Post by noxomols on Feb 23, 2010 16:25:36 GMT -5
A Long and Tedious Journey Awaits
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Username: Noxomols
Is This Character Canon?: YesLink to Audition Thread: A Hero's LegacyYour Destiny is to Venture Upon It
Name: Cloud Strife
Race: Human
Age: 22
Gender: Male
Homeworld: Radiant Garden
Your Decisions Will Decide the Outcome of the Universe
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Appearance:
The first thing people tend to notice about Cloud is his hair. Without gel, water, or any such substance to lend it support, the blond locks atop his head manage to rise up in defiance of the laws of gravity, giving him a distinctive spiky-headed appearance. More curious individuals have asked for permission to touch it and test its sturdiness, but those requests are almost always met with a no. They are content to see, at least, that the spikes withstand any test that Cloud puts them to, standing up quite straight even after he has jumped, rolled, and dashed about throughout any number of intense battles. Really, getting the hair to stay down would be the greater challenge. Gravity-defying hairstyle aside, Cloud can also be recognized by his deep blue eyes, his thin nose, and his thin, light pink lips. He is quite fair-skinned in spite of ample time spent in the sun throughout his life, and his muscles, though somewhat well-toned, give little indication of the true strength his body displays.
He hasn't been known to dress in light colors very often since his teenage years, preferring to dress in colors such as maroon, navy blue, black, and various shades of gray with a little silver strewn about. His current favorite outfit consists of a sleeveless, black, zip-up turtleneck shirt (silver zipper, and always unzipped down to about the upper chest area), baggy, black denim pants, and black boots. Added to the left side of his body is what can be described as half of an overcoat: a sleeve that covers his left arm (complete with a black shoulder-guard) and the bottom segment, which covers his left leg most of the time and half of the other one as well if he's standing still. Completing the ensemble are a pair of a black boots and a pair of black gloves that cover the better part of his forearms. Aside from a few belts/straps with silver buckles to keep the outfit together, the only accessory that Cloud wears is the silver wolf pinion at about the point where his arm meets his chest; another tribute to Fenrir, a mythological figure for whom the blond-haired warrior has much respect.[/ul]
Personality:
•General Persona: Cloud seeks a life of glory, honor, and adventure, but ironically, a lot of his actions and mannerisms serve to divert attention away from him. Ever the soft-spoken one, he doesn't make much of an effort to make his voice heard or his opinion known in most situations. He is generally content to sit by himself in a corner somewhere or go off to some quiet clearing to train. At first glance, he is a rather standoffish fellow who seems to actually spurn the advances of others, and this makes it difficult for him to make friends. He has been able to get close to a few people in recent years, though, and he cherishes their company whenever it is available. Though he rarely appears to enjoy the presence of others for long periods of time, Cloud is always cordial and polite, addressing everyone with some level of respect and wearing a somewhat weak smile so long as nothing is upsetting him. Every now and then, he displays a cocky streak, sometimes as an act and sometimes spontaneously, and on these occasions he's been known to make a snide remark or two.
•Inner Thought Process: Self-conscious is probably the first term that might come to mind when one considers Cloud's mental process. He holds himself to a higher standard than any are likely to achieve, idolizes heroes who transcend the realm of reasonable possibility, and chases dreams that he cannot reach. He sets himself up for failure in this way, but he goes on, hoping that he will make himself worthy of the love and admiration of the people around him by doing so. He would never admit it, but he has an intense need for the approval of others and seeks it actively. His reserved nature is a method of ensuring that he does not disappoint others or allow them to disappoint him; the further away from everyone he remains, the fewer chances they'll have to fail each other. The only things Cloud loves more than people's respect are the people themselves. He has a deep love of life in general, and he often entertains passing fantasies of dying a heroic death while trying to protect the lives of many.
•Fears: Cloud fears rejection more than anything else. Most of the things he does are for the sake of earning the respect of others, and while he can stand to have some enemies (because everyone has enemies), he wouldn't be able to handle being regarded negatively by too many people at once. He fears being left all alone in life, but ironically, he's the type to walk the path of loneliness willingly if he feels that same aspect of his existence threatens to alter people's opinion of him for the worse. He is also afraid of dying with too many regrets. If, at the end of his life, he can't look back and say that he became a true hero, he'll never rest easy in whatever realm awaits those who've passed. Finally, Cloud has a slight fear of the mysterious force known as darkness. "Slight" only because he knows so very little about it, but looking back on his life, he can see that its influence has really screwed him over. To this day, he fears that it may be having some sort of effect on him.
•Pleasures: Perhaps the most important thing to Cloud next to the friendships he builds is heroic status. He likes the idea of being remembered fondly for mighty deeds like the legendary figures in all of the history books, and besides that, "Cloud Strife, Savior of the World" just has a nice ring to it. He enjoys the company of calm, quiet people most often, but he can handle other personality types so long as he gets to know the people behind them in small doses. As long as he's not dealing with someone who's openly hostile, he can warm up to just about anyone. He's not been known to actively seek romance, but he generally falls for women who represent a positive trait to him (i.e. purity, wisdom, or an affinity for light). Cloud is a fan of fruit, enjoying just about all kinds, but red apples are his favorite of all. He also enjoys the thrill of a good battle on some occasions, but too much fighting--especially if he must invest his emotions into it--will quickly wear down his mind and will.
•Quirks: Cloud is not the best when it comes to interpersonal communication, so he often ends up sticking his foot in his mouth when put on the spot. If he doesn't know what to say in a given situation, he will take a guess based on the person he's talking to and hope for the best. He remembers conversations for a long time and isn't beyond approaching people later and bringing a failed conversation back up after he's thought of the perfect thing to say. In tense or uncomfortable situations, he puts on a cool front, behaving dismissively and regarding antagonists with a serious gaze or, when he's feeling particularly mirthful, a cocky smirk. Cloud is quite sensitive, and he takes himself rather seriously in most cases. When offended, he's quick to sadness or anger, which he displays by giving the offender a nasty look before storming off to some private location to brood. Though he can be quite dark at times, Cloud does have a sense of humor, albeit a rather awkward one. In the right situation, he may be given to laughter or joke-telling, the latter of which can get quite bad.
But With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility
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Character Class: N/A
Stats:
•Cunning: 3
•Agility: 15
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Abilities: [ Insert the Link to your Abilities post here. It should be posted under this topic-starting post. Skill Rank Abilities need to have an (S) by them.]
Weapons:
Primary Weapon Type: Melee (Blade)
Primary Weapon Description: Weapon prototype developed by the Ragnarok Organization for SOLDIER Operative Cloud Strife. The Fusion Sword, as the name suggests, is a number of swords that combine through complex interlocking mechanisms to form one massive blade. There are six in total: the base sword, aptly named "The First Tsurugi," and five nameless swords of various shapes and sizes that lock into it. Despite the complexity of the weapon, a sword can be removed from it rather easily at the leisure of the wielder; however, given that Cloud only has two hands, it is in most cases impractical to remove more than one sword from the base at a time. Naturally, the size (six feet from blade to handle) and weight (a few hundred pounds) of the thing would make its use totally impractical/impossible for the average person. Fortunately, Cloud is not average.
Secondary Weapon Name: --
Secondary Weapon Type: --
Secondary Weapon Description: --
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Items:
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But Your History Decides Your Version of "Responsibility"
[/b][/size][/center][/u]History: Cloud's father died when he was very young--too young to retain any memories of the man--and a few pictures, the testimony of Cloud's mother and a few strangers, and his grave are the only proof that he ever existed. The boy's mother loved her son dearly, working hard to make ends meet for him, and this love coupled with the prevalence of light and peace in Radiant Garden provided an environment in which even a child without a father could thrive. Cloud, however, chose to be bitter, showing a deep-seated envy for those with two parents and ultimately deciding that he was better than all of them for surviving with less. His developing superiority complex was quite off-putting, and it wasn't long before he managed to alienate himself from everyone he knew besides his own mother, who was often too busy working to spend much time with him.
For what little it was worth at that time, Cloud had a powerful heart, and the conflict between his need for attention and his hatred of everyone who might provide it for him spoke to the darkness within it. This darkness grew and festered as he spent quiet days and silent nights in the shadows of solitude. With no one to guide him, help him, or perceive a problem with him, it grew progressively worse until, one night, it gained the strength to speak to Cloud. His imagination ran off with him from the very first moment he heard its voice, and before he knew it, he was face to face with a silver-haired boy of ethereal grace and beauty. Introducing himself as Sephiroth, the newcomer engaged Cloud in a conversation that quickly cemented their friendship, and in time, they became very close. Sephiroth only came after the sun had set, however, claiming that he worked during the day to provide and care for his widowed, ailing mother.
Empathizing with their plight, Cloud never questioned it. And why should he? He finally had a friend; a friend who was willing to be the sidekick he'd always craved, proclaiming his name to the imaginary masses as he returned victorious from imaginary adventures; a friend who, when asked, was only too happy to play the terrible villain to be defeated by the heroic Cloud; and, most importantly, a friend who understood him and accepted him for who he was. One day, the green-eyed boy suggested offhandedly that Cloud might find greater fulfillment if he put himself to the test and became a real hero, and Cloud, having harbored such thoughts before, took those words to heart. They gave him the resolve to apply for acceptance into the SOLDIER Competition, a series of games, challenges, and fights funded and run by the Ragnarok Organization for the entertainment of the people. Champions were offered positions in an elite military force also funded by Ragnarok for the defense of the realm (and, less obviously, to serve as bodyguards for Ragnarok executives) while those who didn't get so far were relegated to low-ranking positions in the castle guard and/or retained as sparring opponents for beginning competitors.
Cloud was only thirteen when he was accepted into the program, but it was common for hopefuls to enter young to compete and prepare for the real deal for several years. He went through the customary process of genetic modification, drug intake, and exposure to various strange substances that turned out the super-soldiers Ragnarok was so well-known for, but the effects on him seemed to be rather mild. His heart, through exceptionally strong, was mired by the darkness that he refused to acknowledge, and the resulting internal conflict held him back. He proved to be among the weakest recruits, washing out of the program before he could even begin to compete and becoming a "warrior" of ill repute. Though assigned to the castle guard, he was a guard in name only, serving mostly as the first pick to perform various degrading, menial tasks about the castle. As a sparring partner for newcomers, he was the target of disrespect from both those entering the SOLDIER Competition training program and those already competing, who had once been his peers.
During all this time, Sephiroth never left Cloud. Truly, he came to be the only person the blond failure felt he could count on and trust in, and whenever their friendship was called into doubt, Sephiroth would just smirk and say "we'll always be friends." He was the one who kept Cloud going through difficult times and the only thing he had to look forward to. As things kept getting worse for Cloud, Sephiroth began to appear more frequently, explaining his extra free time by saying that his mother was improving and that Cloud needed him more. To all others but this dear friend of his, Cloud grew increasingly violent. The slightest insult would cause him to lash out uncontrollably, sometimes verbally, and very often physically. He was eventually expelled from the guard for his erratic behavior, which Ansem the Wise would not tolerate in his walls, but Ragnarok retained him still. Things came to a head one day after Cloud was, as usual, defeated in a sparring match against one of the opponents he was forced to face. The flow of insults began, mostly coming from a particularly antagonistic competitor who had entered the program at the same time as Cloud. It seemed that Sephiroth was no longer content to watch his friend suffer that torment; taking one of the training swords from the racks, the boy with the silver hair strutted over and unceremoniously impaled the bully through the stomach, killing him.
Cloud looked on in shock, horrified out of his mind by what he was seeing, but the same look he was giving Sephiroth, he was receiving from everyone around him. They pointed, they screamed, they backed away, causing him great confusion until he looked down and say a bloody sword clenched in his hands. He began to shake violently, dropping the sword and looking on in horror as his victim coughed and sputtered his last. He babbled frantically, all but begging everyone to acknowledge that he had done nothing and that his friend Sephiroth had just been trying to protect him. Everyone gave him the same response, pointing out that they had never seen any such person and deriding Cloud for his attempts to escape accountability for his actions. He was dragged off screaming after that, calling out desperately for the best friend he would never see again; in that instant, the darkness had left him...
Cloud was sentenced to incarceration in the Ragnarok Facility's holding cells until such time as he was deemed fit to function in society again. The overwhelming shock of what he'd done coupled with his difficulty accepting Sephiroth's non-existence caused his mind to crack, and he fell into a catatonic state. He was detained for years, remaining completely unaware of his surroundings even as he was subjected to experiments dubbed inhumane for the immense pain they would cause an aware subject. His only visitor--the only one who came for any purpose beyond research, at least--was a young girl with black hair. She came to treat Cloud as a friend, speaking to him as if he could hear her and expressing her belief that he would recover in time. Though he could not respond to her, Cloud got her message, and it gave him some clarity. Over time, his psyche was able to repair itself, and he came back to his senses. Upon awakening, he was told that news of his crime had not been released to the public (for fear of backlash against the Ragnarok Organization and mass hysteria), official reports saying only that he had lost his sanity during training and been confined to a special area in the castle for psychiatric treatment. Feeling much better, Cloud was released on probation, barred from competing in the SOLDIER Competition for a year.
He spent that year re-evaluating himself and the life he'd led up to that point. He went back to living with his mother--who'd been worried sick about him during his absence--and began catching up on a few years' worth of missed chores. He was a changed young man, his experiences having prompted him to take on a more benign persona, and those who before had regarded him with disdain noticed this. Old walls were brought down brick by brick, and in time, Cloud had himself a small group of reliable, real friends. He was given the opportunity to re-enter the SOLDIER Competition the next year, and re-enter he did, making quite an entrance after having performed so poorly his first time around. The experiments performed on him proved successful, and coupled with the newfound strength of his much lighter heart, they gave him an advantage over his less enhanced competition. He quickly rose through the ranks, eventually earning the open position on Ragnarok's elite SOLDIER squad and receiving a weapon made especially for him as all SOLDIERs did. Finally, it seemed that things had pulled a complete one-eighty. Cloud had great friends, great success, and a great life in general.
Still, Cloud retained a habit of isolating himself to dark, secluded places and going out for walks late at night. He continued to hide parts of himself from the people who grew closes to him, fearing their judgment and avoiding the possibility that they wouldn't like what they saw. Though he understood Sephiroth to have been a figment of his imagination, the boy who'd been his best friend for years never completely left Cloud's mind, and the SOLDIER with the spiky hair couldn't help but to look back fondly on days he thought he'd spent with the only person who ever fully understood him. He was left to wonder, though, why those pleasant thoughts of Sephiroth always left him with such a foreboding sensation...
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