[strawbaerry]

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ｗｈａｔｓ ｔｈｅ ｐｏｉｎｔ ｏｆ
↣ ＧＲＯＷＩＮＧ ＵＰ ↢
ｉｆ ｙｏｕ ｃａｎ'ｔ ｂｅ
↣ ＣＨＩＬＤＩＳＨ ＳＯＭＥＴＩＭＥＳ? ↢
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ａｔｔｉｃｕｓ

⇟----⇟----⇟

ｔｈｅ ｓｐｉｒｉｔｅｄ ｏｎｅ

ｎｉｃｅ ｔｏ ｍｅｅｔ ｙｏｕ;; Hello, my username is ｓｗｅｅｔ❀ｔｅａ, but you can just call me Tea if you like. I am a teenage female, but I enjoy dirt-biking and vintage car shows more than romantic comedies and makeup. My favorite drink is sweet tea {duh} and my favorite food is spagetti. I have been on CS since May 31, 2013, so I guess you could say I'm a newbie. My favorite things to do on CS are trade, enter contests, and draw. I currently own 0 Jelly Bean Dragons, so I hope to make this babe my first.

ｗｈａｔ ｔｈｅｙ ｃａｌｌ ｍｅ;; This bean's name is Atticus, which I chose because it sounded nautical to me, and I have always been fond of that name. Some of his nicknames are Atti, {which he hates} and Ty, the second of which he prefers.

ｇｅｎｄｅｒ;; Little Atti is of the male gender, even though he acts more like a girl.

ｔｈｅ ｉｎｎｅｒ ｔｈｉｎｇｓ;; Atticus is the most fabulous bean you will ever meet, or 'fab' as he likes to say. He is an out-and-proud homosexual, and fully embraces that part of himself. Ty is known for his sassyness and his amazing fashion sense, along with his bubbly personality and knowledge of the ocean. Ty always has a snappy remark to input into conversations, which almost always make everyone giggle. His remarks often help ease tentions in a group, avoiding farther altercations that might hurt someone.Ty takes it upon himself to make sure all of his friends are well-dressed, and is not hesitant to speak up if he thinks one of his friends is wearing a 'ratchet' outfit. Unfortunately for his friends, he is always right. Ty has a bubbly personality that almost oozes puppies and rainbows, making it impossible to feel down when he is around. He hates seeing anyone sad, and will go out of his way to do silly things to make them smile; he will over-dramatically ogle a Bean that walks by, he will give very opinionated and sassy commentary about a someone's outfit, or buy ice cream because, let's face it, ice cream fixes everything. Atti dreams of becoming a marine bioligist one day, and can recite a long list of facts about any kind of sea creature you mention. Atti loves going to aquariums, and whenever he travels he always makes sure there is an aquarium there to visit. His favorite animal by far is the blue whale, because of it's enormous size and beautiful songs.

ｑｕｉｒｋｓ;; Just like everyone, Atticus has a varying things he does that seem strange to most people. One is that when he eats peaches, his favorite fruit, he has to cut them into cubes and eat them with chopsticks, because he claims that 'forks are too boring' and he doesn't like the sticky juice getting on his fingers. Another one of his quirks is that when he is watching TV, the volume has to be on an even number, otherwise he can't watch without feeling uncomfortable. The last, and probably the strangest quirk, is that he always has to walk to the right of someone. If he is walking through an aquarium, for example, with someone and he is on their left side, he tends to drift off to the left and get lost by himself. He isn't really sure why he does it, but it's something only he is really aware of.

ｉｎｔｅｒｖｉｅｗ;;

Hello. Would you mind telling us your name, age, and gender?

Hello everyone~ My name is Atticus, I am seventeen years old, and I am a fabulous male.

So, Atticus, how would you describe yourself in five words?

Um, fabulous, sassy, fashionable, flamboyant, and cute. *wink*

O-ok. Next question. What is your most valued possession?

Oh. my. goodness. That would absolutely have to be my fab whale-tail charm. Isn't it gorg? *twirls around* Whales are my favorite animals, so when I saw this thing I knew I HAD to buy it. It's definitely a must have in my fashion routine.

Yes, um... very cute. Moving on to the next question... How old were you when you had your first kiss?

We're just jumping right into the good stuff, aren't we? Um.. the first time I ever kissed someone was when I was eleven, and I gave a boy in my class a surprise kiss because I thought he was cute. He wasn't so hot about it but whatever! I'm like a honey badger; I take what I want.

Interesting connection... Ok, on to the next one. If you could have any super power, what would it be?

*sighs* Do we even really need to ask this question? It's totes obvi that I would have the ability to make anyone fall in love with me. That would be so useful. *daydreams about smexy beans*

Ya that would be... useful. Last question. What is your favorite kind of food?

Mmmm, gurl, don't even get me started. Have you ever had fro-yo? It's like ice cream, but healthier and more delicious. My favorite flavor is Dulce de Leche; it's this super sweet and creamy flavor that I got in California. I can't remember the name of the store though...

That actually sounds kind of good. I might have to try it sometime.

It is soooooooo delicious. It's like fabulous angels dancing on your tongue.

Ok then... Well, that's all the questions. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to answer them. *smiles*

Girl, it was my pleasure. Call me up some time and we'll get fro-yo! Toodles~ *prances away like the fabulous diva he is*

ｔｈｅ ｐａｓｔ;; I hugged my sweater closer to my body, shivering as the cold air sliced right through my silky fur. The boat meandered lazily along the water as Monterey slowly faded from sight, leaving nothing but a vast blue ocean to look at. The wind pushed against my beanie, and I had to adjust it for the millionth time. Flecks of salt and water stuck to my glasses, which at first I tried to wipe off, but finally accepted my fate of having dirty glasses and gave up. Most everyone was chatting with a friend or snuggling up to their partner, whilst I was simply leaning over the side of the boat, squinting through my filthy glasses to try and catch a glimpse of a whale. This trip had been on my mind for years, and a few months ago I had finally saved enough money to buy a boat pass for a whale watching tour. My nose began to tingle, and I quickly shoved my nose into my tan scarf to stifle my monstrous sneeze.
“Why can’t I have a cute sneeze...” I mumbled to myself.
“Over to the left! Look! I think I see some whales!” I whipped my head around towards the voice, and looked to where she was pointing. I gasped; there was a blue whale in the middle of it’s leap, it’s body almost fully out of the water. Another one popped up, this one slightly smaller and most likely a teen among the group. The krill were abundant in the underwater canyon, so the sightings were expected, but this did not dampen the complete joy I felt after seeing such majestic creatures in real life. We spotted blue whales, humpback whales, a couple of minke whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, right whale dolphins, sea lions, and harbor seals. The dolphins swam up playfully behind the boat, jumping left and right through the wake the boat left behind. The whales surfaced for air occasionally, blowing out huge spouts of water before they dove back down again. The sea lions and harbor seals barked at us, swimming by playfully and purposefully splashing some of the passengers. All of the different whales stayed relatively close together, working as a pack to corral the fish and krill into a smaller area so they could be eaten easier. Some beans threw fish overboard, coaxing one of the minke wails within twenty feet of the boat. It took every ounce of self-control I had to keep myself from jumping in the water, even though I knew that I would most likely freeze to death in the chilly autumn waters. I have, and most likely never will be, happier than I was on that day. The grace and majesty of the blue whale is unrivaled, and I am positive that one day I will be able to see them again.

ｔｈｅ ｂｌｉｎｇ;;

ｈｉｓｐｔｅｒ ｇｌａｓｓｅｓ
Ty has to wear glasses to correct his eyesight, which is pretty bad; -4.5 on the right eyes, and -5 on the left eye. He made sure that his glasses were 'fab,' and now is glad that he has bad eyesight so that he can add another accessory to his daily outfits.

ｂｅａｎｉｅ
Ty has almost too many beanies to count, ranging from simple white ones to crazy patterned ones. His go-to and favorite beanie, however, is his simple creme colored one, because it goes with his fur colors as well as any outfit.

ｔａｉｌ ｃｈａｒｍ
Because whales are his favorite animal, Ty bought this little charm the moment he saw it. He wears it tied around the tip of his tail with some brown leather string, which has a few seashells and pieces of blue sea-glass attached to it as well.

ｓｗｅａｔｅｒ
During the winter and summer, Ty's favorite thing to wear is his vintage cable knit sweater that he found at a thrift store. He treasures it more than any other piece of clothing he wears, and especially loves it because he gets to wear it during his two favorite seasons; fall and winter.

ｃａｔｃｈｙ ｔｕｎｅｓ;; Here is a little list of Atticus' favorite songs.
Never Gonna Happen - Lilly Allen
Brave - Sara Bareilles
Can't Hold Us - Macklemore
Safe and Sound - Capital Cities
Heartbreak Girl - 5 Seconds of Summer
Primadonna - Marina and the Diamonds
Miss Cigarette - Rizzle Kicks
Diane Young - Vampire Weekend

[Lake Mist]

username:Legend's Star
name:Bayam
gender: Male
Item ideas:WIP Everything :3

[allinian]

Ooo he's smexy :3
maybe entering~

[petrify]

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What's your name?

"The name's Edgar."
Username ;;
evanescent.
Name ;;
Edgar Ray Jones.
Gender ;;
Male.
Full personality ;;
On most days, Edgar is one of the friendliest people you may know. He mostly never has any bad days, and can cheer up anybody with a smile. Edgar is a very good communicator, never seeming nervous or not understanding something. Although he is a friendly lad, when you begin to talk about feelings, your own or someone else's, he becomes very uncomfortable and usually will shift around and try to change the subject. He doesn't know why he's uncomfortable, he just doesn't like talking about them. Edgar is a pretty smart person, and it'll show when you first meet him, too. He'll talk scientifically you could say, although he doesn't really believe in science. Even though he is smart, sometimes people are right and he's wrong, but then he'll go and be a know it all, even though he knows he is most likely wrong. When Edgar is put under stress, especially in life or death situations, it seems as if he was born almost yesterday, not being able to comprehend what is happening around him, or how to fix it.
Family ;;
Mother -- Jane -- Dead.
Dad -- Edgar Sr. -- Unknown.
Younger Sister -- Tabitha -- Unknown.
Older Brother -- Jack -- Alive.
Grandfather -- Ryan -- Alive.
Cousin -- Miles -- Unknown.
Items & Story ;;
A glowing ring with many souls in it - black bandanna with a skull - a heart with an 'E' sewed into it, soon turned to a tail charm.
When Tabitha was bored one day, she decided to make little sewed hearts with the first letter of her brother's name in it. She made one for both her brothers, and Edgar made his into a tail charm, loving the gift from his little sis. Jack threw his in the ocean, mad at Tabitha once.

Ryan parked the ship on an island, jumping out, Edgar Sr., Jack, and Miles followed. They forgot all about little Tabitha, and they began to search the island. They all split up, Edgar Sr. and Ryan going one way, and the other boys going the other way. After searching for a while and Edgar soon found a cave. He went into it, his brother and cousin not wanting to go in, standing outside the cave and chatting. When Edgar got deep where he couldn't see, he looked back, seeing no light so continued on. He soon seen torches, and then began to feel as if he was being watched. Soon, he came to a clearing and there was skeletons everywhere. It felt as the wind was knocked out of Edgar. He began to search, soon finding a golden ring that was shining, and you could see things in it. Souls. Edgar didn't know this, putting it on and feeling kind of weird. He returned with it, and his brother admired it for a couple minutes before meeting back with Ryan and Edgar Sr. They hadn't noticed Tabitha explored the island, and left without her by accident, and when they returned, remembered. So, that's also the story where Tabitha disappeared.

Edgar was given the black bandanna with a skull on it by his cousin, Miles, before he left with a ship. Miles wanted to look for Tabitha by himself, which nobody knew why, but they let him. Miles had never returned to them, and Edgar keeps the bandanna close to him, as well the tail charm his sister made.
Looks in anthro/human ;;
As both anthro and human Edgar stands at a towering 6'4. His hair is a silver gray color, and is up to his shoulders and usually is in a ponytail, although he cuts it most of the time and it's usually shaggy. In human he has one tooth sticking out, or a fang you could call it. When on ships in human form you can most likely see him with a sword on him, and a eye patch.
Art ;;
<33
Favorites ;
Food ;;
He likes Salmon and tuna, really any type of fish.
Drink ;;
He likes natural flavors and stuff, like lemons freshly squeezed or something.
Animal ;;
He loves dolphins, Glo Fish and Red pandas.
Color ;;
He loves sky blue, ocean blue, but also loves dark red.
Book ;;
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Song ;;
He doesn't really listen to music, although he does like 70's, 80's, 90's songs
when he does listen to music.
Show ;;
Supernatural.
Movie ;;
He really likes the original Puss in Boots.
Game ;;
Skyrim.
Number ;;
Seven and twelve.


I'd just like to say good luck to the judges, and best of luck to all who's trying for him! Whoever wins him expect some gift art from me, and I'll be stalking to see what you do with him! ~ ^u^
{hope this didn't count as an extra /shot.

[Raineku]

Sadly, i'll be dropping out unu
I just don't feel the connection anymore and i'm sure there will be others who would love him more than me <3

[Dr. Paine]

Note: All word counts are calculated with this site.

The White Ship, by H.P. Lovecraft

username:
The well-being of the Pharos Pole lighthouse keeper(s) falls under the jurisdiction of the HMS Dagon. Highest ranking officer on board: Commander Shepard. Shepard and the Dagon are responsible for ensuring the lighthouse is well stocked with foodstuffs, oil, fresh water, and other necessities. The lighthouse keeper(s) must report to Shepard at least once every fortnight with: weather, passing ships and land visitors, supply status. The keeper(s) must also immediately report any strange activity or dangerous weather to the nearest ship in the area, whether or not it is the Dagon.

Shepard is not inexperienced in dealing with jellybean dragons, nor is she a stranger to the sea. While most of her early life was spent inland, she moved to the sea in her early adult years; a dream come true for the young woman who had always adored the ocean and had thought she might never have a chance to see it up close. She was quite eager to aid this particular bean-- she is fascinated by his unusual fur patterns, of course, but she is also deeply interested in learning about the life of a lighthouse keeper; she has had a life-long fascination with the buildings and deeply laments the fact that so many have become automated, if not totally disused. Despite her work, Shepard does have time for a few hobbies-- she carefully combs through rocky shores for pebbles and bits of sea glass, and fills most nights by writing some story or another.

(246 words)


name:
I am Basil Howard Elton, keeper of the Pharos Pole lighthouse. As of August 10th, 2013, I am nineteen years of age. I have lived here all my life, and was raised by the previous keepers-- Lea and Eustace Merimen-- after I washed up on the beach after a storm, when I was very young. My life has been a simple one. They educated me here, taught me to read and write; taught me to read the sky and stars and waves so I would never be caught unaware. I need no compass to find my way; no clock to tell time, so long as I have the sun, moon and stars.
(110 words)



gender:
Male

That's all there is to it.
I suppose I can use this place to say a bit more about myself though. I have been the sole keeper of Pharos Pole for two years, since I was seventeen years old. My parents had been... unsure, if I could take over after them; but they never hesitated in teaching my how to operate the lighthouse. I am quite proud to say that I can do it all on my own now-- clean the glass and mirrors, keep the wick trimmed and oil level (Pharos is a historic monument, and as long as there's someone inside, it runs the old-fashioned way), keep the storm bell's gears running smoothly. In their fifty years running Pharos, my parents never once let the light go out, no ship ever crashed on these rocks, and they saved a great many lives. You see all sorts come in after the storms-- sailors clinging to debris, injured birds and sea beasts... and, well, perhaps even a little dragon, eh?

I do not know how long I will be in charge of the light, but I dearly pray that I will be able to match their success. I have done well enough so far, but... you see... well, the two years I have been doing this have been... trying. I was never a good sleeper to start with, but lately? I've been having very strange dreams. Waking up paralyzed. I've found myself nodding off at dangerous times, but... I'm sure it's nothing. A little more time and I will be used to the loneliness, I will be just fine.
(269 words)

Item ideas:

Oh? You're curious as to my personal belongings? I don't keep much on me.

I always carry my ledger and pen with me, but those are usually in my pouch. I need to keep them handy, there's always something to mark down-- a cracked mirror, a shortage of oil, rats getting to food and spoiling most of it, signatures of people who have stopped by; that kind of thing. There is also my personal journal; a simple old leather-bound thing of blank pages. Sometimes I sketch in it. Often, I just write my dreams.

I do like to wear some trinkets. I have a little vial around my neck, filled up with sea glass and sand, corked and wax-sealed. I've found a great deal of glass over the years, all colors of the rainbow too-- even the rarest sorts will appear, if you wait long enough. And while I hear many who live on or near the sea wear anchors... I refuse to do so (and it's not just because my fur is already marked with one). An anchor doesn't mean hope, it means you're stuck, rooted and can't be free unless you're tossed away by strife and storm or forced up by others. I prefer to wear a lighthouse-- mine is a crude little necklace I suppose, flat copper stamped with a tower on a rocky shore with boiling waves, but it is hope. The lighthouse stands when everything else falls, guides the lost and gives shelter to those who might not have had any chance when their ships and anchors fail.

I also keep a dvoyanka on me. My father was proficient with the banjo, while my mother was a lovely singer... and I had skill with neither. But one day an old sailor stopped by to rest, and brought out the instrument to play for us. I was young at the time, seven or eight, and oh how I loved it! So lively and sharp, just like the ocean wind. I danced to it, and when he was done the old sailor laughed, and asked if I would want to learn how to play it as well. I've become rather skilled since then, if I may say so myself.

Lastly... oh, I like to have little things. Strings of shells around my ankles and wrists, bells; little clinking-jingling things to keep me from being overwhelmed from the expanses of sky and sea. It... takes a bit of a toll on the mind, if you live with it too long; you start becoming convinced that anything could be living up beyond the clouds or below the waves.
(436 words)

Jolene, Hey Ocean!

Extra 1-- The Commander's Visit:
"The sky was gray and stormy, the wind whipping the waves into froth and clink-clanging through the shells and beads I wore when the Dagon docked. I went to greet the ship-- the fifteenth of every month is the supply run, and I wanted to be sure everything was in order. A barrel of oatmeal. A barrel of apples. Five bags each of flour, sugar (white and brown), tea leaves, pecans, salt, and peanuts. Three hundred-gallon drums of fresh water.

"Fancy coming inside?" I asked the Commander. She did not smile as she nodded; merely turned her head and gave the crew orders before following me into the house.

This... was troubling. The Commander is a severe woman, true; but she always spared me a smile or two during her visits. Still, I had to be a good host; so I set the kettle going and measured the tea leaves.

"Nothing much to report," I said after a few moments of silence. I glanced back and met her eyes, which seemed as cold and hard as the stones the tower was built on. I swallowed and continued. "No visitors. Supplies are fine. Upkeep also fine. Weather is... projected storms through the rest of today and tonight, likely breaking up sometime around tomorrow afternoon. Pattern will continue... likely for a week or so as the front moves through."

The kettle whistled, the wind howled; the waves crashed and rock crumbled into the sea. My tail twitched, the shells and sticks clinking hollowly as I sat a cup of tea before the Commander and took my seat, paws wrapped around my own steaming mug.

"They're talking about... modernizing this lighthouse."

It wasn't until I felt the scalding liquid on my paws that I realized I'd shattered my cup.

"They can't," I said. I felt outside myself, even my voice was hollow.

"They can. They probably will."

The Commander stood then, buttoning her coat and securing her cap. "They will decide once spring arrives."

I stared at her, my paws trembling as she hesitated in the doorway. The rain was harder, thunder cracking and rumbling without rest, but it all seemed muffled. Everything was muffled, except her voice.

"I am doing all I can to stop it," she said. "I... this tower means as much to me as it does to you. I've seen enough torn down, I'd like the Pharos to stand. I wish you the best of luck, Basil."

She tipped her hat and left.

The door slammed open and shut with the wind. Rain soaked the front room rug. The sky was swirling black, a sea above the sea; I knew I had to set the light and storm bells.

But I couldn't move. I could only sit there and stare at the shards of porcelain that littered my side of the table, and the still-steaming cup on the opposite side as the storm raged on outside."

(483 words)

Extra 2-- Strange Dreams and Strange Sails:

"I fell into the ocean.

I didn't sink. I wasn't blinded by the saltwater. The algae and seaweed were almost luminous; pale shining green things in the black--

and yet, it wasn't black. I looked up and saw the moon, huge and blazing full above me; the sky studded with billions of twinkling little stars. To the far north, sitting just on the water's edge, was the blue orb of Neptune. The night was bright, a strange dark-bright that despite all appearances, came not from the heavenly bodies above, but water itself.

I wove through kelp forests teeming with lightning-bright fishes no bigger than my claw, until they came to an abrupt end when the coastal shelf opened to the abyss below. I dove deeper, past the surface to the aphotic zone and its inhabitants, lower and lower to the freezing hadal region.

And I was not alone.

I know what exists this far below the surface. Nothing but strange clumping creatures, single-celled organisms of gigantic proportion.

These creatures...

Skittering legs on a ribbon-thin form dancing the sluggish currents, eyes larger than my whole body peering up from under the sand, titanic whales half-rotted with tendrils of flesh trailing from their ribs. I peered over into a trench even the bizarre light could not fully penetrate, and made out a hideous figure; gigantic even in its curled state, scaled and finned with a maw of spear-sharp teeth.

And it occurs to me--

I struggle to swim, praying I was going up through the freezing black. My lungs were flooded, body seizing up, I was done for.

And then my paw brushed metal and I clung on as I was lifted up out of the black, up into the shining night. The planets were gone and the moon but a crescent, casting dim light over the shining white hull of the ship.

Shadowed hands (paws? they seemed both) grasped me, pulled me up onto deck; a crew of shadow figures somewhere between human and dragon, wisps that seemed to fade as I looked at them. The ship glided along, so fast the wind stabbed by skin but when I looked down, there was no wake. The lighthouse was a distant memory; days passed, a week or more before there was a hint of land. The shadows never spoke, but my heart raced as we neared shore. A piece of me knew this place, somewhere I needed to be. I could see spires, buildings as tall as Pharos. The wind was a soft, warm breeze, the waters calm and clear against soft white sand--

and I awoke.

I could barely even see the rocks below the tower for the fog... but I could make out enough, to see the remains of a ship scattered on the shore.

It was then that I realized the morning was silent, and the light was out."


(466 words)



Extra 3-- In Every Moment:


'The mist is thick today. I can barely see the beach; the water and clouds only differentiated by the darkness of the latter. The air is wet, soaking my fur even though I'm still inside. It's cold, too. I've been shivering and shaking since I woke up, and it's too humid to start a fire. Even my own sputters and steams, refusing to come alive. So I shamble up the stairs half-frozen, fumble with the gears to get the bell running.

It occurs to me-- there will be no light today.

Outside the wind is howling, waves crash against the rocky shore and rocks crumble away into the sea, cracksnapcrumblecrash and it chills me more than the morning mist. But the point has held strong for years beyond memory, and my life will not be the one to see the Pole fall.

There is no light today, and that includes a cookfire. The pecans are all gone, but a pawful of peanuts remain. I scoop them up, along with an apple; a meager breakfast to be sure, but what choice do I have? I take a glass of water as well, though to be frank, I would rather dehydrate than force more of the stuff into my body. Water water everywhere, so much I can barely even drink.

I am fairly certain that isn't how the poem goes.
For an instant, I envy the Mariner.

For an instant, I feel I am the Mariner.

The mist is thick today, in the air. And, it seems, in my mind.

The laugh to myself, but the sound is swallowed up by crashrumblecracksnaps and the tolling fogbell, by breaking waves and hollow wind and the distant screaming of gulls.

There is no light today.

The world is white when I step out for my walk-- morning, afternoon, do they exist today? There is only the white-on-grey of mist, cloud and sea. I wrap my scarf more securely around my neck, desperate to filter out some of the damp before it settles into my lungs and rots them from within like it did to my father.

A lonely job, he called it. Lonely and maddening, and liable to take you back to the sea if you stuck it out too long alone.

But I can make it.

The sand shifts beneath my paws, clumping in my fur as I dig for fresh shells to replace the shattered ones on my strings. From here, the deep rumblesnapcrumblegrowlcrack sounds almost... pleasant. The waves not so much a crash as a soothing whoosh, like when you hold a shell to your ear. I close my eyes and smile-- surely the fear I felt before was just from last night's dream, a pointless worry...

I open my eyes.

There is a flash of light.

A sharp crack that fades to a rumbling growl.

The wave rears up before I can run, and the world goes black.'

(476 words)

Thistle and Weeds, Mumford and Sons

Extra 4-- The Storm:

'Lightning split the sky, followed almost instantly by a crack of thunder that put the crumbling rocks back on shore to shame.

I dug my claws deeper into the spar of wood that had become my entire world, the only thing keeping me afloat in the froth. It wasn't even a matter of getting back to shore when I kicked and spluttered, trying to keep my lungs clear from the waters above and below. I had gone numb all over, but I could still feel a burning sting on my thigh where something had sliced my skin. I looked up to see lightning above me again, and my heart skipped a beat when the thunder rolled. I was in the sea, in the sea in a storm, what kind of a chance did I think I had? If lightning didn't strike me dead here and now I would be swept under, my spar would break or be thrust against my head and knock me out so I couldn't hold on...

'Why', I wanted to say; to scream so loud it would still the thunder and wind and sea itself. I had been on land, I had stepped out for but a moment to find shells and to clear my head, what had I done to deserve this?

The water rolled and bucked, overtaking my spar and dragging me down with it. I kicked and fought my way up, muscles half-locked from cold and exhaustion, but my snout broke the surface enough to let me draw breath before the water drags me down once more.

I kick again, and my hind leg brushes something solid. I reach and cling to it, thrashing until I break the water again, spluttering and shaking, coughing and clinging for dear life to the white plank of wood under my claws. I bow my head to the wind, trying to shield myself from the stinging bullets of rain. I'm not sure if it works, though-- I can still feel drops on my face, though these are hot, burning instead of freezing.

Behind my eyelids, I can still see the flash of lightning. One-two-three-four, the thunder comes... though it is less a crack, less a roar than a low growl now. The sea still churns, but the waves are smaller, gentler; the rain not so hard and then it's not there at all.

I open my eyes and look up. Clouds still cover the sky, but there are seams of starry sky, sometimes even the dim globe of the moon.

Water, water everywhere. Thank god the board won't sink.

The sky clears, the moon shines, it and the stars the only light as far as I can see. No sound but the sea.

I cling to the board, but my paws are numb. I have no strength left to kick, and I can feel my claws slipping.

'We came from the sea, and it's to the sea we return', my father had once said.

I close my eyes, and let the board slip away.'

(499 words)

Extra 5-- I Let The Water Take Me:

'I am Basil Howard Elton... or, at least, I think I am. That is the name written in a book in my pouch and engraved on a pendant around my neck. I help fish and gather seaweed, living in a small hut on the white-sand beach. I have lived here for two weeks, since I was pulled up from the water by a fishing boat-- at least, that's what I've been told. My own memories are... fuzzy.

I enjoy my life here. The days are long, warm and bright, heavy with the scent of flowers and sea air and the smiles of humans and dragons alike. The nights are full of moonlight reflecting off the city's spires, and often full of light and laughter from bonfires on the shore.

--------------

One morning, it seems the whole city has poured out onto the sands. Smells of roasted fruit kabobs and coconut milk draw me out of my hut and into the crowd to see what is going on. A warship is docked at the pier; a battered thing with its named almost worn away-- 'Dago'? The fruit draws me away though, into a line behind a number of men and women in uniform.

Of course-- one of Her Majesty's ships has come in, and the city is welcoming her crew. They seem forlorn, though.

"Still can't believe it's gone," one woman says; her voice hitching in her throat. "Pharos stood over a hundred years, how could one storm bring it down?"

She moves to wipe her eyes, the silver-leaf insignia on her sleeve catching the light.

"No one thought that'd happen, Commander," says a man. His voice is sympathetic, but he hesitates to do more. The woman shakes her head, her eyes meeting mine for a moment, but with a look of not really seeing anything. I, however, do see... and her voice, her eyes, something pricks my memory.

"At least the weather's calm here," says another woman. "Couldn't have picked a better place to retire..." she trails off, noticing the Commander isn't listening to her, but rather focusing on me.

'Commander.'

It hits like lightning, the fuzzy memories immediately clear. The wave, the storm, the rocks cracking away, letting go of the spar and drifting underwater. I am Basil, I am no fisher, I kept the light...

"... Pharos fell?" is all I can say, my eyes wide.

Shepard only nods. One so stony, she openly weeps as she kneels before me, drawing me into a tight embrace.

Sobbing, I return her hug.


------------------

The Dagon departed two weeks ago. The days, since Shepard's arrival, brighter than ever. She works alongside me gathering fish and seaweed, and often smiles. No storms, no crumbling rocks, no loneliness-- there are so many others around, I'll never want for company again!

I still grieve Pharos, sometimes. Some nights I even dream of her. But it is better for me here; I no longer dream of terrifying things or feel like my mind's slipping away.

I am Basil Howard Elton. And I am content.'

(500 words)



Art/Credits:



Fontmeme for the side quotes and heading quote

Art used: Lighthouse (old piece by me. May not be used by the winner.)
Night Clouds (old piece by me. May not be used by the winner.)
Gift art, by Marmoset (may be used by the winner)
Pharos Pole, by me (may be used by the winner)
#553, by Rain. (May be used by the winner)

[. : Milotic : .]

username: froggy &A-list
name: Asterisk
gender: Male
Item ideas:

Reserved uwu <3

[HP Fan]

Love this guy! <333

ｕｓｅｒｎａｍｅ;;

HP Fan, but feel free to call me Luna ^^

ｎａｍｅ;;

"Hey! I'm Atlas!"

ｇｅｎｄｅｒ;;

male, brute, dude, guy, whatever you want. He is a male.

ｉｔｅｍ ｉｄｅａｓ;;

a necklace, similar to this, but just the compass. { The compass one Acctually works }, while he has two tail charms, one of these and this one

ｃｒｕｓｈ;;

Atlas has a crush on Sphaera

[greye]

 
I finished this when I was on vacation. I had limited wifi, so I couldn't use a word counter or make art ;w;  I had to write on a phone, so please excuse the mistakes <3




{ＴＨＥ ＳＵＲＦＡＣＥ  ♒
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username:
Ello there! I'm the doctor's fez but I go by fez around CS <3 My username is a DW reference because why not x3 It's my current obsession, after all vuv

name:
This boy's real name, is in fact, Chasing Summer. Unusual, no? I wanted something that'd stand out.
Chasing Summer comes from a Jam that consists of mainly aboriginal beans. They each had compound names, such as his own. He was born in those last fleeting days of the summertime before the wind brought frost inland. His original name had been something else, but his mother saw his love of the hot weather, even as a baby, and renamed him. Chasing Summer has really lived up to his name after all, summer being his favorite season. He just never wants it to end, and finds himself trying to make the most of those last, precious days of heat.
Chasing Summer can be a hassle to say (or type, for that matter), so he does have some nicknames. Usually he goes by Summer, Chasing and Chase (but rarely). 


appearance:
Much to Summer's dismay, he doesn't at all resemble his parents. The patterns on his fur are more complex than his mother's or father's own coats. His pelt is smooth, lengthy and silky and well-maintained. His eyes glitter with curiosity and a hint of long-ago heartbreak. 
Because of the feminine eye markings and more elegant designs poor Summer is often put down as a girl. He tries to look as masculine as possible because of this, covering himself in mud and wearing other boy-ish things.
Summer has a rather scrawny physique but a considerable amount of muscle in his haunches from fighting riptides and diving off rocks. His main strength is speed and he uses his muscles as an advantage.


item ideas:
Chasing's accessories are either parts of his Jam's culture or valuable on his own accord. He wears two seagull feathers tied to his ear that are said to represent bravery. He has a necklace lined with translucent blue beads with two Angel's Wing shells on the end. He has these long strips of cloth that resemble bandages that he may occasionally wear on each wrist to symbolize the grim and unspeakable part of his history. They'll ways be wrapped around twice. Two is his favorite number, by the way. He likes the idea of a 'perfect two'.
 Occasionally Summer'll wear a sailor's cap, simply because he likes the look of it.

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personality:
Chasing Summer takes the word 'shy' to a whole new level. He hstes speaking around other beans and is intimidated easily. In situations where pressure is put on him he'll either run away or pretend to ignore everyone. People assume that once you get to know him the shyness will melt away, but that isn't true. 
His past has left him extremely sensitive. Chasing used to be a content and pure youngster. Now he's just an emotional wreck.
Summer thinks anyone he opens up to will just try to hurt him again. He constantly fears having to relive his past so Chasing Summer has decided to stay hidden. 
He really does have a big heart, though. Under all of the scars Summer tries his best to help from a distance. He leaves little gifts to show he does care. Even if he doesn't have the courage to say something.

Living like this, completely alone, can be horribly lonely. Chasing suffers from things like depression often. Since he has nobody to trust, this can turn into anger and shorten his temper. He snaps easily when he's like this. Younger beans are even afraid of him. This only makes him more depressed, so Chasing retreats back into his home to wait it out.

There are only a handful of beans in the world that he actually trusts but even to them he's quiet. Chasing lets them do the descision-making while he's passive and humble.

Overall, he's a shy, temperamental and misunderstood fellow with a heart of gold under all his scars. To his only friends he's passive, humble and more of a follower.

secrets:
Chasing keeps a diary about ideal dates under his bed vuv 
Very manly. Here's a page: (But shhhhh don't tell)

I heard a song the other day that made me think about another perfect date. I have this oversized sweater that we could both crawl into and cuddle and talk about things. We'd have hot cocoa and bask in the firelight and not worry about the future. When we walked home we could both share a scarf and count the snowflakes.
Too bad I hate cold weather

{ＲＯＵＧＨ ＷＡＴＥＲＳ ♒
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Summer's earliest memory is, well, the summertime. The warm seasons of his childhood were always the best times. His Jam would move their camp to a cliff overlooking the ocean for those three months and Chasing would spend every free minute he had swimming or lounging on the beach. Once the days grew colder, everyone loaded their tipis onto wagons and brought extra things in woven bags. The journey back to their winter home was a long one, taking up to a week of walking across prairies. Chasing would always be the one that lifted everyone else's spirits with his playful nature. And once the long trek was over, they'd settle down again to wait out the winter.

Chasing's childhood was similar to his early life. As he grew older the Jam began to spend more time by the ocean. He took to things like cliff-jumping and sailing, scuba diving and  swimming with sunken ships (they were frequent in his area). It was then when he developed his fear of them. He invited his older brother to look for sunken treasure in an old wreck. At first they picked around near the surface. Chasing had an idea, though. He dared his brother to check out inside the rotting hull. He saw it as a challenge and dove without a second thought. 
Chasing prefers not to talk about the next bit so we won't go into detail. The ship, being unstable, collapsed and Chasing's brother presumably drowned. Chasing swam back, eyes filled with terror and he never
Life after that was pretty average for Summer besides the absence of his brother.


Chasing Summer's teen years were the hardest of his life. Now having to cope with the loss of his brother and the thought of leaving his Jam, he became stressed. His mother claimed he didn't have to leave but some of the other adults said otherwise. After the 'accident', many found it hard to trust him. 
One night, a thunderstorm rolled in from the ocean and everyone decided to shelter in a tunnel through the cliff. 
The tunnel filled with water and many beans drowned, including his parents (not going into much detail upon Summer's request). The only survivors were him, his cousin and a handful of others. His cousin told Chase that it was time for them all to move on. They walked for weeks in a different direction until they encountered the city.
Even though they were only staying for a few days, Chasing loved it. Life was so modern here. After much begging and persuasion, his remaining Jam let him stay. They set him up with an apartment and a job before departing. He recovered from the death of his family and met new friends. Life was starting to be alright.  That is, until Chasing met him.

At first they hated each-other. He was a friend of Chasing's friend and he always seemed to be there. He was arrogant and blunt and ordered everyone around. Until one day, Summer came across his journal. They were on a camping trip. He was out, along with everyone else. Chasing had come to return a book he was reading and got curious. And it turned out that he was… fond of Summer. 

He found Chasing reading the journal and surprised him by not attacking. They talked and began to open up and by the end of the trip… Soon after the two began dating.

Now, I'm going to skip over this part of his history. Let's just say poor Chasing was in a rather abusive relationship with this other bean. In the end, he had to leave the city completely. He threw his phone off into the ocean and left without another word.

Chasing has never trusted another bean the way he trusted him because he doesn't want to be hurt again.

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horn ideas:
I won custom horns from the event, so I'd use them on him. I was thinking of four smaller horns or a pair of longer ones that would twist, like an impala's. They'd be the grey-blue color with brighter blue designs matching his pelt's.

[pocketfox]

username:
Pocketfox



name:
Anchor



gender:
Male



Item ideas:
Anchor likes to keep things from the different seas or ocean he sails upon
Black sea: He wears a skull earring , tales from this sea talk of death or tragedy in them.
Caribbean: He wears a regular tattered bandana on his tail in memory of all the great pirates that lived before him.
Atlantic Ocean: He wears a ring that is half blue and half black. For this ocean is know to turn deadly at any given moment.



Dreams:
He one day hopes to sail around the world with his mate or family to be his crew. When he is done he wishes to write a novel and redeem that not every Pirate can be a horrible person.