interstellar5555 Application

[honeywithpoison]

☆PLAYER

Name: Kiki
Contact: kikibug13
Other Characters: N/A

☆CHARACTER

Character Name: Richard St. Vier
Age: 23
Species: Human
Canon: Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner
Canon Point: After the end of Swordspoint, before The Swordsman Whose Name Was Not Death
Character Info: No link, sadly, about Richard. TV Tropes for the books.

Richard lives in a city ruled by nobility. They have overthrown their kings and rule by election to a Council. In order to avoid direct conflicts / minor wars, they have developed a complicated system where disputes, offenses, political threats are carried out not directly, but via hired / contracted swordsmen and challenges. The duels can be to first blood, or to the death, depending on the nobles participating.

In this setting, Richard St. Vier appeared from the country a few years earlier. He has been raised by his mother alone (who never bothered to inform him of whoever his father was) - an eccentric offshoot of a wealthy banking family that she has severed connections to. Coming to the city, St. Vier is already a trained swordsman. He has also never been taught to read or write, as his mother didn't think he would need it.

In the years since he first arrived, he has become the best swordsman of the generation, possibly the best swordsman ever.

At the beginning of the book Swordspoint, he is living with a mysterious, guerrilous former University student Alec, in a dangerous, crime-infested island on the river, connected to the main city by bridges. When Richard is not contracted, they entertain themselves by Alec picking up fights (with abusive bullies) until he is challenged, and Richard taking the challenge, generally killing the other man. The book answers who Alec is, and establishes his and Richard's relationship very, very firmly.

In appearance, Richard is of average height, very fit, with dark hair and hyacinth-colored eyes.

Personality:

If Richard is to be described in one word, which is far from easy, it would be predator. But, while it describes certain aspects of him - the top physical shape and shape in his art that he maintains, the constant almost hyper-awareness of his surroundings, the patience with which he observes, stalks his enemies, and the precision and efficacy with which he strikes - it does not cover all of the aspects of his personality. It does not touch on the honor that he keeps to very thoroughly, the limitations of the kinds of work that he will take ('no women, no children, and no weddings' is a motto of his that turns into a plot point in the book), the politeness with which he treats people, especially those he can hurt (practically everyone), or the temper he has (in a fight, he has killed a lover of his, when she angered him too greatly, and nobody found that undeserved) and generally tries to keep tightly contained.

In normal social interactions, he is quiet and polite. As all swordsmen, his eyes tend to be mirror-like, dispassionate. His voice is pleasant, his manners are gentle, on the whole, even in a rowdy crowd as Riverside, the island on which he lives, tends to be. He tends to try to understand his surroundings very well - he understands the Hill, where the nobility live and he is something of a celebrity; he also understands Riverside, and its rules of crime, and the power of strength. In the ways that mean establishing the pecking order, he can be ruthless - while still not rude.

In a fight, and he has many, he is skilled, systematic. He foregoes taking a quick opening in favor of learning his opponent's style, his strengths and weaknesses, and being implacable in the end. His signature move is a single blow to the heart, in the fights that are to the death.

For the most part, his quiet, contained appearance hides great depths, of passion, of intellect, of caring, of focus and determination and even viciousness. And he prefers it that way, prefers that most people don't know him... so that they can't hurt him. For all his friendliness, Richard St. Vier trusts very few, and those have earned his trust first.

☆INTERSTELLAR

Genre Preferences: Indie, punk, goth
Choice Instrument: Saxophone, drums, guitar. Lead.
Rockstar Persona:

Richard is still quiet and polite, until he is on stage. Then, when it's his turn, he almost seems to glow with inner light, magnetic. He is extremely skilled with his instrument, both technically - he constantly practices - and because of the passion he brings to the music. He is in great physical condition.

Little is known of his history, as he's very reluctant to share it. He was, still, raised by his mother alone, and had an early abusive romantic relationship which shaped a lot of the way he views the world. His schooling in his instrument was informal, by a traveling gifted musician who kept returning to his mother's home and hospitality. He came to the city to make his luck, and was picked by his label almost immediately.

He did maim a girlfriend, a few years back. They were a good couple, seemingly bound for success, but both with great, dangerous tempers. The damage he caused killed her career but did not significantly hurt his.

He has a dislike for intoxicating substances, on the whole, though when he is deeply upset he gives one or another a try. It's not necessarily fun for anyone.

Musically, he is a performer, brilliant, even in improvisation; but he is not a composer. (He probably could do it, but he never has and is unlikely to try it.) Even if he is not a lead, his singing voice is very pleasant and he probably provides backup vocals. He has picked his genre once, and hasn't strayed since.

Ideal CR: Richard being a big brother / protector of his bandmates and possibly getting in trouble with rivals.

Writing Sample:
TDM thread.