dessysalta

Just like the SpaceBattles forums, if you'd like to vote for one of the ending options, just format it like this: "[x] - Tilt your head back and try to keep it together. You're with friends." We'll see if it lands. I'll continue after a sufficient amount of replies come in or after a few days/a week.

OOC Notes: Hi! This is the first short story in a series I might or might not make just for funsies. Kira Vasquez is by far one of my most cherished characters to date and I love writing her—I hope you all like this and help me turn it into something unique. You might recognize the ending options as inspired by the SpaceBattles forum, and if you do, good! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - In a place you only dream of Where your soul is always free Silver stages, golden curtains Filled my head, plain as can be As I sat down in my seat, I felt my ears twitch a bit as archaic, if a bit catchy, rock blared from a rundown jukebox. This one in particular was by a band I was familiar with, The Outlaws. They’re one of those old Earth bands that made a name for themselves with their smooth vocalist and equally smooth guitarist. I still idly hum it to myself when I’m working, like a song stuck in my head. It has roots in my subconscious after hearing it so often during my time with Sol. My first squad, and eventually the rest of my platoon, would sing when we/they were shipping off to whatever mission Command had in store for us. I guess to them it was a nod to old times and how ushering in the new was foreign, or some kind of travesty. A lot of the men in my units thought strongly about it, but I never cared either way. I just thought the music was pleasant to the ears. At least, it was a nice relief from all of the metal screeches and pulse munition fire. I was in a bar of sorts. It looked like one of those run-down country restaurants you'd find on Mictlan or San Colette, assuming those planets were allowing visitors and moreover that the locals wanted to serve you in the first place. Around our five-man team were duos, trios, and groups of men and women alike sharing a meal or pint together. The place was full of wood, purposefully pandering to Earthers and those adjacent who favored a more "homey" setting with knick-knacks and antiques that caught the eye and alluded to the soul of humanity. Above all else, the smell of food and drink was readily apparent, punching you square in the nose the moment you stepped into the place. If I had to guess where the spices hailed from I'd probably lose it, because it was such a cacophony of fragrance that must have been lent tastes from all around the solar system. I opened my mouth to say something, probably to sing along. Whatever I had planned to say was cut off by a voice across the table from me, the body of which had raised its glass in a manner that said, hey, listen! “Kira!” A deep, thick Martian accent jumped into my ears and into my brain. It was a more guttural form of Sol Common that borrows some elements of Freespeak, the former a mix of Mandarin and Asian languages and the latter descending from Hindi, combining into a multi-rooted jumble that sounded incoherent or even barbarian to non-native speakers. It made me snap my gaze up to meet his, but I took it in stride and didn’t show any surprise. God dammit, Ethan, do you always need to talk so damn loud? I perked up, shifting around in my seat as to not seem idle. I felt myself blink a few times as my concentration shifted to an image more important than the grooves on the table we sat at, which was only just better than some dented piece of balsa wood barely sanded. There was wear and tear on the mahogany, and it looked just awful. My eyes landed on Ethan, who was a man of above-average height and build, save for a longer set of legs and shorter torso. He had brown hair that made up a sloppy mullet, with a cowlick on top that solidified his position as part of the lower-class in this bar. From my perspective, it looked like he had two heads and four eyes. “You been awfully quiet, hermana. What’s been goin’ on with you as of late? We sure as shit don’t see you often, let alone talk to ya.” As a rainbow grew around the sun All my stars of love who died Came from somewhere beyond the scene you see These lovely people played just for me While my mind drifted back to the music reverberating throughout the bar, my hands moved to sign. “I’ve just been dozing off.” “Dozing off? God damn, chica, you sure got a twisted sense of purpose nowadays.” Thanks, I thought. I appreciate you calling notice to it like it’s worthy of damn spotlight. Really helps me get accustomed to the atmosphere. My hands moved again. “It’s difficult, is all.” “Hey, it’s alright.” Another voice piped up. This one belonged to a Lunar chick around my age and height. Her accent was lighter, with a more eloquent edge to it; it wasn't something I could replicate myself unless I spent months practicing. It had a much more comforting tone compared to the battle cry old long, tall, and ugly had just shouted. I didn't know her name off-hand, that or it just wasn't coming to me considering what was in my system. I could have sworn I'd seen her before, what with the cool-colored ponytail and dark uniform. It looked like a service uniform. Wait, why was she wearing it out tonight...? The world blurred as the lights mixed and shined through my eyelids. I closed them sometime after she spoke, placing my elbow on the table and my hand on my forehead to support my head as I leaned into it. My free hand immediately went to my drink, bringing it to my lips to sip from. I could taste creamy lime and ethyl alcohol assaulting my tongue and burning my throat. Whoever mixed this drink sure had no idea of what quality milk cream was…but I couldn’t be bothered to let myself get frustrated over it. Not today. I had bigger problems on my mind that were more worth my time. I wouldn’t be drunk if I didn’t. Hell, maybe I would. At this point, drinking took to me as much as I took to it. Electric guitars soothed my nerves when I heard them, especially ones that weren’t distorted or altered much. The Outlaws, among many others from that era, had a magic in their picks that took me to a land far, far away from all of the political bullshit I usually found myself experiencing. It might have been because of the classic era they truly belonged to. It might have been because I’m an emotional mute with an eye for the little details and ears for the big ones. Either way, I felt less inclined to speak in my comforted state, and would much rather keep my voice down. “I miss…” My hands moved, then stopped. My mind grew thick with a kind of fog I couldn’t describe, like I needed a signal flare if I wanted to see a foot in front of me. I missed a lot of things, and I honestly felt better leaving it like that rather than picking any in particular. My head hurt just being here. My hands returned their stances, one on a drink, and one on my head. Irving, for one. He was a damn fine rifleman. I shook my head once more. “A lot of things,” I muttered. My head spun a little, but I steeled myself enough not to plant my head on the table below me. I even let go of my glass, letting my arms sit by my sides and my glass on the wood. My eyes drifted back to it, watching the alcohol inside it settle. The smell of it wafted into my nostrils, reminding me of why I was here in the first place. Maybe even why I was still going, who knows? Now if I let you see this place Where stories all ring true Will you let me past your face To see what's really you I grasped my cup one more time and brought it to my lips. It's not for me I ask these questions As though I were a king For you have to love, believe and feel Before the burst of tambourines take you there "Kira? You're..." For a moment, I felt my hardsuit again. The thick, chitinous mass that only Hephaestus or Zavodskoi weapon manufacturers could manufacture with ease and perfection. My breath mask clung to my face and rubbed against the bridge of my nose, the rubber seal and synthleather strap irritating my skin and pushing my hair into my head. Around me were bright lights—were they muzzle flashes? Was it all my imagination?—ones I couldn't easily describe. They felt so intricate, now, looking at them. I felt sudden acceleration push me into my seat as our engine roared to life, the rifle on my chest red-hot and burning. All I made out was the stars, so many stars, all bright and... I feel lightheaded and disoriented. What was I going to do...? [ ] - Change the subject. All this talk about the past hurts your head. [x] - Tilt your head back and try to keep it together. You're with friends. [ ] - Finish your drink and leave. Better to be alone than uncomfortable. Next Latest

Interacting with both Castile and Broadsword is always a pleasure. I honestly have to give shout outs to the time they (Broadsword) looked a wounded gunman in the eyes and said, "Pathetic." It was such a badass scene and I have no doubts in my mind that Noble will be able to create more of those well-written moments down the line. Hefty +1, shaken, not stirred.

Player of Valdez here! Just chiming in to confirm the above statements.

I've played about a round a day (two or three on some of them, since I had to skip a couple days for various reasons) and I advertise my whitelist at the end of each round, but I'm struggling to get any feedback at all. Not sure what I can do past advertise it more rigorously.

I've edited my app to reflect my new character, I made them specifically for the HoS role.

I'll revisit a Kira HoS in the future. In the meantime, give me some time (should take less than a week) to make a character that I think would both work as a HoS and allow me to be as creatively expressive.

+1, writes an intricate captain and demonstrates a great mix of ability and personal flair to the role. Love Xan, I hope they stay as a captain--and I should have written this sooner. Edit: I almost forgot to express my love for Urgoth and Gongwue. Gongwue especially is a fun dreg to be around.

I would be really upset if Kira was barred entirely from HoS due to her experience as a bartender, and I mean it when I say I am willing to do whatever it takes to change that--I want Kira to get somewhere more than her current position. That being said, if that decision is final, I'll make a new character for the HoS position.

If this ultimately gets denied, what would be a better time to resubmit my application (i.e. next month, a couple months, etc. assuming I'm playing consistently)? I'm hearing a lot of "too sudden" and want to know how long I should wait with Kira should this turn up flat. Also, I'm considering making another character for the HoS position but I'm worried that with my intent for Kira to be a HoS that I would accidentally create Kira: 2 instead of a character I can reasonably and faithfully play as that position.

Half-retconned? She was a bartender aboard the Horizon at some point, but I figure with her current experience and job that you can just assume the initial impressions of Kira being a bartender were just for reference--she can be assumed as a secoff for the past 2-3 months.

BYOND key: Dessysalta Discord Username: remratsuken#1578 Character names: Sherrie Scott Ashlyn Rushine Kira Vasquez (my main and reason for the app I'll try for a Kira HoS again in the future.) GOLD-ALECTO (soon-to-be) Eimhir Fenella How long have you been playing on Aurora? I've been off and on since about late January/early February, but I've been playing almost nonstop for the past couple of months. Have you received any administrative actions? And how serious were they? I received a warning by Wickedcybs on the 10th of this month regarding escalation and killing of antagonists. It wasn't so serious that it warranted a ban of any kind (even after I self-requested one afterwards), but it was worth noting. I might request an edit to this note later down the line because of circumstances that I think should have been taken into consideration. What do you think the OOC purpose of a Head of Staff is, ingame? I think of Heads of Staff the way I view the general of an army or the president of a nation; even if they're only one person with limited skills specific to one thing or another, their goal is to act not only as an employee and be part of the workforce but to act as a unifying figure and spearhead for the department that they manage and oversee, someone who bridges the gap between new threats and the people assigned to them. A Head of Staff or Captain is obligated not only to do the job that they are assigned, but to ensure the safety, cooperation, communication and efficiency of all their subordinates and how each action they make affects the people around them, inter-department or not. Generally speaking, a Head is meant to a glorified assistant, almost--specific to the department (or the entire ship if Captain) and there to act as insurance and a mentor to experienced and inexperienced employees alike. I think Heads of Staff solve the problem of otherwise being an uncoordinated group under a vague cause instead of an individual and objectives; project managers in real life jobs have such high paygrades and responsibilities due to the amount of effort it takes to coordinate and educate a mass of people, check their work, ensure that the machine that they run is well-oiled and efficient, and overall make sure that whatever objectives their team (or company, etc.) are meant to accomplish are succeeded in at the end of the day. Put simply, you can't have shoes without laces, and a Head of Staff is meant to be that driving, educational, and leading example of force and communication for everyone who wishes to achieve something in their department. What do you think the OOC responsibilities of Whitelisted players are to other players, and how would you strive to uphold them? I think the responsibilities of a Whitelisted player is roughly the same to their Head of Staff counterpart; they're supposed to help new players learn the job or department, ensure that the playerbase at large benefits from it, and to be a guiding force or name that players follow the lead of to be successful. A Whitelisted player should have greater knowledge and experience than their non-Whitelisted counterparts and be able to offer advice and training for those who aren't or don't yet wish be part of the Whitelist. In a way, they're like admins, being there to coach and enforce quality and potentially inspire future players to apply for a Whitelist. Before I joined Aurorastation as a whole, I didn't actually think I had any place in security. I had about ~2100 living hours on /TG/ before I swapped over, because as fun and goofy as some things were over there, the roleplay quality versus the amount of content versus how the game is fundamentally played on their codebase contributed to a lack of interest altogether. After I started playing on Aurora, I realized that security wasn't meant to be the fun police or a role that will almost always end in your death and I found that it was incredibly fun to play and coordinate with other players in character, especially given how high the standard is for writing on this server. I realized that I liked being the common enemy of antagonists, and working either alone or with my team to ensure the safety of the Horizon. It was new to me. All that's to say that I really like the idea of being the leading force/mentor figure to other players and I want to teach people how to play security, even if I only get the chance to teach them the fundamentals. I would put myself forward in the community as a Head of Security player that is equal parts efficiency, no-nonsense, and above all else, fun and informative. Explain how the recent events in the Spur changed your character and how they came to be employed on the SCCV Horizon. Eimhir Fenella is a Himean who found herself associating with hard workers during her upbringing on Himeo and almost immediately gravitated towards making money for her efforts. Initially starting off small by acquiring and occasionally writing her own material bounties, she grew further and further away from that line of work as her self-fulfillment needs had both dropped and not been met; fueling her to take up more difficult jobs, such as security and bounties regarding people and their capture or location. Many-a night was spent by Eimhir pushing her limits as a person and enduring the freezing chill of the atmosphere all while trying to cash out by tipping off those interested to the location of (or sometimes the individuals themselves) someone with a price tag on them. It wasn't very long until they decided they were bad at what they did. Not in quality--but in pay, surely. They knew there were far better positions, either on Himeo or among the stars, that would make her feel and act more successful as someone who prided themselves on the work they did. With trade and supply ships coming and going, she thought to get a job aboard them before she quickly changed her mind and realized that after having focused on human targets and threats for so long that she would be much better off joining something that had a much more active role in that regard. With Xanu Defense Services flying to and fro across the Coalition of Colonies' bodies, it wasn't particularly difficult to get accepted and ship off. The years that passed with this employment showed her that she was good at what she did, and the pay said so now. Once the Horizon was mentioned, she had half a mind to join them. Something about managerial roles made her feel excited, almost, ready to take on whatever threats would arise and command her own team of security specialists. ...If it wasn't for her Himean citizenship, that is. Eimhir has no ill-will to Himeo--she loves her family and friends, most of which have good standing with the many syndicates--but after well over a decade of security work and living with what she felt was a dream job, she just didn't see the substance of being barred from such a position due to its ties with Hephaestus, as deplorable and scummy they are. Offered the choice between a position aboard one of the most prestigious ships and corporations, and staying in good terms with Himeo and not risking being arrested should she come anywhere near the planet, she gave in and made a choice that would change her life radically--for better or worse. "So it's treason, then!" She can hear her father shout in the back of her mind, even now. Whether or not this would be worth it, only time can tell. What roles do you plan on playing after the application is accepted? Head of Security, mainly. I'm considering making a Liaison character in the long run, but I'd like to wait until I have a better idea of how to properly represent an interest group before I do so. Have you familiarized yourself with the wiki pages for the command roles? Yup yup! I feel confident in my ability to play a command role and I feel as though I can demonstrate professionalism in and out of character (of course with some trial and error). Characters you intend to use for command or have created for command. Include the job they will be taking: Kira Vasquez - Head of Security Eimhir Fenella - Head of Security Do you understand your whitelist is not permanent, and may be stripped following continuous administrative action? I completely understand, and think that I'm both not above admin action and should be held to a higher standard than other players. Have you linked your BYOND account to the Forums? I should have! Let me know if I haven't. Extra notes: YES SIR OORAH!!