[skylark]

aaa sorry for this being so late but this has been extended until the 25!

[14thmoon.]

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ᴜsᴇʀɴᴀᴍᴇ; exide.
ɴᴀᴍᴇ; zephon wormwood
ɢᴇɴᴅᴇʀ; ♂
ᴇʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ; earth
╰xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx╯

ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴᴀʟɪᴛʏ; Zephon is a goblin gator born in the west of Texas. His whole life he's lived a cowboy life and has carried a western accent with him. He's very loving to all the animals on his ranch. His favorite is his horse that helps him with herding cattle. Zephon loves to be around people and listen to them talk about themselves. He isn't big on talking about himself, despite being successful at what he does. A hobby he has is picking up dead animals he finds and making taxidermy out of them. What he does is no ordinary taxidermy either. He'll take two different animals and make an entirely new creature. This is also how he earned his nickname: Chicken Snake. [121/500]
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ᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢ ᴇxᴛʀᴀ; Zephon never expected he would become a father so soon. No, it wasn't by accident. Well, you could say that, but he views it as more of destiny.

In the hot sunny desert of Texas, Zephon walked the sands with each heavy step. The sun was slowly beginning to set and that meant it was time for his walk. He likes to reflect back on the day and get away from it all for just a moment. As he was walking through the plethora of crushed minerals, his ear flicked back. Zephon heard something and he turned his head to the source of the sound. It sounded like... A child? Crying? "Hello," he questioned, calling out. The bushes seemed to be rattling. He walked closer and moved the leaves with his hands to make a hole and there he lay. A little baby goblin gator, cuddled up in a bundle, crying, was what was in the bushes. Zephon frowned, full of worry, picking up the baby. He looked from both sides to see if there was a trace of it's parents, then checked to see if there was a note. There was nothing and no one in sight.

Zephon took the baby home and for the next three years took care of the little gator. He named him Blaise and cared for him like he was his own. All this time, he was waiting for someone to come back looking for the kid, but it never happened. He had thought of putting him up for adoption, but he just couldn't bring himself to it. This was his child now and he loved him with all his heart. It was destiny for him to find him, he says. [287/600]

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[apprentice_]

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Username: rainichi
Name: Lander
Gender: Male
Element: Descry
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ｐｅｒｓｏｎａｌｉｔｙ

An arrogant gambler.
▪ Vain ▪ Condescending ▪ Snide ▪
Pretends to be a good guy.
▪ Outgoing ▪ Upbeat ▪ Kind ▪

A friendly doctor roaming the halls, a grin so charming anyone would swoon. A popular neighbor, Lander is known for being especially caring for children, and for going out of his way just to help a gator out. Babysitting for the single parent who had to work late, giving the new guy a gift basket, making the card that everyone signs for someone’s birthday- he’s that guy.

Or, well, everyone thinks he is.

In reality, no one even knows if Lander is his first or last name; It’s the only one he’s ever given, and if questioned, he changes the subject. A secretive gator, he isn’t one to let any personal information slip. A person’s lucky if they so much as know his favorite color. (It’s cherry red, or perhaps a deep violet. Colors of royalty.)

He’s quiet about his personal life for a good reason, too. While to many, it would appear that he’s got things made, Lander’s perfect days and attractive personality aren’t more than facades. Behind his warm mask is a face of distrust, a prowling man whose grin is really quite more sly and mysterious.

He keeps to himself, tells no secrets. His tongue dances with swift lies and coverups for what he did the night before, his mind is an endless ocean where no one should dare to delve the depths of the dark waters, less they find the cache of lust and greed. No doubt his nights are spent playing vicious games.

Most mornings, he awakes to feel no dread, for Lander may be a gator who likes his games dangerous, his sudden whims may lead the story to unexpected places, but he is a cunning man. Plans build in his mind, and they unravel as they were meant to. No unintellgient person could have lived out as many days as Lander if they were to involve themselves in such activities as him.

“Safe” is not in his dictionary.

As such, he words tug at strings like no other. His antagonistic nature can’t be helped- and yes, so be it he will gladly throw a punch if one is tossed at him first. Albeit, fist fights are highly unenjoyable. Lander has always prefered the subtlety of mind games over physical ones; They’re much more refined, similar to a puzzle. Finding what makes a person tick, then derailing their clockwork, it’s not a respectable pastime, but it’s a fun one. He’s certainly good at it, though he isn’t cruel, just entirely selfish and somewhat apathetic. His manipulative skill is mostly only used as a tactic to win card games- and the money bet on them.

Greed is the master of many men. Lander can say no different.

An unhealthy gambler, spending his time dancing with wrongful people.
A wealthy doctor, the mask of a respectable gator.

It’s the choice between knowing the sad truth, or instead happily living with what is a lie.

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ｏｃｃｕｐａｔｉｏｎ || Children’s Surgeon

Lander works at a children’s hospital where he performs necessary surgeries. It’s an extremely exhausting job, but very rewarding- in the sense of money, that is. Or so Lander says. Truthfully, he’s come suspicion that perhaps he works this job because the gratitude the families show to him is really quite fulfilling. He denies this, as apparently it’s too much for him to admit that he does actually have a heart somewhere in that cold, black void of his.

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ａ ｓｎｉｐｐｅｔ ｏｆ ｔｈｅ ｎｉｇｈｔ ｌｉｆｅ

In the corner of the joint was a woman with deep red fur and a head of bouncy hair. She looked confused, out of place. Once, her crimson eyes dared meet with the golden orbs held by Lander as he peered over at her for the umpteenth time.

She was perhaps a little too confused for Lander to bother, though she was alluring in some odd sense. She was there because a friend dragged her along, that much was obvious, and thus she wasn’t exactly Lander’s type. That was probably for the best.

Looking back to the table he sat at, the spotted gator snatched up his wages (the money he’d won from the card game, that is. It was quite a fair sum, and the other players could all be seen glaring at Lander.) He stood from his chair, stretching his arms and yawning. It wasn’t particularly late, not by his standards, though the clock had recently struck eleven. The night was still young, but it would have to end early. A good chunk of sleep was necessary, if Lander was to properly perform the scheduled surgery in the morning.

He recalled the face of the child, whom he’d meet again the next day for the sake of her health. A cute little girl with the laugh of an angel.

She would be fine.

Lander let out a soft breath, and took a step against the cool floor. He wondered what it would be like to have a little one running about the house and screaming. He wondered what it would be like to return home to an adoring wife, to have the other half of the bed filled.

“Going so soon?” A familiar voice rang. The bartender was much too friendly; Just because he knew Lander’s name didn’t make them buddies. But of course, he had served up a free drink or two in the past, so who could complain.

Lander shrugged, only giving the man a glance before continuing for the door. “Have to wake up early. The job doesn’t allow for much leeway.”

“Ya know, I don’t believe you ever specified what exactly it is that you do.”

“See you, barkeep.” A slam brought a number of gazes toward the door, as it always did. The thing swung shut with some sort of unholy force. Some held it so it would close softly; Lander just let it crash against the door frame.

The cool outside air was almost a shock to Lander. Being able to breathe, however, was a nice change of pace. The inside of the building was home to clouds of smoke that seemed as if they’d been there since the dawn of time.

No matter.

For now he would return home, perhaps cook an egg (Lander was a wonderful cook, though for himself he did barely more than whip up foods that children could make), and then finally lay down. Tomorrow decided the fate of a young one. Well, again, she would be fine.

Lander chuckled. “That woman was really so misplaced.”

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messy doodles bc that's the best i can do lol
occupation + story add up to be a little less than 600 but i'm too lazy to math B^))))

[skylark]

ayyy actually closing a comp on time for once. B ) Gl all! Will have judged asap.

[skylark]

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╭xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx╮
ᴜsᴇʀɴᴀᴍᴇ; exide.
ɴᴀᴍᴇ; zephon wormwood
ɢᴇɴᴅᴇʀ; ♂
ᴇʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ; earth
╰xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx╯

ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴᴀʟɪᴛʏ; Zephon is a goblin gator born in the west of Texas. His whole life he's lived a cowboy life and has carried a western accent with him. He's very loving to all the animals on his ranch. His favorite is his horse that helps him with herding cattle. Zephon loves to be around people and listen to them talk about themselves. He isn't big on talking about himself, despite being successful at what he does. A hobby he has is picking up dead animals he finds and making taxidermy out of them. What he does is no ordinary taxidermy either. He'll take two different animals and make an entirely new creature. This is also how he earned his nickname: Chicken Snake. [121/500]
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ᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢ ᴇxᴛʀᴀ; Zephon never expected he would become a father so soon. No, it wasn't by accident. Well, you could say that, but he views it as more of destiny.

In the hot sunny desert of Texas, Zephon walked the sands with each heavy step. The sun was slowly beginning to set and that meant it was time for his walk. He likes to reflect back on the day and get away from it all for just a moment. As he was walking through the plethora of crushed minerals, his ear flicked back. Zephon heard something and he turned his head to the source of the sound. It sounded like... A child? Crying? "Hello," he questioned, calling out. The bushes seemed to be rattling. He walked closer and moved the leaves with his hands to make a hole and there he lay. A little baby goblin gator, cuddled up in a bundle, crying, was what was in the bushes. Zephon frowned, full of worry, picking up the baby. He looked from both sides to see if there was a trace of it's parents, then checked to see if there was a note. There was nothing and no one in sight.

Zephon took the baby home and for the next three years took care of the little gator. He named him Blaise and cared for him like he was his own. All this time, he was waiting for someone to come back looking for the kid, but it never happened. He had thought of putting him up for adoption, but he just couldn't bring himself to it. This was his child now and he loved him with all his heart. It was destiny for him to find him, he says. [287/600]

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Aaaa the winner! I really fell in love with the cowboy theme for this gator and found it the most fitting for the character. I can really picture him working on a ranch or someplace in the West (and I like how you incorporated the design name into their personality). I also love how you gave him a son, oml. <3 You've been added. Take good care of Mr. Wormwood! :0

Shoutout to Rainichi for the awesome entry as well! I was really impressed by your amount of writing, especially having posted it all last minute. You're such an eloquent writer ;v; It was really close tbh. Your concept was really nice and you communicated it so well! Thank you so much for entering!! ;o;

[14thmoon.]

aa, thank you so much! i'll take good care of him. <3
and kudos to rainichi for the wonderful writing! ;v;

[apprentice_]

congrats exide !! your theme really did fit and i loved the story honestly <3
thank you and skylark for the comments on my writing too !! <3 i'm always sort of nervous about it;;

happy holidays y'all