harlequinchimera: (sidelong)
harlequinchimera ([personal profile] harlequinchimera) wrote in [community profile] vivala2025-01-04 06:27 pm

Chimera Corsair: I

I: Hitting the Books (Vault)

Despite her large size, formidable strength and unusual physiognomy, she did find time to perch - perhaps on the very largest and tallest chair available to the library, likely as not seated comfortably on a tabletop of some particularly sturdy material. She was once again engrossing herself in research, this time delving into the intricacies of the local language and of all things, the units of measure involved with cooking. She was certainly not so involved in her reading that she could not see anything else that was moving - her long habits being what they were.


II: Of the Prices of Ale (General)

So where would a 7'8" black and white chimera with an unusual eye, enough strength to carry a motorcycle and the skills of a long-range killer and spy take her ease? The tavern, of course! She would find her way to the alehouse, the Corsairs' source of drinks, the place that tended to attract more wanderers, strangers and such that a certain Mesopotamian space station. She would seek and locate a stool tall and sturdy enough to hold her remarkably muscular hindquarters far enough from the ground that she would in fact relax atop it and even keep her tail from becoming a hazard to navigation. She tended to look for darker ales, when she was in a more social mood - which she was. And when really wishing for a strong one, something clear with more bite than every snap of the world's most famous archaeologist's whip. She would look then to see who else was in the place, since this was now the point of contact for meeting others in the same line.

III: What Snows of the New Year (General)

The new year had arrived, and it was not long since she had arrived. She found herself walking outside near the docks, as most bundled themselves away or worked upon the ships as she strode past. She was relaxed, surprisingly so, and lightly dressed for once. She then found a place far from dishing lines, boats and ships and there was her goal, the frigid waters - and soon she was swimming as she had only in her wintry home waters and then, she was on the shore, taking in the wintry sun with all the joy some would see on a tropical summer beach - and there was certainly enough room if any were at least going to see what she was about, or even swim.

IV: Wildcard

Is there a scene or interaction that you would like to do? Just ask!




Yes, I know I pressed enter on a different part of the page and it immediately posted. Oops.
spacetogrow: (Default)

Re: III: What Snows of the New Year (General)

[personal profile] spacetogrow 2025-01-16 03:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Ilphyl grinned. "People are pretty willing to make friends, if they have the opening, and a gesture of goodwill. A common enemy is one."
spacetogrow: (Default)

Re: III: What Snows of the New Year (General)

[personal profile] spacetogrow 2025-01-25 08:18 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm not surprised when that happens. People get scared, and would rather try to keep themselves and their loved ones safe, rather than risk that to make a world where everyone's loved ones will be safe. I think if you can give people an opening so they are less afraid, many of them will taken it."

And also why the Empire is so quick to make examples of whoever they can. Because seeming like a law of nature, and only offering the people a choice of who is the lowest in the hierarchy keeps people from asking 'why does the Empire have to exist at all'. It seems inescapable when you are inside of it, but the workings are far clearer from the outside -- also why the Empire doesn't let people step outside to look at it, and makes sure those from other worlds are always at the bottom.

Ilphyl has spent about two decades thinking about how different it feels trapped in an oppressive hierarchy where they could never be at the top, but sure could fight to not be at the bottom, versus seeing it from outside. It feels wrong to call this 'practice', but it suggests that they can learn from this for their own people.
spacetogrow: (Default)

Re: III: What Snows of the New Year (General)

[personal profile] spacetogrow 2025-02-05 02:54 am (UTC)(link)
"It makes sense. If you aren't safe, it's hard to get anything else you want. It's just deciding if a bit of risk is worth the reward."