ilPromenade App
PLAYER
✧ NAME: Fox
✧ LJ USERNAME: MercenaryFoxit
✧ CONTACT (EMAIL, AIM, MSN, PLURK, ETC.): FoxRaptor@hotmail.com, Batsu Umino(AIM)
✧ CURRENT MUSE LIST: N/A
CHARACTER
✧ NAME: Coud Van Giruet
✧ SERIES: Elemental Gelade / Manga
✧ HISTORY: Right here
✧ TIMELINE: Post Chapter 78. He's presumably gone to bed after Ren's telling her story of how she met the person who became her reason for traveling to Edel Garden.
✧ PERSONALITY: In a nutshell Cou is a good-natured, if not somewhat naive young man that has a tendency to live by his own rules.
Understanding his better tendencies isn't a difficult matter, despite being a self-proclaimed air pirate, he's very fickle with those he steals from. Even when presented with opportunities to just take, he's more prone to obtaining things legitimately. Although especially in the cases of a faceless or oppressive figure, he seems to have no qualms about taking what he needs or wants from it. To this end, he considers himself more a hero; likely a kin to Robin Hood, if the legend exists on his world.
Generally out-going, Cou seldom has problems making new friends and unless the initial circumstances come off as being fishy, he tends to trust without much of a second thought. This is both a good and bad thing as it allowed him to sympathize with the plights of Rasati, Lilia, Gliyna and Bokka; gaining their respective trusts, in which the sense of trust and good will was generally reciprocated. On a downside, his sense of trust in Viro was betrayed when she poisoned Ren, led the group into their first encounter with Gladius and her fellow Viro, as well as attacking them herself -a confrontation that also led to Rowen being seriously wounded.
As friendships go, he's exceptionally loyal; never deserting his friends when in trouble and if the situation warrants it, he's demonstrated that he's not afraid to lay his life down in their defense. This holds true especially in the case of anything related to Ren. At the onset of the series, he offers to cover her escape without even hope of standing a chance against the Arc Aile team. In Millard Trey, he throws the title match against Rasati so she might win freedom for herself and Lilia. Later in Barley Toast, he would offer to give his life so Gliyna would be able to live and see Ren again. And then even knowing he was walking into a trap set by Parl, in Nad Lezen, he storms the mansion where she held Ren hostage; eventually taking the deranged Edel Raid's abuse because of her threats to harm his partner if he did anything to resist.
Almost always optimistic, Cou tends to look toward the brighter side of things. While he's able to at least look at things as they are when reality faces him in less than cheery colors, his preference is to hope for the best -even if he forgets to prepare for a worse outcome.
Cou also tends to be more of a do-er than a planner of any sort and what plans he does tend to devise are usually somewhat half-baked. It's quite rare that he'll devise anything extremely complicated and seems to have a preference for simpler approaches to a problem. Though while he proves to rush into things without thought, he's usually resourceful enough to extract himself without requiring much or in some cases, any aid.
Though relatively independent as far as his own actions go, if one had to put him as a leader or follower, his lack of planning ability tends to put him at more a follower. This tends to hold especially true in a fight, as he has a history of deferring to either Cisqua or Rowen's judgment when things get real.
At the onset of the series, Cou tends to hold the attitude of simply throwing everything he has at a problem and then expecting it to go away. From this outlook, we also learn that he spends little time in any sort of practice or study of a matter before undertaking it. However after his initial string of defeats in Millard Trey, a conversation with Ren prompts him to change.
This is what prompted him to ask Rowen and Kuea's help in learning how to be a better partner for Ren, an event that also helped him understand her better. This continues well into the events taking place in Nad Lezen, where while he still doesn't demonstrate a skill for planning himself, he proves capable of at least helping with a planning process when he and Bokka install a secondary escape craft in the tail section of his airship. Further demonstrating his change and acceptance of practicing before rushing in, his piloting skills are demonstrated to have improved. In a smaller escape craft, he manages to out-maneuver a military jet until Cisqua is able to lock onto it with her missile launchers and blow it out of the sky. Unfortunately that maneuvering cost them their remaining fuel and with a little luck added to the mix, he managed to crash-land the small plane without any injuries to his passengers.
✧ ABILITIES/POWERS: On his own, Cou is a largely normal adolescent, bearing no unique powers or capabilities. Though determined to the point of being stubborn with a mix of sheer, dumb luck and recklessness, there isn't anything particularly special about him when he's not reacted with an Edel Raid. That being said though, his time as an air pirate and his time traveling to Edel Garden have taught him a few things that could be quite useful in any situation.
Despite his somewhat average frame and not looking terribly strong, Cou is quite athletic and displays a certain degree of agility that's significantly higher than one would expect by just looking at him. Especially with the hook and line he keeps stored in the back section of his jacket, he's able to swing across or over most obstacles with the greatest of ease. He's also a capable runner, though it's an ability most often demonstrated when he's trying to beat a hasty retreat.
Cou also demonstrates a very practical and effective understanding of mechanics. While far from a genius with a tool box, he's capable of understanding the workings of most devices with a thorough examination and then either repairing or disabling them.
In hand-to-hand, Cou isn't the most proficient by any stretch, though his determination can often tip the balance of an unfavorable match up in his favor. Bearing no significant amount of martial arts training, he's able to hold his own against an opponent of similar standing, though he seems to prefer avoiding a fight when he's on his own. In reference to his determination, despite being physically out-matched by them, he is shown defeating a Viro and kicking her through the door leading into Parl's chamber when he goes to save Ren in Nad Lezen. Though also worth noting is just how beat-up-looking he is by the time he emerges into the room.
✧ TIME OF ARRIVAL: Daytime
✧ MASK DESIGN: Here
✧ PLACE OF SOLACE: If Promenade has an airport of any kind, then the abandoned hulk of the Red Lynx will be parked on an unused runway. It is the place where Cou grew up and fell in love with the sky, learning to value the freedom that it promised with its wild blue yonder. Though the craft will be functional,without a flight stone, it will never return to the sky where it once practically ruled. If there is no airport, then the Red Lynx will be airborne, flying a fixed path over the city on autopilot. If boarded,there will be no way to disengage the autopilot unless required for a plot. In both cases, the internal clamps securing the small squadron of light ships within the hull of the airship will curiously be impossible to disengage, preventing use of the smaller craft.
SAMPLES
✧ FIRST PERSON: It's funny, ya know?
Just how long it's been since all of this started. I hate when I've got time to think, cause that's when all the stuff I wanna shove out of the way and stuff just swings back to punch me in the face.
Has it really been less than a month since all of this started? Less than a month since I opened a box I shouldn't have? Since I turned down a huge sum of cash because I don't believe in buying people?
It feels like it's been this way for a lot longer.
It's been a lot fun too. Meeting you, Cisqua, Rowen and Kuea. I've never been on a trip this astounding ever before. Before you guys, I was just a greenhorn, looking to earn my colors so the rest of the crew wouldn't just push me off like some little kid.
But, cause of you and everyone else. I feel pretty special; I feel like this is where I belong. It's stupid, huh? Thinking that. Once we get to Edel Garden and meet your friend, we're supposed to go with Cisqua and everyone to Arc Aile. I guess it's more that they want you, but I'm gonna follow along too. I know I said I'd just help you get there, but I think you know by now that I'm in this for the long haul. Maybe when we get there, we'll do something stupid and join up. I think our friends would get pretty bored without you and me around after all.
I know you're asleep now and I don't think you can hear me. But I'm still so sorry for everything that happened in Nad Lezen. I know I'm pretty dense sometimes, but there's a lot I don't understand about just... well, this whole being open stuff. Maybe later, I'll man up and apologize when you can hear me. But for now, I just wanted to get this off my chest.
Yawn.
I think I'm gonna nap for a little bit. I'll see you when you wake up.
✧ THIRD PERSON: "Sorry about that!" Cou yelled out to the person he'd just stumbled past. Much as he probably should have been moving more carefully, he really just couldn't afford to. There was too much on the line and he needed to get where he was going by about yesterday. Nevermind his worries that all along, Ren might have had someone else, right now she was in trouble and presumably in trouble of the worst kind. He sprinted as quickly as he could through the lower levels Nad Lezen. He was in the bottom, the lowest district and Cisqua told him that her radar located his partner up on the top level of the city -the elite district where you had to either be rich or an Edel Raid to even be there.
His footsteps skid to a halt as he found the lifts that ran up and down between the city's three levels -heavily guarded by armed soldiers and if the occasional blue crackle along the framework composing the structure was any indication; very thoroughly protected from anyone trying to hitch a ride on the outside. The air pirate had to admit that for someone that seemed to have set this arrangement up as a trap, they certainly didn't make falling for it very easy.
So for a good few minutes he stood there, trying to figure out how he'd get past the guards or somehow protect himself from being electrocuted long enough to scale the commuter structure. He didn't even have the luxury of being able to get up to the second level -he would've needed proper identification papers for that, things that he partly wished he could've at least obtained fakes for after his little mishap at Porta Exceed. But there was no time to lament and get distracted, though especially on the inside, he was very much starting to panic. Beazon himself had been bad news when he had his hands on Ren, there was no telling what Parl would do in her master's absence. Or if he might be there as well. Or hell, even Organite might be involved in this; their assassins and intelligence agents seemed to be everywhere!
Cou found his hands ruffling through his hair, tempted almost to yank a chunk out in frustration. Asking all these what-if questions were making his nerves even worse and he hadn't even gotten there yet!
He sighed in aggravation, sitting back on his hindquarters and glancing upward. Some hero he was -not even a hero, he was just trying to help his friend and he couldn't even do that right. Screw everything else, he couldn't even be honest with her on his own feelings and that was a good chunk of the reason why this mess was as it was to begin with. There wasn't time for self-pity and yet without any idea of how to proceed, he was just loafing and wallowing in regret as he looked up at the night sky.
With a defeated chuckle, the young man mused to himself that things were so much simpler when all he had to do was try to earn the respect of his fellow crew mates.
And that was about when he noticed something. The countless flight stones scattered about in floating masses around the city seemed to drift at varying altitudes. In fact, from here, he could almost swear that some of them might even float as high as that third level. That was it.
In a hurry, he jumped to his feet. He needed to get up to those stones.
A quick survey of the immediate area reminded him of where the entrance to the Flight Stone Processing Plant he'd stolen from was. Breaking into a sprint, he took to the rooftops once more, drawing Angel from his jacket; the hook and line that he so often used to get him into and out of a bind. Hopping from structure to structure, he crossed the gaps by hooking and swinging from varied bits of riff-raff dangling off of higher structures. Certainly convenient things, considering his current mode of travel.
...
He'd been trying to pace himself. He had a great deal of ground to cover and he was more than willing to bet that Ren's captor wouldn't just let him walk in and then walk out with her. Thankfully, his entire plan of grappling and climbing up across the varied floating masses of unrefined Flight Stone was significantly sped up when his trip along the outside of the Processing Plant led him to the hanger. While he'd never piloted a harvesting craft before, it was something he didn't need to even try. A group for the late shift was on their way out and he was able to latch onto one of the rear-most craft and rode that up. It was almost frightening to just cling to the hull of a vessel like that for so long. The biting wind at the higher altitudes didn't help him much either. On a positive note, while he'd just been hoping to hitchhike up to the hover stones, the vessels apparently were working close to the height he needed. Talk about luck -this whole ordeal hadn't taken him more than half an hour so far and with any due fortune, he'd still have ample time to figure out how he'd save Ren.
It didn't take long before he could see into the neighborhoods of mansions at the top level of the city. The vessel shook at little as it slowed to a halt and began its task of drilling out chunks of the small stone mass before it. For Cou, this was the sign that it was his stop. A quick glance showed a trail of stones he could run across or swing from to make it to his destination. So with a leap of faith, his legs shoved him out as far as he could from the mining skiff. He wasn't afraid of heights -he was an air pirate. A drop like this didn't scare him. But the sudden stop at the bottom honestly scared the ever-loving daylights out of him.
With Ren's life on the line, he whipped Angel out and with a careful aim, hurled it with all his might at the rock that would soon be directly across from him. The stone crackled as it fragmented on impact, the hook lodging itself firmly into the floating stone mass and the pirate swinging some what gracefully toward another floating island. His hand reached out for the edge -this would be close... and he missed. Thankfully, he did catch it on the swing back, but by the time he managed to find semi-solid ground beneath his feet again, he was just a little unnerved with how close that one had been.
"That was kinda close." He commented to one on in particular before pulling himself together and resuming his trip. It thankfully didn't take him many swings across the myriad floating boulders and masses before he found the last swing putting him over the residential district proper. It honestly had been a long shot, in fact, most of this little plan of his was being entirely made-up on the fly. But luck seemed to be in his favor and there were just enough floating stones to provide the path he needed. Pushing any common sense to the curb, he broke into another sprint as he jumped for his next target. Again his prized Angel found its mark as he swung across the last expanse, a sense of relief washing over him as he saw the mansions of the third district below his feet. Fortune continued to smile upon Cou, he caught sight of a pool he could use to land in if he could aim himself properly. In mid-swing, he adjusted his angle ever-so-slightly as momentum carried him toward his mark. And with a very solid yank at this high-point of his swing, his hook retracted to him as he soared through the air. His legs pumped in mid-air, as if vainly hoping that their movement would somehow get him a little further. And while the motion didn't, it certainly must've looked funny if anyone actually saw him.
It was with a resounding splash that he found his target, landing in swimming pool located in the backyard of one of the ludicrously large houses. Already feeling tired, he clamored out and onto the surrounding grass, taking only a moment to catch his breath before jumping the fence and getting out to the street proper -thankfully before any of the residents realized they even had an intruder. It was fortunate that they didn't have a dog or anything, that could've gotten ugly in a hurry.
Out on the street level, Cou's pacing turned to a brisk jog. He needed to figure out which of the houses in this section was the one he was looking for and while he'd been warned that this was very likely a trap, he couldn't help but feel annoyed that there wasn't some kind of hint or something out in the open for him to see. His pace slowed a little as he took a moment to study each of the manors he passed, wondering if there was some clue on the outside as to who the owner was -not like he figured that would do too much to help. It seemed for every bit of luck he had, there was a set back to pay for it. By the time he began his survey of the third block, he was under the impression that just maybe he should've asked Cisqua to borrow her radar. And then something caught his attention. Perched a top one of the mail boxes he was now walking past was small serpent sculpture. Stopping to stare at it for a moment, he got the impression that there was something about this that should be worth noting.
His eyes went wide with realization as the piece fell into place. It was a long shot, but he remembered that when he had to fight Parl and her master, Beazon, her reacted form had quite a few snake and lightning references. He was in a hurry now and so far, that was the best lead he figured he had as he scaled the perimeter fence and dropped neatly into the front yard. The pirate was demonstrating some almost uncharacteristic skill as he moved, darting behind anything that could hide his presence -shadows, plants, patio furniture. Some small voice in his head took the moment and mused that it sure must be nice having money for some of the more out-landishly trimmed hedges he was seeing. As he neared the house, he used his line again to climb up to the second story.
Peering in through the open window, his eyes set upon something that confirmed beyond the shadow of a doubt that this must be the right spot. In the hallway the window was connected to, he saw a single Viro standing guard before a door and unless those were now being sold in packages with home security systems, he was sure this must be the place. A quick study didn't reveal anything particularly useful. As much as he might've given though to just sneaking in, he didn't have time to check if the other windows were locked and just breaking in would likely announce his presence -well, at least just as much as being spotted here. But at least if he fought the guard now, that'd be one less thing to fight later. Or one less thing to jump him during his inevitable clash with Parl coming up.
Gathering up his courage and readying his hook and line, he crept through the hallway, trying not to make a sound. Maybe if he was fortunate, he'd be able to take this one down without a fuss. It's a shame how that never quite seemed to work for him. She turned and saw him, giving no call to arms, but just grinning cruelly before charging at him, monstrously deformed claws ready to rip him to bloody bits. As much as he wanted to just spook and try running to approach from another direction, his gut demanded that he stand his ground.
Tucking Angel away, he dove and slid across the tiled floor between her legs, righting his facing and immediately crouching as she turned about. He rushed her, taking the offensive and working to put his boot to her chest. She was faster though; while she didn't land a strike with her claws, a wide flail of her arm caught him and slammed him against a wall. He regained his footing just in time for her to come in swinging. With no room to run and realizing that a single one of her limbs was currently a significant deal stronger than any one of his, he shifted his guard. He used both forearms to deflect her first swing, only for a punch to take him in the gut and wind him. He just barely managed to regain his senses in time to dodge another claw swipe before another arm flail sent him sprawling across the floor. Shaking his head to regain his senses, he rolled to the side as she put her claws through the tile where his head had been less than a second ago.
Both of them moved to recover and by sheer luck, Cou managed to be faster. Pushing his advantage, he lunged forward, driving his elbow into her mid-section, forcing the Viro to double-over. Their artificial Elemental Gelades gave them an edge when it came to attacking power and speed, but for the most part, they were still every bit as vulnerable as a normal girl. He didn't relent there, throwing an immediate left cross that forced her to stumble back as she groaned in pain, "ARGH!" He shifted his footing while she reeled, his fist going for her face and dazing her slightly, prompting her to talk again, "STOP! DAMN YOU!" On a roll and so close to his goal, he whirled about and immediately kicked the Viro through the double doors, forcing them open with an audible, "GAH!" before landing senseless in a heap on the floor.
To be continued in Elemental Gelade Chapter 63, Page 24...
✧ ORIGINAL CHARACTER QUESTION: N/A