Blake

It's really nothing special, just something I made as a way to express myself... I mean, @Yui taught me a tiny bit about using GIMP, but all I did was use the fuzzy select tool to render and overlay the original picture onto the Nonbinary Flag, and let the indexed colors of the flag do their thing. Original Picture

Lopt listened intently as Alexander wrapped up the conversation with the shopkeep, reverting his hand to normal and pulling his arms up to his chest, crossed. He leaned against the side of the building as his companion exited, shaking his head softly. “...so...you think it’s them, Lopt?” "It's most likely... nothing to really suggest otherwise, with how weird the incidents are. Unless, of course, someone wants to make it seems suspect, but who knows," Pushing away from the wall, Lopt headed towards the tavern, stuffing his free hand into his pocket, "I think that's about all we can really glean here. The others should have done their jobs by this point, so why don't we spend our free time playing some cards? After all..." the shifter turned back and cast Alex a mischievous glance, "You, my dear lord, need to work on your poker face. I'm not letting you free until you manage to lie to me. And, tell ya what, first round of booze is on me."

-April 16th, 2000- -7:30 AM- -En Route to Branch 25-  "...Major Volkov? When we arrive at the destination, what's the first thing we should prepare to do? I can't say I know much about... New Jersey, really. It didn't come up when I reading up on the plane ride over much." "We won't be doing much in the way of meeting locals or sightseeing, so there's not much you need to know about New Jersey. We will be arriving at Branch 25 at first to receive a short briefing on what occurred from the branch's lead, then it's on to the mission proper. It will be a very brief stop, but we will make a longer stop before we head back, later on." ----- -April 16th, 2000- -9 AM- -Front Entrance, Diluculo Branch 25- The rest of the ride turned out to be uneventful, with no one really speaking much. Despite the slightly late start, the shuttle arrived with perfect time, stopping in front of the branch, which looked almost exactly the same as the one the group had first been introduced to just the day before. Nika cut the group a glance as she started to climb out. "If you have any business, do it now. We will probably be out in the barrens for a few hours." Upon entering, the group would find the building was undergoing some construction and painting inside, with tarps laid all over the place. It seemed warmer than their own branch's front hall, but the disarray from the work in progress cut that feeling back. Not too far from the entrance stood a man with fiery hair held a clipboard, directing some of the workers, before turning as he heard footsteps. "Ah, Major Volkov, thank you for coming on such quick notice." "Is the rest of the information ready, Major Drake?" "Cutting to the chase as always..." The man sighed and rubbed the back of his head, before pulling a manila envelope from the clipboard, "Everything you need to know about what occurred is in there. I would tell you more, but I haven't been out there, personally." "Mm. Of course not." Nika averted her gaze, then gave the slightest bow, "Then I will head straight to the location with my recruits. We will see you once the mission is resolved." Turning on her heel, Nika returned to the vehicle, waiting just a few minutes for the foursome to return, as well. Once they were all in, the car resumed its trip towards the Pine Barrens, with Nika reading the documents within the manila envelope as the trip continued. It only took about 10 minutes to arrive to the entrance of the forest, with Nika departing the vehicle once more, motioning for her recruits to follow. With a sigh, she straightened her suit ever so slightly, before addressing the four recruits. "We will not be splitting up. We are hunting for a supposed amalgam of a creature, with exaggerated features, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled for any signs of unnatural life. I assume you will be able to help us with that, Cucuy?" The major looked Lucia in the eye as she spoke, "After all, you have spent much time with animals, have you not? The rest of you do what you can. I don't fully believe the information we've been given, but it's best to stay on our toes. Move out." ----- -April 16th, 2000- -9 AM- -Front Hall, Diluculo Branch 22- "Aww, only the boys signed up for this? That's a little lame." Maddy pouted as the group of four headed out of the building and into the sun, "But sure, we can hit the statue of liberty first! I'm sure none of you have been there before, so it's a perfect place to start... aaaafter I grab a breakfast burrito~" ----- -April 16th, 2000- -10:00 AM- -New York City- After Maddy and whoever else that so desired had their burritos from a nearby taco truck, which Maddy swore up and down was the best in the city, the group began their trek towards the statue. It wasn't until after the burritos that they were informed of just how bad traffic was in the city, so the hour and a half walk towards the statue would actually be more efficient than taking a cab or government vehicle, at this time of day. "Oooh, that's the best stand for a chili dog! Well, if we're not considering Coney Island..." Maddy mused as the trip neared its halfway point, "By the by, I expected at least two of you to jump at the chance to take a combat mission. Is there any reason you chose to tag along with me instead of going for glory?" As they walked, the group would find that quite a few people were happy to see their captain, giving her a wave, a good morning, or a smile. One shop in particular, Heraldica, seemed to beckon the group over, with the elderly white lady running it seeming delighted. "You finally bringing those new customers you promised, are ye?" the crone cackled a bit, "If you even told them about little old me." "Weeeell, I haven't told them yeeeeet," Maddy rocked a bit on her heels, "But I was planning to. Luckily, you're en route to where these guys wanna go. So, everyone, this is Elsa Mackenzie. She actually is like us, if you catch my drift... And she has a contract with us. Whenever you have some extra cash, you can come here to order a custom weapon that fits your fighting style, work to improve or repair your weaponry, or just buy general gear. You could even call this place a forge, if that's to your tastes! So, think about what you think works best with your you-know-what, and then come and see her when you have some free time! Oooor you could order it through your tablet, but you'll have to pick it up in person. Well, how's that for a sales pitch?" "Perfect, perfect!" Elsa grinned, taking each of the boy's hands in for a shake, "And we can do just about anything for you. Despite calling it an armory, we have quite a bit of support from Diluculo here, so we can accommodate any ideas you have, though I can't say everyone's ideas have been perfect..." The woman shot Maddy a sidelong glance as the latter had produced another burrito and began to munch on it, before realizing the attention had turned to her. "H-hey, I didn't know any better!" She sputtered through a mouth of burrito, then gulped it down, "Most people mess up their first order!" "Of course," Elsa laughed, turning back to the boys, "Just let me know when I can do something for you, and I will whip it up as fast as I can. I have no ability, but my son is quite talented at manipulating alloys, so it shouldn't take too long, with his help. And make sure to tell your friends at the base, as well!"

Hug Cloyster, catch Toxapex, fight Pincurchin. Sentret, Zigzagoon, Galarian Zigzagoon

Accursed Cherubim

Very tentative interest.

Hug Venusaur Catch Charizard Fight Blastoise H/C/F: Dunsparce Stunfisk Carnivine

The captain nodded along as the group gave their little tidbits, smiling. She took note that one sidestepped it entirely, others seemed adverse to it, and some embraced it. There were some tougher nuts, but nothing that couldn't be worked on. At the end, once everyone else had answered, Akiko added something on. "You're gonna like, give an answer too, right? And are you sure uhm... Nika won't be too upset at you calling her that around us?" "Yes, Captain Macha. Do you think that 'Nika' won't be too upset?" The group would look to the entrance of the meeting room to find the Major standing there. She looked a bit more disgruntled than earlier, but the difference was rather small. As she stepped into the room, Maddy scrambled out of the seat and into one right next to it, sitting there with her back straight. "Well, it's no matter," Nika sighed as she took her seat, her face conveying her annoyance, clashing with her calm tone, "I figured she would do it sooner or later, so it doesn't change much. I merely ask that you all follow protocol and refer to me as Major or Major Volkov when in any official capacity. Understood?" "Oh, come on! You don't have more faith than that in me?" Maddy pouted some more at Nika, earning another sigh from her friend, "I'm hurt!" "That aside, I trust that you had your answers questioned? If there are any other questions you have, you will be able to answer them with your tablets. Each of you will be provided a digital device that looks like a small computer screen that you hold in your hand. It has a touch screen, so you don't need a keyboard, and it can connect to the internet... However, these are currently limited to our own server and bulletin board system. That will be wear your missions will be posted, and there will be an area for you to post requests. Questions, concerns, requests for leave, and so on. There is also a chat system for communicating with people within Diluculo and our associated. For the time being, this means the 8 of you plus Captain Macha. Your name will not appear with your actions on it, but your codename will, even in the chat. By now, the tablets should have been placed in your rooms, so please, learn how they work. This is experimental hardware not yet available to the public, so consider yourselves lucky. With that, you are all dismissed for the rest of the day. Your first missions will begin tomorrow morning, so make sure you get some rest. The morning comes sooner than you think." Nika maintained her posture until the recruits had all left, immediately losing her composure slightly to slump back against the chair, a small groan escaping her. "Same as usual, then?" "He is a nightmare. He found out about the new group, and he came unglued that he was not informed prior." "He doesn't even hold any power over us, directly. I could never put up with him like you do." "I'm just doing what I can, Maddy." ----- -April 16th, 2000- -5 AM- -Diluculo Branch 22- As soon as the hour began, the tablets the group had inspected before the end of the night would begin blaring loudly, waking up anyone but the soundest of sleepers. The first thing that they would notice was a notification that three new Missions were available, each marked urgent. On further inspection, each of the recruits would find that the third mission was already claimed, by Nue... Raida. The first mission required them to meet in the front hall by 7 AM, while the latter required them to meet there at 9 AM, with further info about each of them listed on the BBS. When the time came, it was up to the recruits to report to the Front Hall on time. ----- -April 16th, 2000- -6:50 AM- -Front Hall, Diluculo Branch 22- As the time came close, Nika stood, waiting, just outside of the front doors, still wearing a suit, despite the potential for combat. She looked at her watch, then to the distance, tapping her foot impatiently. As the recruits arrived, she would give them a simple nod, then another glance at her watch. Finally, the clock hit 7:05... and a shuttle arrived to take them down to New Jersey. "Took you guys long enough," Nika spoke flatly to the driver, taking the passenger seat, glancing to her subordinates, "Pile in. This is not our vehicle, but the organization's, so please do not damage it." Once everyone made it in , the ride began, leaving them with enough time to talk, eat some food, drink some coffee, or sleep. The Major stayed mostly quiet through the trip, leaving the recruits to their devices. ----- -April 16th, 2000- -8:45 AM- -Front Hall, Diluculo Branch 22- Maddy stood in the front hall, wearing what appeared to be the most casual outfit she had. A slightly loose tee, her hair up in a ponytail, and a short pair of jean capris, reaching just past her knees. She had a purse over her shoulder, her face made up just a bit. She hummed and rocked on her heels as she waited for everyone to arrive, giving each of them an enthusiastic wave. When her three little ducklings arrived, she addressed them properly. "Who's ready to have a day of fun? I mean, yeah, there's some official business... but we have a few hours before that, so let's get going! Anywhere you guys wanna visit first?" ----- OOC

“... this is a life or death game. We HAVE to fight people. But I’m not dumb enough to dive in if my partner isn’t going to back me up. Caster, retreat as discreetly as possible.”

I was not planning for that, at present. I see themes as a welcome "gimmick", similarly to this scheduling idea, and I don't know if crossing the wires is a grand idea.

Only went with one per line (hence Litwick but no Chandelure) and only once per type, otherwise there'd be a lot of doubles. Falinks can swap with Bewear and Snorlax can take Bewear's spot, but it's a toss up. I really don't care for psychic, flying, rock, or steel much.

"...a-a pleasure to make your acquaintance sir, Alexandre Roi..." "Hmmm, yeah you sure look like a Roi...been a while since I've seen one really. I guess that would make you the missing heir? The one who Dion's been hunting?" Lopt cocked a brow at the response, his suspicions confirmed. Did the lad not realize that he should be keeping his identity quiet? Telling the team was one questionable thing, but a random shopkeep was another entirely. He needed more help than Lopt initially anticipated. "Relax. I'm not going to turn you in like that, 'yer majesty'... Just a heads up for next time, wouldn't just use yer own name like that. Cause there's others who used to be from Farway who'll love the chance to send ya packing back to Dion just so he can get the chance to end ya." "I-I'll keep that in mind sir...but l-like my friend here said... w-we're in the area d-due to the sounds of these creatures." "Ahhh, I get ya. Well, I can tell you these started a month ago...wasn't too many before...but it's almost like there's a whole army of them now. Meanwhile, it's like the town's being dwindled down...and we never see any corpses after the attack...so we can't be for sure they were killed. Hell, if anything, they might've just escaped from here due to some heavy fear and sorrow for losing their families...least, that's my thought on it." "No corpses, eh... Any signs of a struggle, anything?" Lopt's eyes narrowed, the jovial tone remaining, but with the slightest bit of something darker laced into it, "After all, that would be quite suspect. Doesn't sound like any natural creature I know of... How about you, Alex?" The shapeshifter shot a look to the younger Jaeger, placing a few coins on the countertop near the owner, made a motion like tipping a hat, and then headed towards the door. "Unless you know anything else of note, I think we'll be leaving now. I may have an idea on what's ailing your town, and I would like to discuss it in private with dear Alex, among other things. Either way, I'll be stepping outside. Thank you for the help!" As the shifter stepped outside, he pressed a hand against the doorframe, turning just the tiniest part of his fingertip into an eye. His rabbit ears would pick up on any sounds, and now he could keep an eye on the little princeling, as well. My, what delightful trouble this was going to be...

-April 15th, 2000- -2 PM- -Mission Room, Diluculo Branch 22- "I, uh, have two questions for you, Captain. First, could you maybe possibly not refer to yourself as an older sibling. It makes me feel, um... It makes me uncomfortable, okay?" "Okay, two things! One, can ya not call yourself 'big sis'? Nooooooot a fan of it...and two, how can I score a date with you?" "Aww, but that's how I see myself..." Maddy looked down a little, dejected by Ann and Austin's immediate response, before the last part of it caught her ears, pursing her lips as she replied. "After putting someone down, you'd really ask them out? How shameless..." "...okay chill...it was a joke, so calm yourself down. Actual question: how many other people in the world have these damn powers?" "Mmm, at least you asked a good question to make up for it... But the answer is that we don't really know? The official count is less than 700 right now, but there are many people who manage to fly under the radar, and Id seem to be growing exponentially... All of you are part of what is called 'Id Generation 1.5', and, as we told you earlier, there are around 300 of you that the world is aware of. The first 'Id Generation', the group including the Major and Myself, is slightly older than you, but there were only about 200 of us recruited at the time. Just keep in mind that the less than 700 includes criminals and others that popped up in the past 10 or so years and drew the attention of the higher-ups." "Second, are there any specific rules we should know about?" "Mmm... Nothing special. As your commanding officer, the Major can add rules as needed, but the most important things are just to report when you're told, do not cause a ruckus, and absolutely do NOT draw attention to the existence of Id, whenever possible." "How should we expect to be alerted to missions? Will we get much warning ahead, or is it more likely that we don't get much time to prepare?" "Since we are all asking around I've got kind of an add on to, uh, Cade? His question. What sorta missions will this group being handling?" "So... what exactly are we going to be dealing with? Our first bit of training was a mock fight... are we forming some sort of superhero team? Or is it more like... spies? I'm just wondering what exactly we're expected to do, is all." "All good questions! First off, Cade, with the exception of emergency situations, if any, they will be up to you to complete. With the state of Id and the world as a whole, we don't actually have a ton of missions, outside of trying to appear normal and keeping our eyes open. We get either orders from above or leads from people out in the area about strange events, and we'll be posting them. You guys aren't the only ones who will be using the system, so some missions that cross over with nearby areas will be potentially covered by other Diluculo branches. Basically, each day you will check your mission assignments for the day, week, whatever, and sign up for it. Some are short, some are long, but we will generally try to assign three to five of you per mission, unless it's either super simple or difficult. One of us higher ups will accompany you for your first missions, and then on more dangerous missions. Think of it like quests, if you've ever played a RPG Video Game. The ones based on hearsay from the area will be ones that you can take up if you have time, but they might not last forever..." Glancing at Marcel, then Lucia, Maddy continued her explanation. "And I kinda answered your questions with Cade's, but I'll elaborate on the specifics. The missions will generally be combat based, but some will be reconnaissance or simply getting a part time job that keeps you from doing others. Of course, you could call the latter type spying, but it's more just trying to keep tabs on an ever changing world. Our official status is that of a military group, monitoring the emergence and use of Id within the area in and around New York, but if thinking of us as superheroes makes you feel better about all of this, go ahead! Just, y'know... Superheroes with a boss. That report to higher bosses. And the leaders of the world." "Who is it that we actually answer to? With the... specifics this group is created for I have to work under the assumption that we're likely a more controlled group, right? If the answer is everyone higher in the organization, what part of the structure are we actually a part of? Ah, I suppose this would also be a more... private question, but how are weapons handled within the organization, such as the purchasing or owning of one?" Akiko let out a breath, as the captain blinked a bit, "Ehe, sorry if that was a bit too much at once..." "No, it's okay, Akiko," Mathilde smiled softly at the girl as she shook her head, "It's completely normal to ask questions like that in this situation. Let's see... If you wanna go all the way to the top, the answer is that we answer to the United Nations. Diluculo is a joint effort by the nations of the world to come together and assess, understand, and handle the threat and promise that Id can represent. Major Volkov is the head of this branch, and she reports directly to the head of the entire organization, as well as to that politician I mentioned earlier, though that's more a matter of obligation than actually reporting. He's just... difficult, to say the least. He was considered a rising star in US politics before this worldwide initiative began, so he's a bit of a control freak." Maddy took a deep breath, and sipped at a glass of water on the table before continuing. "Aaaanyway, there are branches all over the world, and we're just one. A small one, too, because the UN itself is the headquarters for the entirety of Diluculo. I'm sure all of you saw it when arriving, but it's next door. We're meant to be a training branch, henceforth, while many of the operatives who came from the generation with the Major... I'mma call her Nika when she's not around... Nika and myself, who are simply poised as regular UN employees. Some are strong, some are weak, some may even be brought in to help train you on occasion. As far as weapons go, funds from around the globe go towards our weaponry. It used to be standard military fare, but they're more lenient with you guys, as they finally realized that some Id are more specialized than others. As such, once you have had a decent amount of training, you will be given a weapon of your choice, which we will order, with any specifications in mind. You will be able to repair them once a month for free, anything else will come out of your earnings. Speaking of, your earnings will be based on which missions you complete and how well you perform, so make sure to do your best! And, of course, any wages you make on said part-time jobs." "Is Major Volkov new to her position, by any chance?" Sergei asked as Maddy took another deep breath. "... Yes, and no. She's new to having new recruits, but she rose up to Captain in under a year. Given how she's my only superior at this branch, and there's only one person above her, I think you get the picture. She has some quirks with how she runs her ship, but she was given this branch due to her performance as a leader over the past four years. She also has one of the highest success rates in the entirety of Diluculo, both for herself and others, though she doesn't wear any of the medals or display the awards. I guess she's just not the type..." The captain glanced at a clock on the wall, finding that her long winded discussions had taken around 45 minutes by this point. With a slight smirk, she stretched in the seat and downed her glass of water, pointing to the group. "Now, why don't we make this fun?" The smirk grew into a mischievous grin, "I promise this is no test, but I was supposed to keep you guys occupied until Nika returned... So why don't we just share a fun fact about each of ourselves or something? Like, something that isn't going to be compromising in combat, so Nika can't protest..." Maddy pursed her lips a little, humming, "Oooor we could play truth or dare! I'm sure Alec, our resident medic, has a nice truth serum ready for me to use on each of you. So, which will it be~?" OOC

Charlie managed to snap out of their ramble just enough to nod along as the two younger students began to figure out what they meant. Of course, Charlie had more than enough to keep on talking, but it seemed they got the idea for now. “Yeah. Just do what they say,” Avi grunted, gesturing to Charlie with a nod. “You’ll learn fast enough.” "Ehhh?" Charlie cocked a brow and tilted their head, "Surely you have some advice for them, too. After all, you play far more than I do, Mr. 300 wins. I may have the better grasp on theory, but Avi here has more of a grasp on actual gameplay, so why don't you ask him for help? Or... we could do a showcase? Show these newbies what their captains are capable of? If you're up to it, of course~"

Blake here! I won't be posting my character, as they won't be showing up immediately.

-April 15th, 2000- -2 PM- -Front Hall, Diluculo Branch 22- As their free time came to an end, the recruits would find Mathilde waiting for them in front of the exit. Gently rubbing the back of her head and laughing with a little nervous twinge, Maddy addressed the group. "So, the Major had some, uh, urgent business to attend to. You see, each of these branches has some important government officials that we report to, on top of our military superiors... And our particular correspondent is a bit, em..." The captain shifted a bit, looking about as if to find the perfect answer, before muttering the rest of that thought, "Challenging? Yeah, that's about as nice as I can get... Anyway! The training is on hold for now, but I'm willing to answer any questions the rest of you have. The structure of our organization, what your gameplan will be, how missions are handle'd.. Y'know, the basics. Just let big sis Maddy teach you!" Leading the group back to the meeting room from earlier, the captain took the chair Nika had previously sat in... Clearly enjoying herself a little too much. One could even say she looked almost like a cat as she got comfortable. However, it was short lived, as she leaned forward, fingers knitted together in front of her face. "So, what can I teach you guys about, for now? And make sure to take this seriously, or it'll cut into the rest of your free time for the day~"

People have plenty of ideologies that they follow and things they seek to achieve through them. Faith, power, ambition, learning, freedom, enlightenment, and many more abstract things than these. But which one drives you? Which ideology do you think is absolutely central to your being? That you genuinely cannot imagine being without?

"My, this is a nice looking establishment," Lopt tapped at the floor with his cane as the duo entered, "Not what I was expecting, but certainly tasteful. Of course, in a town like this, that normally means... "Ah, customers. Welcome to my shop." Lopt cut himself short as the shopkeep noticed them, giving a slight bow to him "Looking to protect yerself, I reckon? Well, these weapons and armor are handcrafted by my son back there...so there the best of the best. So, what can I do fer you Jaege-...er...gentlemen? I apologize, force of habit." "Looking to protect ourselves... Ha! No. My friend here probably doesn't need protection, and I'm a bit too... frail for most of these items, you see." The shapeshifter walked forward, extending his hand for a shake. "The name's Lopt Solbjorg, and what we're here for is to fix your little beasty problem. Strange creatures appearing at night? We're professionals in exterminating nuisances like those, so if you have any useful information to share... perhaps we have some coin to spare?"

@(youknowwhoiam)and @PhoenixOfCute are also black, ftr. They're just extremely Red and Blue, respectively.

https://still-anchorage-15218.herokuapp.com/ Basically, this "Quiz" gives you between 25 and 175 ideals that you rate your belief in them, based on the option you chose. It honestly takes 10 minutes or less, and it's a pretty decent "personality" type quiz. My Results

I was asked similarly in PM, but I would be willing to make exceptions for people to assist with something a monster would want to do for the day. Additionally, we could always have monsters have more than a single day, if required, paired with different people. Different ensembles. This is still an early, imperfect idea, though it does seem to be mostly well received, thus far.

I... literally presented a positive to it. It allows alternative performances to shine, while longform performances had the stage in past years. A schedule only works if everyone is on board, because it’s not really a showcase of their scheduled day is full of other monsters showing them up. Also, people have busy lives. Many people, even if the quarantine persists, have not had as much time in recent years. Giving them a time and a place, instead of “be active the whole time”, can be a huge benefit. It also means that major events that can’t be worked around cause more havoc. Last year, I was only able to do half of the event due to when the window for moving happened, and lots of people have had similar issues. Not to mention things like Halloween parties. I think cutting it shorter invites more issues than it solves.

“If we aren’t the ones getting the drop on them, they’re getting the drop on us. They cleared up the zombie hoards, and it’s not really an ambush if they choose to pursue Caster. It means they had every intention of attacking us, anyway. Making another friend doesn’t seem mathematically viable, as a team of 3 is about the max that you can make work efficiently.”

Yep. It would require policing, though not harshly, to keep it in order, with a schedule for all to see. As I said, it can also lead to shortform acting to shine brighter. Again, those like Erma or Squid Sisters crashed and burned, despite their brilliance. It would be nice to give them a chance for once. If one person gets inactive, the schedule can be adjusted or filled in with a free for all day. Or, if people are willing, it could be fixed outright. The burden would be on my shoulders, more than anyone else. What's the point of a Masquerade Ball? Lack of full info makes things more exciting. On top of that, it can assuage aggression between people who normally conflict with one another by removing the element that makes them clash. The only downside is asking people to please keep mum, which... they were gonna do anyway. People can still guess, it's just a matter of satisfying themselves. There's no reward for it. It's something people can do for fun, and I'd be willing to answer their guesses. Hmmm, I think the point about AMAs/Games/Intros is actually a great one. It allows them to still hang around and interact, but without taking the limelight... And I think that's a wonderful middle ground, honestly. that's why I'm posting this in fucking may, since 2 months notice wasn't even close to enough ;; ----- ALSO DISCORD IS GONNA HAPPEN THEN. It's not gonna be open until at least September, but it's gonna happen ?