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snowblindmods) wrote2015-04-06 10:43 pm
snowblindmods) wrote2015-04-06 10:43 pm
Application
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Zelos Wilder | Tales of Symphonia | Not Reserved [1/2]
Age: Over 21
Contact Info:
Other Characters: n/a
Name: Zelos Wilder
Canon: Tales of Symphonia
Age: 22
Gender: Male
Canon Point: A few months after the events of the first game, following the ending where he survives.
Background Link: Aselia wiki, ahoy!
Inventory:
His usual,
fabulousflamboyantclothesPersonality:
In more ways than one, Zelos is not quite what he seems. If you were to ask the people around him what he’s like, you’d likely hear the same few words repeated over and over again - you’d heard that he’s a bit of a narcissistic flirt, a confident individual with a side of sarcasm and jest. The kind of guy who lives life for fun and doesn’t really stop to consider his actions; a dumb go-getter, if you will. And certainly, if you were to meet Zelos yourself, you’d probably find yourself coming to much the same conclusions. But as usual, there's a twist - and it's a big, admittedly somewhat cliché one at that;
It’s all fake.
Well, most of it is, anyway; he's not as confident as he'd like you to believe, he is capable of understanding a serious situation when things come down to it, he isn't as dumb as he comes across, and he can think of other things than chicks and how to best woo them at any given time. Of course, you aren't supposed to know any of that. No, what you're supposed to see is a mask he's put up over the years to keep himself safe and stable. And while there have been cases when people have been allowed to see past it and get close, it's not a right reserved for just about anyone, unless they've earned the honor through some major blood, tears and flattery.
Especially flattery.Now, the part that does ring true is that Zelos really is - or tries to be, anyway - carefree, and he really does hate working for things and getting serious if he can help it. If he could have a choice, he’d spend all his days lazing around without a worry in the world. Alas, that's not really possible for a man of his position and past - life sucks like that, you know? So the only way to cope with all the responsibilities and stress piled up on him is to just, well, not let himself care too much. Invest yourself too deeply and you burn out - learn to not stress so much and that sucky life goes at least a bit more smoothly. That's something he’s been trying to instill into himself with varying degrees of success for years now.
For that reason, Zelos’s motto has pretty much come to be ‘whatever will be, will be’. Sure, you can spend your time worrying about crap you can’t change, but is that really gonna help ya any? Nope? Then, man, just let it go and move on!
Due to this way of thinking, Zelos might seem both fickle and aloof sometimes, and most definitely not across as someone dependable. The thing is, though, that if push ever does come to shove, he will put in the work that’s due - even if he hides it and doesn’t really want to make a big deal out of it. And that’s the thing with Zelos, really; he doesn’t want to make a big deal out of most things - not ones that actually matter, anyway.
That is to say, he's the type to joke in a crisis to try and alleviate the panic, and any insult or profanity you send his way will seem to slide off his back like water, often resulting in nothing more than either a witty comeback or a mock-pout of sorts to show how oh-so-very-hurt he is. Some insults can even tug a grin to his lips and just make him outright laugh, be it at you - or with you, at his own expense. He doesn’t really seem to mind being made a fool out of and certainly, not mind playing the part of the Idiot Chosen. That’s what the world sees him as, and he’s long ago learnt that sometimes it’s just easier to give people what they want.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that some of the insults and suspicions thrown his way wouldn’t find their way home and actually hurt. No, it’s not easy to insult him, but it is possible, particularly if you show you don't trust him while he considers you a close friend - which, admittedly, is rare. Most relationships, be they romantic or platonic, tend to be rather superficial with him; ones where both parties just use each other to their own ends. It doesn't mean he's not nice to you, but it also doesn't mean he really cares enough to help you out if there's nothing in it for him. And if you want to break out of that and become an actual friend, you need to work for it. You need to prove yourself. Be a little stupid, a little naive and trusting enough to throw him off. Because, hey! If you’re willing to be a little crazy, he might do something crazy in return - like trust you back. That's how Lloyd got there.
And, well, if you do ever get to the point where he believes you to be a good person and worth of his loyalty, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone more true in their friendship than this guy. He'll stick with you through thick and thin, and nothing in the world can make him change his mind. Sure, he might not exactly show it, and he certainly won’t say it, but if you’ve got that far into his mind, he probably doesn’t even have to; you’ll probably already know.
With that said, on the flipside, Zelos isn’t the most forgiving person and can be quite stubborn in his dislike of someone if he’s once given a reason to. And while his sadness doesn’t usually show, his anger and dislike do - if not in his actions, then at the very least in his words or tone of voice, all suddenly a lot more cold and sarcastic than before. He will talk you down or refuse to listen completely, and if you’re an enemy, he won't hesitate to point his sword at you if he must. It’s relatively rare of him to get to the point of resorting to violence however, particularly so because he doesn’t really like to get himself hurt.
Also, while he is loyal once you truly get under his mask, before you reach that point, his loyalties and interests are extremely fickle. See, for the longest time loyalty was not a concept well-grasped by Zelos. He grew up in a family of infidelity, watching his father openly cheat on his assigned wife. His parents were a couple born of need and ‘fate’, as Cruxis would have put it, not of love or kinship - and it showed. Zelos learnt very early that relationships - glorified as they seemed to be in the eyes of those not involved in them - only brought trouble and conflict in the end. He learnt that it’s best to keep your distance and not commit - arguably the start of his preference for one night stands over serious relationships; you get the fun - but not the drama.
On the subject of his sadness now showing, what might confuse you when dealing with him is that sad Zelos is the exact same as happy Zelos - at least at first glance. He doesn’t really like to show negative feelings, unless he can somehow turn them into a joke to be laughed at as well. Showing genuine tears? No way. Complaining about how he’s hurt in an over-dramatic fashion that’s likely to earn him a slap rather than a pat on the back? Sure, whatever. Keeps the mood up. The world is already full of bad crap, contributing to it with your own whining and dragging those around you down with you doesn’t help any. Zelos is fully aware that his existence itself is already trouble for some - he’d hate to become an even bigger burden to his peers with moaning about things and he’d definitely hate to see you do it. If you’re feeling down, deal with it yourself, don’t drag the whole world into your pity party. That's pathetic.
And yeah, you did hear that right; Zelos does consider his existence to be a pain at times, mostly because of the things that happened during his childhood, things he feels guilty over. His past is also the source of his current, partly faked, narcissism; as a kid, he didn’t really have people to compliment or congratulate him on a job well done or to praise him when it was due. And after spending years of moaning about it, he finally figured that it was fine - that if nobody else did it then hell, he would compliment himself and he’d do it the best anyone could. The more down about yourself you were, the more down others put you, is what he realized. Walk with your head held high and you survive. People can be such asses when given the opportunity, y’know.
Zelos has gotten a bit better about his self-esteem and some of his mask of confidence has molded into his actual being lately, but a big part of him does recognize that he isn’t as great or strong a person as he’d like to make others believe. He tries, yeah, he just isn't sure how big a difference one dude can make in the big bad scheme of things.
As mentioned earlier, Zelos isn't half as dumb or air-headed as he might seem. Sure, he might not excel in many subjects when it comes to school, but that’s not the kind of wisdom one needs to survive the life he’s lead, anyway. No, what you need is to be cunning, logical and more than anything, observant; and that’s exactly what he is. Underneath his carefree guise he’s paying a surprising amount of attention to minute details to read both situations and emotions of those around him. He knows what’s going on when you’re crying, even if he just jokes and acts like he doesn’t get it. He knows when you’re pulling his leg and he knows whether your words of appreciation are fake or real - and he knows when he can place his own trust on you without worry. Well, most of the time, anyway. He’s logical and calculating, which might explain why math was the one lone subject he never did have to cheat in.
The perceptiveness and the ability to observe and calculate are all things Zelos developed during his teenage years of being a Chosen and being constantly ravaged by townsfolk looking for a minute of his time. At first, he used to be naive, welcoming everyone willing into his life, but experience quickly taught him that it was a mistake.
On a completely another note, we can’t really talk about Zelos without mentioning his skirt-chasing tendencies, now can we? Yeah, while at the surface it’s just a simple-minded guy looking for a good time, things didn't start out that way. At first, it was all an act, really, upon learning he was popular among the noble ladies. The girls seeking fame and fortune would come to him and fake interest and he, looking to have fun and company, would fake his interest back. Everything was superficial and harmless - if fake - for both parties involved. And from there, it evolved yet until flirting became a habit, something he just did, no deeper meanings hidden underneath. Well... Most of the time not, anyway. Because really, sometimes a few sweet words can earn you useful information, a place to stay or something equally handy in a pinch, and it’d be a shame not to make use of it.
With that said, sometimes Zelos's flirting also serves a less selfish purpose, with him not looking to gain anything from it; he's noticed it's a way to compliment some people, and to cheer up some others. He's pretty useless, but if he can crack a few smiles on pretty faces every now and again, hey, that's a pretty cool feat, huh?
As is probably clear by now, Zelos is secretive. Chances are that even if he does consider you a close friend, you won't hear of his troubles and secrets for a long time if ever. He just doesn't feel comfortable wearing his heart on his sleeve, and wants to have that safe haven of lies he can always retract to if the world decides to deal him a shitty hand. Despite this however, he is surprisingly open when it comes to voicing his opinion (as mentioned) particularly so if it's a negative one and he can dip it in a nice big can of sarcasm for better delivery. When he wants to be, he can be pretty blunt and not afraid to say what's in his mind.
Speaking of being afraid, the things this guy fears are plenty; emotions so strong he can't hide them, dying, pain, growing old, causing misery to his peers... really, as was mentioned, he can be quite the coward sometimes. But that just means that when he's willing to risk his own skin helping you, he's being extra considerate, alright. So better appreciate it, bud.
All in all, Zelos would say that he's a hot mess - and his peers would say he's an arrogant mess, but in either case, yes, Zelos is a mess. He has gotten better when it comes to expressing himself, letting people in and generally being a bit less of an ass, but there's still ways to go ahead in all those fronts. But, well, if he likes you, he'll try to help you out - that much is certain. And while his story might be a bit of a sob one, he doesn't want to think of it that way. He's done sobbing. For life.
Zelos Wilder | Tales of Symphonia | Not Reserved [2/2]
Flirting skills and an incredibly strong affinity for getting punched?Hum. As mentioned in the personality section, Zelos is surprisingly observant, and might notice small details or changes in expressions easier than some. This doesn't mean, however, that he'd be able to read people like open books or find out implausible things. He can also use knives and swords well, although I doubt it'll be relevant anytime soon.Suitability:
Ah, yeah, here's the thing; Zelos hates snow. To the point that he'd actually move out of his home city during winters to get away from the stuff due to some past snowman trauma, and well, now he's trapped in the middle of it. So that'll be fun and traumatic and probably make him seek out people more than he usually would, because hey, someone's gotta laugh at his bad jokes so he can pretend everything's cool. Also, considering how he's usually tried to keep all his troubles to himself and not really reach out - and how that somewhat changed when he got friends - it'll be interesting to see how he does now that he's kind of... reset to being alone. It'll be weighing his age-old habits against what he's learnt from the other protags, and that could go many ways. It's like he just learnt that it's okay to let some people in and then boom, no more people for you.
So yeah, he's also going to react pretty badly to losing the only people he considered friends, and will have some difficulty trusting anyone - especially in a place like this, because hey, how does he know it's not you who trapped him here, huh? But, as we know, he can't really survive alone either, so collaborate and get over his suspicions, he must. And that'll be fun. Oh, and the whole being trapped thing? He hates that too. He was kind of bound by what people called his "fate" and the role he was assigned at birth, so he's not cool with being physically restricted, either.
Oh, and this is unrelated to suitability but very much related to what he will do and... he'll flirt. Because you know. So I'll have an opt-out up for that if you'd rather avoid it partly/completely!
RP Samples:
I hope it's okay if both my samples are standalone ones; I kind of noticed the Apps were open and made the decision to join a bit late, ha. orz Here's a super short TDM thread, if that counts for anything!
The other samples, will write more if needed:
Network/Introspection/Snowblind specific
[After what felt like months of being stuck wandering through the desolate lands of Where-the-hell-am-I, Zelos had finally figured out exactly what he hated the absolute most in this strange, white dump. It wasn't the cold or the snow - although both did score pretty high on his list.
Just... not as high as the curfew.
Zelos hated being stuck, hated being stripped of the freedom to roam as he pleased. And even if there wasn't anything physically stopping him, common sense alone forced him to stay inside until morning. Nobody wanted to get lost out there when it was dark, after all - not even him. He might've been stupid, but he wasn't insane.
So here he was again, staring up at a familiar, eerie ceiling above as he tried to beckon his dreams to whisk him away to a better place for the night. On some level, he already knew trying to fall asleep this 'early' would be in vain, but come on! What else was he supposed to do?
To hours later, he finally gave up. He knew exactly what he was supposed to do, and so with a heavy, defeated sigh, the redhead pushed himself to sit.]
Anyone up?
[He preferred text over video nowadays, considering his appearance was less than optimal most of the time - especially at ass o'clock AM. And he wasn't gonna show his face with his hair a mess and his eyes framed by bags, no way in hell!]
If anyone needs some company, everyone's favorite magical swordsman is all yours for a few hours more again~
[It had become somewhat of a habit, at this point. One he tried to get rid of, but never could.]
Huh? Isn't it me who needs company? No way, why'd you think that?
[So night after night, the same pattern would repeat.]
I've got myself for company here, so I'm all set. Although, I wouldn't mind if you wanted to come and share a bed~.
[A small chuckle as he reads the response. Slowly, he feels sleep finally crawling into his skull.]
Ouch, that's harsh, sweetie. You sure the eternal winter isn't here 'cause of you?
[As his smile widens, his eyes start to slowly close. And with each message sent and read, Zelos's tensed muscles relax, to the point he has to hold the device against his knees. His back presses against the wall, typos plaguing his messages as he starts to doze off.]
That so? Nicw. we didnt have stuff like that baxk home.
[Zelos closes his eyes, only to quickly open them again as the screen flickers.]
fine, fine ill go sleep.
[Yeah. A few nights ago, he did indeed figure out what he hated the most, and it wasn't the cold, the snow - or the curfew.]
goodnight, loves~
[It was the solitude.]
-------
Prose/Introspection (older sample, so i can write a newer one if needed. not from snowblind, but the scene was somewhat similar, if that helps! cut shorter for length.)
Zelos hated snow.
Well, to be completely honest, it was far more than just simple hate; it was loathing, fear, disgust - almost phobia, if you willed. Try as he might, he couldn't look at the peaceful scenery of miles upon miles of white stretching out ahead of him without seeing puddles of red appearing from nowhere to muddle the view. As such, it went without saying that ever since his travels had taken him to what appeared to be a 'Winter Wonderland' - yeah, right, more like Icy Hell - he hadn't exactly been in the highest of spirits.
Not that you'd be able to tell, really; he didn't go around announcing past trauma to everyone he met, and he'd made it a point long ago not to frown when someone was around, just in case. You never knew when someone actually saw, after all. 'Sides, not like moping around really helped or anything - he had to travel around to find a way back home, everything else be damned. He had to see what had become of the battle he'd been torn from - and of his friends who, for all he knew, might still be in the midst of it. His friends - and bud - needed him. Exploration was necessary.
... He just wished he'd chosen some other continent to explore, first.
Well, at least he'd finally found a café to warm up in. It wasn't big or fancy like the ones he'd gotten used to back home in the capital, but it was nice and cosy enough to pique his interest and get him to step inside to wait for the snowfall to stop. Now he just needed a nice hot cup of whatever they had in store, and he was all set to get comfortable and get to chatting up the ladies around here. Hey, he needed a break every once in a while, alright? Not like he couldn't gather information while getting close to the local hotties. Heh. Hotties. 'Cause it was cold and all? ... Yeah, there was a joke somewhere in there.
Anyway, the redhead could already spy a few ladies scattered about the place, just waiting for him to take a seat next to them and strike up a conversation. Maybe, if he got lucky, he wouldn't need to spend the night in a motel (because okay, he didn't really have money to, anyway).
Just wait a little more, hunnies~ Zelos mused as he took long, confident steps across the café to get to the counter. The Great Zelos is on his w-
"Ough-!"
Before he could finish that thought, the self-proclaimed charmer had very uncharmingly bumped into someone - or been bumped into, whatever. Either way, the result was the same; Zelos was forced to take a shaky step backwards in surprise, one hand holding the area of impact - which would be his stomach and chest. What, did some brat run into him now? Geez, no matter the world, kids were always just as-
... pretty?
As Zelos' eyes finally managed to locate the source of the impact, he couldn't help but blink. Instead of an annoying
Genis-esquebrat flipping him the bird for walking into them, he saw a little girl on the ground, covered in what must have been her drink if the empty glass next to her was any indication. He would have immediately helped her up, had he not been too caught up in staring at her. No, not because of her cuteness - not this time - but because of the wings on her back. Wait, was she an... angel? No, no, the wings were different from his and Collette's, and, color-wise at least, even Ramiel's. So then... what was she? He'd never seen a creature like her before, not in Tethe'alla, not in Sylvarant.Then again, this just went to prove that this place was neither, after all.
ACCEPTED
This house has collapsed, but some miracle of coincidence has led to it to collapse around an intact wall with an intact door, forming a single very dark sealed room to stay in overnight if you wish. The inside is covered in dust, debris, and rusting nails, of course, and there's no light inside that you don't bring in yourself, with not even a single window remaining (though there's broken glass implying some must have existed), but it's better than being outside.
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