NAME;; tavi
GENDER;; agender (they/them)
OCCUPATION;; mechanic
PERSONALITY;; despite being blind in one eye, possessing only three limbs, and living in a desert world where most
inhabitants are the opposite of friendly, tavi is incongruously optimistic and good-natured most of the
time. this doesn't mean they're harmless- they're pretty capable of defending themself and seadog, but
they prefer to resolve things with a friendly nature and placid, logical words and arguments. tavi also
is quite spontaneous and adventure-seeking when the risk isn't too great, and can be very playful and
even reckless. they're self-assured and confident in their abilities, so while they're usually intelligent
enough to avoid things they can't accomplish, they sometimes get in over their head and rely on seadog
or the friends they seem to make easily to help them out- they're willing to admit defeat and accept help,
though they prefer independence as a first course of action. tavi doesn't tend to be very stubborn in
general, preferring to be more easygoing and thus avoid pointless conflict. although being very socially
tolerant, tavi lives along (except for seadog), enjoying the wild landscape and the fascinating process
of repairing or building mechanical objects. they also love to explore and experience new things, being
endlessly curious, adaptable, and unafraid. however, despite their friendliness and bold exterior, tavi has
an extremely hard trusting others and ultimately prefers to live alone, remaining in control of themselves
and their environment without potential threats in the form of nearby inhabitants around. this is a result
of the past that earned them the missing limb, blind eye, scars, and tattoos- a less-than-pleasant stay in
a brutal realm that their curiosity led them to during one of their forays out of the dollhouse.
SHADOW'S NAME;; seadog
SHADOW'S GENDER;; male
SHADOW'S PERSONALITY;; seadog is usually rather grumpy, as tavi likes to affectionately say. he never really laughs or takes things
lightly (but tavi doesn't really care). he's always a stern voice of reason to try to hold tavi back from some
of their more questionable decisions, and definitely is there to lecture disapprovingly whenever tavi doesn't
listen to him and something goes wrong- and say "i told you so". despite his forbidding demeanor, his number
one priority is to keep tavi safe, happy, and healthy, and they provide him with friendly companionship in
return. he's extremely loyal, although rarely affectionate (the occasional grudging "well done" is about as
close as he gets to expressing affection), and very defensive and protective of his doll. he likes to encourage
tavi's independence (though will persuade them to accept or seek help if necessary) and help them push
themself to explore their abilities and perseverance.
"A little help here, Sea?" Tavi said from their position laying on their favorite creeper under their newest "patient", as Tavi likes to call the vehicles and various mechanical objects that passed through their shop/home.
Their shadow grumbled a bit from where he was sitting on their left side, ready to assist where necessary (fetching tools, using his paws or teeth to do something that Tavi couldn't do with one hand, or helping them see the problem within the car itself), before making his way to the side of the creeper facing the edge of the car and seizing hold of the short rope tied there, hauling on it until Tavi's legs were freed and they could use them to scoot the rest of the way out from under the car. They sat up and stretched their arm, then pulled their hair free from the tie it had been pulled back in to keep it out of the way, running a hand through the long sand-colored hair.
"Time for a break, I think," Tavi said, smiling at Seadog. They carefully stood up, making sure that the wheels of the creeper didn't roll underneath them while they moved upright, then made their way out of the makeshift garage, the floor littered with battered toolboxes and lone tools found at various markets or purchased from wandering travelers.
The garage was the largest part of the small, isolated "house". The structure was an odd amalgamation of stucco and tough canvas stretched across wooden struts, all built on the basis of old stone ruins. Tavi had found the place years ago when they first moved into the large, rocky desert, and had been adding onto it and modifying it ever since. They'd weathered a fair few sandstorms in the structure, and it felt like home to them and Seadog (even if he'd never admit his comfort).
"Wanna go for a walk?" Tavi asked, moving to the front of the house and sweeping aside a heavy canvas door.
"Not particularly, but it's better than having to smell you and engine oil all the time," Seadog said, but climbed up the doll like a living ladder until he sat comfortably on their left shoulder. Tavi smiled fondly at the skeletal shadow.
"Whattaya looking at me all moony for? If you're going to go out, go!" Seadog snapped, and Tavi laughed. "Love you too, Sea. Don't worry, I'm going."
They stepped out of the house, letting the canvas flap fall behind them, feet crunching on the reddish sand. The bright, harsh sun immediately beat down on the doll and their shadow, but Tavi welcomed the warmth.
"Where do you wanna go?" Tavi asked, rather rhetorically as it was unlikely Seadog would reply. True to form, no answer came from the dark shape on their shoulder, and Tavi shrugged before taking the battered compass hanging around their neck and flicking it open with the same hand they held in it, scrutinizing the device with their good eye.
"North sounds good to me. We can check and see if those catci are flowering yet, eh?"
Seadog grunted noncommittally, but pointed his nose north.
