I’ve been messing with interaction ideas, but also not wanting to overwhelm myself. I’ve thought about three core traits that will help with interaction, but mostly for success rates during action scenes. Empathy vs Apathy and the characters’ Relationship (along with Corruption) scores will be the main focus. I don’t want this to be combat heavy as I want to explore the interactions the Player/Handler has with their inmates. I’m also trying the best way to shortcut some things so I’m not writing too much script in places where there could be a shorthand. Ah.
In other news!
A writing drabble for one of the paths that the Crimson vs Vermilion fight will take.
The Start of the Fight
A fierce snarl is torn from Vermilion as in seconds he’s pinning Crimson against the pale brick wall, cracks scattering from the sheer force. Yet, the blond does nothing, but grin widely. His vivid red lips are a bloody smile fueling the rage building inside his lupine comrade.
“I am no child of Lycaon! You shall not name me as such!”
“Oh, I’m sure the humans would think otherwise.”
Another snarl, one that rumbles deeply like rolling thunder in a passing storm. Those apricot irises were heated, molten lava from the sheer fury boiling. The Dampener whirls, all three layers of the black metal collar already charging itself in preparation. As if waiting for Vermilion to act beyond his orders.
“I am no such thing,” Vermilion leans closer. Teeth extending to fangs overpeering lips. "Just as you are no vampire, Defiler!"
A rich, dry, chuckle fills the room’s silence beyond the rumbling growls.
Crimson’s smile widens eerily.
Those white beacons of light flared once as the madness begins to set in.
“My, name calling now? Might as well take me to bed,” the purring blond only enrages the lupine further.
Trying to Peacefully End This
With a mocking grin, Crimson allows the distance between them to shorten. Just enough to kick his feet hard against Vermilion’s broad muscular chest. Knocking him back into a stumble, the blond easily sweeps upward into a flip, landing against the wall on all fours. Poised like a jaguar ready to pounce.
The delicate pale fingers belonging to the vampire were lengthening into a bloody red dipping heavily to pitch black as they shaped themselves into claws. In turn, Vermilion’s thick long mane of hair bristles as his face stretches to transform.
“Please!”
You call out, in hopes to stop them from fighting.
The sight and sound of their bodies beginning to morph are activating their Dampeners. The three layers of the black metal collars are whirling wildly. Bits of electricity can be seen sparking as runic writing glows.
“There’s no need to fight.” This time your voice is laced with a plea for order. Your stance is strong as you near the bristling duo that’s hissing and snarling at one another despite the warning of their collars.
“I shall not be calm! This Defiler speaks of poison, of rot!” A deeper snarl resonates from Vermilion; flesh, bone, and face halfway morphed into a lupine snout.
“Oh, please,” rolling his eyes, Crimson brushes back a strand of hair from his face.
Sighing, you raise your hands up in the air as a means to soothe them both as you stand dead center in their viewpoint.
As if being in their eyesight and preventing them from seeing one another would help.
“I wonder how long it’ll take before Handy over there shocks them both.”
Indigo chuckles softly to himself. Fingers play with his beard as he leans back against the bookshelf’s frame. Although, the teary wide-eyed stare he’s getting from Azure is only met with a shrug.
“You can’t tell me you weren’t thinking it.”
Azure quickly looks away, his eyes instead set on tracing the pattern of the tile floors than answering. However, the anxious pose reveals he’s not too keen on the idea.
Asking Azure for Assistance
With a mocking grin, Crimson allows the distance between them to shorten. Just enough to kick his feet hard against Vermilion’s broad muscular chest. Knocking him back into a stumble, the blond easily sweeps upward into a flip, landing against the wall on all fours. Poised like a jaguar ready to pounce.
The delicate pale fingers belonging to the vampire were lengthening into a bloody red dipping heavily to pitch black as they shape themselves into claws. In turn, Vermilion’s thick long mane of hair bristles as his face stretches to transform.
The sight and sound of their bodies beginning to morph are activating their Dampeners. The three layers of the black metal collars are whirling wildly. Bits of electricity can be seen sparking as runic writing glows.
Your eyes fluttered closed under long eyelashes. You took a deep breath then exhale slowly, and easily, as you recall your training. In your mind’s eye, time stops. The room narrows until it’s just you and the one that is bound to your word.
The fresh scent of fallen snow, and ringing chimes of a playful fae’s laughter echo in your mind. The surge of wonder and joy blanketing around you as the brisk breeze of the northern winds is a gentle comfort instead of an agonizing chill.
You call forth the spirit of winter itself.
[Azure.]
Your tone is calm, even, as the pressure around you shifts.
A soft tinkling gasp reaches your ears as if the owner of such a sweet sound had found the breath of air they were so desperately looking for.
The middle ring of Azure’s Dampener whirls clockwise, slotting against a specific rune once, twice, then four until it swirls around and widens around the neck.
Azure felt free.
Felt the soothing song of his powers grow. Almost losing himself with ideas of flying to his heart’s content until your command reaches him just as time resumes.
[Separate them.]
“As you wish,” is the serene answer whispering in the back of your mind like a tender lulling song.
Swirls of blue energy surround Azure briefly, his eyebrows furrowing for a second. While the Dampener allows for a more flexible conjuring of his element, it still limits him. Yet, the moment Crimson launches himself from the wall in response to the sight of Vermilion dashing forth in the attack. Both men find themselves struggling to stabilize themselves.
Ice formed underneath them as the biting cold wind blows past as if ensuring they could no longer be within range of one another.
Crimson tries to land gracefully on his feet, however, he’s barely holding onto the walls to stop himself from falling. Vermilion isn’t in better shape not when he’s tip-toeing on all fours, slipping and sliding, with a grumpy frown on his face.
Indigo cackles madly at the sight of his two fellow inmates wobbling along the ice. That is until he’s sneezing and shivering as the cold winds drift towards the corners of the room.
“Shit, Twinkletoes. Ya gotta make the whole damn place cold?”
“S-sorry!” Azure pouts, his hands rubbing along Indigo’s arms as if that’ll warm him faster. The lavender devil could only groan unhappily as being ‘warmed’ by a wintry fae was not ideal.
You can’t help the sigh escaping your lips.
Edit: I couldn’t help but think about this while finishing up a bit of brainstorming.
Edit, Edit: I ended up writing 4,000+ words of variations for the fight. I added another one above, but with an example of commanding one of the other inmates to stop the fight.
Edit, Edit, Edit: I’m currently finishing the framework of what I want to be done. I think I spent too much time trying to make things over complicated for no reason. LOL! I’ll be working on making intros and hopefully get the character customization foundation down or at least have something solid I can be happy about. In addition, I’ve added another character drabble down below. They’ve been excellent warmups for all this and just a nice break to have with all this learning! Ahhh.
The Azure & Indigo Friendship in a Nutshell
Azure: “Stop treating me as though I am a child! I’m the eldest here!” pouty-angry face with teary eyes - (D;<)
Indigo: looks at him with a raised brow, lips hovering near his coffee mug as he’s standing against the kitchen island countertop “Ya gonna cry?”
Azure: “No.” sniffles
Indigo: “Uh-huh.” sips his morning coffee, definitely not believing Azure
The Indigo and Handler Relationship in a Nutshell
Handler: “So, what’s your story?” a delightful hum is pulled from you as you’re enjoying your breakfast.
Indigo: “What do ya mean?” an eyebrow raised as he’s perfectly balancing himself via tail, lazily leaning back with his head propped onto his hand.
Handler: mouth full, you gesture around the inmate dormitory as a simple, “Ya know?”
Indigo: blinks slowly
Indigo: “Ohh~” he chuckles. it’s a deep, throaty, sound so sultry smooth in your ears you barely held back a shiver. he leans forward, smiling wickedly.
Handler: stares blankly
Indigo: “Debauchery.” wiggles eyebrows seductively
The lavender devil can only cackle loudly as you sigh.
