city, and the aggressive extroversion of a born grifter. She's started putting more time and effort into gathering and selling information, giving her a keen interest in anyone and everyone making moves in her city. Make no mistake, however: she's still smallfry with dreams of making her mark on Limsa's underbelly. She has to be constantly moving, wheeling and dealing to stay ahead of the big fish in the city, and she is always looking for ways to further her own goals. She's known amongst the criminal element as being a discreet and reliable runner/courier, and a potential source of information, but not in any major way. Most of the time she isn't even known by name; there are places she haunts where she can be contacted. Meta Profile I put Zhi together with the idea that I would be able to have her have legit interest in just about anyone, with the sort of personality where she's not afraid to go up to someone and start a conversation, or be adverse to strangers talking to her. While she will lose interest if she feels there's no gain in interaction with someone, I have plenty of tricks up my sleeve to keep the ball rolling as long as possible. If you're interested in in game/forum rp having to deal with criminal activity, hit me up! [/align]

Hiya there! I can't help much in-game, but if your character happens to wander to Limsa Lominsa and you don't mind doing forum rp, I would totally be down to brainstorm up some shenanigans with your character to push her in a new direction! Though if you want to make a new character (same with forum rp) I could help brainstorm some stuff for that if you like streetside/lowborn criminalish rps. In any case, when I have difficulty moving a character forward I look for character motivation (what does she want? Where does she want to go?), personal desire (what do you want to rp?), other players/characters (do I want to join someone else's rp? Is there a character I'm interested in that I could feasibly have my character interact with?), and environment (what is going on in the area I plan on rping in that I can use to my advantage to spur rp/plot development?). It also helps me sometimes to just talk to someone, as often thoughts will come to fruition while trying to explain my ideas to someone else. Best of luck to you, whatever you choose to do!