Siren's Pull Application/Character Reference
Player Information
Name: Allison-Marie
Age: Over 21
AIM SN: TheDerelictAngel
email: VictorianBeauty@Gmail.com
Have you played in an LJ based game before? Yes, multiple
Currrently Played Characters: None in SP
Conditional: Activity Check Link: N/A
Conditional: Official Reserve Link: Here
Character Information
General
Canon Source: Kuroshitsuji / Kuroshitsuji Musical 2: The Most Beautiful Death in the World
Canon Format: Manga, anime, and stage musical. As Eric appears only in the stage show, the musical will be the primary canon and the others will be used to supplement information not in the musical.
Character's Name: Eric Slingby
Character's Age: Outward appearance: late twenties/early thirties. Chronological age: Mid eighties. (Shinigami start off as teenagers and mature into fully grown adults, but do not grow old. They live indefinitely, and Eric’s actual age is never given. The estimate is determined by the fact that Eric is said to be Junior to William and Grell, both who became shinigami roughly 100 years before the canon, and is senior to the rest of the shinigami characters in the musical. )
Conditional: If your character is 13 years of age or under, please clarify how they will be played. N/A
What form will your character's NV take? An old, black, worn-out moleskine notebook with an elastic strap. When opened, it appears to have something like a scientific calculator with a small keyboard on the inside instead of paper.
Abilities
Character's Canon Abilities:
Eric is a shinigami, and has the skills set of a shingami in his canon. It’s very hard to kill a shinigami. While they can get ill, the “Thorns of Death” is the only disease they can die from, but there is only one recorded case it. Mostly, the disease exists only in legend. The only other way to kill one is to reap them with a death scythe. They can be injured however. If they are hit, they can bruise, cut, bleed, break bones etc. They will shake it off and heal faster than a human would. Minor wounds will heal almost instantly, major injuries can take days, and they will scar normally.
Compared with a human, shinigami are much stronger, faster, and more agile. They can overcome gravity with leaps and bounds and in-jump aerial maneuvers far beyond what any human could do. They are said to be able to ‘travel long distances instantaneously’ but how they do this or what the limitations are is never established in canon. In fact, in canon it’s done so infrequently (and there are multiple examples of shinigami in danger where they don’t do this to escape) that one would assume it can only be done under specific circumstances.
They do travel easily back and forth from the human world and the world they inhabit when they are not collecting human souls. My own personal belief, since there is no information in canon, is that since they can move in and out of the human world, they can also ‘skip’ over space within the human world using similar methods. One limitation I would set on this ability within the game is that he would have to know a place and to have been there before in order to get there by these means. Since there are times when this is not used as a means to escape within canon, I would also say that that they have to be able to move in order to travel to another place by this method, so if a shinigami is physically restrained, they would not be able to vanish from restraints.
They are very in tune with the spirit world, able to see ghosts, distinguish between humans and supernatural being disguised as humans on sight, and posses the ability to sense magic. Shinigami are almost all near-sighted, and they all wear glasses. The glasses are specially made for them and also signify their status as a shinigami. Willfully removing and abandoning the glasses constitutes retirement. Eric‘s vision without his glasses is very poor.
Conditional: If your character has no superhuman canon abilities, what dormant ability will you give them? N/A
Weapons: All shinigami carry death scythes. The scythes can take the form of any cutting tool from a knife to a chainsaw to a lawnmower. Eric’s is a very large, oversized handsaw. The death scythe separates the soul from the body, killing any living being instantly and without apparent injury. Of course, the scythes will also function as whatever item they take. They work on all living beings, even on beings deemed immortal. The only thing that can cut a death scythe is another death scythe.
When a soul is reaped with a scythe, it gives the reaper access to that person’s “cinematic record”; the record of life and memories imprinted on a person’s soul. These are reviewed at the time of death by the shinigami and the person’s fate in the afterlife is determined. In extreme cases, namely where the person’s life will have a major positive impact on the entire world they live in, the shinigami can save a person from death. However, they always err on the side of caution and this almost never happens. (Note: There are tools that allow them to rewrite lives and change history and alter the future, but Eric does not have access to those items. He would, however, know about them.)
Most death scythes are very large, but can be stored about a shinigami’s person. The can simply ‘wield’ them when they need them, and then they don’t seem to exist the rest of the time. They just seem to pull them out of thin air.
A null or a void would definitely prevent Eric from wielding his scythe. If it were already in hand, it would be rendered the same as a plain large handsaw, as Eric would not be able to use its power.
History/Personality/Plans/etc.
Character History: http://kuroshitsuji.wikia.com/wiki/Eric_Slingby This is Eric’s story arc in the musical.
Ciel Phantomhive and Sebastian Michaelis are called upon by Queen Victoria to investigate a rash of bizarre murders in London. At the same time, the shinigami are investigating the same series of deaths, as the souls of the victims are missing. Among the Shinigami are Eric, and his best friend Alan Humphries. Alan is ill with a mysterious disease called “The Thorns of Death.” It is the only disease that can kill a shinigami, and Alan’s time is running short. It is soon discovered that Eric is the perpetrator of the murders being investigated, and also the one collecting victim’s missing souls. It’s been said that Alan’s illness can be cured by collecting 1000 pure souls, and Eric is determined to save him. (Note: In the show, Eric and Alan are referred to as “best friends.” However, the depth of the emotions they show for each other and the intimate way they act towards each other strongly imply a lot more than friendship.) Eric is hunted by both Sebastian and Ciel, and his fellow shinigami for his crimes. Eric flees. A nobleman and vice-lord comes across Eric and admires him in his killing spree. He holds an Opera, telling Eric that he may kill the audience, since he likes watching Eric ‘work.’ The other characters track him there. He’s then confronted by Alan, to whom he confesses both what he’s done and why. He tells Alan that he only needs one more soul and he’ll have the 1000 he needs to save him. Alan is horrified, but forgives Eric after making him promise not to kill any more for his sake. Then Alan declares that whatever time he has left, the two of them will spend it together. As they leave, the two of them are confronted by Sebasitan and Ciel. Eric sees that Ciel is a pure soul and tells Alan that he’s sorry, but he can’t keep his promise if it means giving up on saving his life, and attacks Ciel. Unwilling to see another person die for him, Alan pushes Ciel out of the way and is struck by the blow from Eric’s death scythe instead. Alan dies. Sebastian informs Eric that he now has 1000 souls, and that while they may have cured Alan’s illness, they cannot revive him from the dead. Devastated that he not only failed to save Alan but is responsible for his death, and devastated that the deaths he caused are now rendered meaningless without Alan, Eric asks Sebastian to kill him. Sebastian does so, using Alan’s death scythe.
Point in Canon: Immediately before the musical starts. Eric has already begun killing in order to save Alan. However, he does not have anywhere near the souls he needs. He has no knowledge of how his efforts to save Alan will pan out.
Conditional: Brief summary of previous RP history: N/A
Character Personality: Eric Slingby is a brash, bold, and confident man, capable of crossing the line to overconfident. He’s prone to bragging and acting in ways that make him appear ‘cool.’ He’s also fairly open with his sexuality, openly expressing interest in both men and women and boasting about sexual conquests. However, it’s frequently unclear if his conquests are real or merely boasting. He likes good food, good drink, parties, and is known to get drunk on occasion. He also has a wry and sometimes mean sense of humor. In relation to his job, Eric is a bit like a more mature version of Ronald; he works hard, but hates overtime and love parties.
His bold exterior hides a much more compassionate person than he’ll let on. Shinigami work with humans at the point of death. When human beings die, they are the ones who reap the souls. Any effort to help them avoid death is prohibited. Different shinigami deal with the emotional burden this entails in different ways. Eric’s way of coping is to be completely untouchable and merciless with those he is about to reap. He does not connect with them, and does not allow them to connect with him. Alan is compassionate with them, offering them support, and wanting to share their pain so that they will not be alone with they die. Eric admits to Alan that he sees Alan as the stronger of the two of them for this. He even says that he envies Alan his strength in being able to show compassion to someone they cannot save, and that he sees himself as not being able to deal with the emotions of the dying the way Alan does. That’s why he must remain aloof when his work requires him to take life.
Eric loves Alan completely and totally. We know that there is literally nothing Eric would not do for him. While Eric doesn’t hesitate to kill one-thousand innocent people to gain the one-thousand pure souls to help cure Alan’s illness, the fact that he’s doing something wrong does not escape him. He’s well aware of the immorality of his actions. There’s just nothing that he’ll stop at to try save the person he loves the most. At one point, before Alan understands that Eric is trying to save him, Alan offers Eric his soul “since he’s going to be dead soon anyway” and “Eric needs souls so much.” Eric responds with horror, saying that if Alan dies that what he’s done has been all for nothing. He repeats this sentiment when Alan is killed; horrified that he killed all those people and that Alan wasn’t saved, making their deaths meaningless. The corruption of his own soul is something Eric is acutely aware of, saying at one point that he’d gladly give his own life to help cure Alan, but that his soul has become too corrupted with the sins he’s committed and no longer counts as a ‘pure’ soul. He even speculates whether or not he’s fit to be with Alan anymore after what he’s done, even though he’s doing it to save him.
Given the fact that Eric does all he can to avoid contact and attachments with the people he has to kill through his work as a shinigami, and given the fact that he is aware that he’s doing something evil in order to save Alan, it is unlikely that he’d bring himself to kill someone he’s made an emotional connection with if he doesn't have to. There would be a crisis of conscience. He’d simply move on to a stranger instead, as long as there was one available. Of course, Alan’s well being would ultimately trump anyone else’s. But, as long as there are anonymous strangers around, the people close to Eric are relatively safe.
Alan describes Eric as someone who always reached out to other shinigami struggling with their job. Given the fact that Eric admits that he must maintain distance from dying humans in order to do his job, and what he’s willing to do to save Alan, I think we can take this assessment at face value. Eric will, by nature, help someone in need. Suffering, cries for help etc will all work on him. Of course, he’ll do his best to act cool and seem unmoved while he does it. Eric’s exterior of bravado is a hard shell for him to discard at times, due to the nature of his work, but he can be cracked.
Conditional: Personality development in previous game: N/A
Character Plans: Eric could very easily decide to continue his efforts to save Alan and attempt to kill people to collect more souls. In fact, it’s likely he’d try. On the other hand, it’s unlikely he’d turn away someone suffering and in need, so he could end up with some sort of adopted family of wayward newcomers after he’s established himself.
I also see we have an Alan applying. Provided we both are accepted, Eric will be very interested in perusing his relationship with Alan. Of course, he will need to find Alan first. Even if we don’t end up having an Alan in the game, Eric will still look for him whether he’s in the game or not.
I can see Eric remaining quite neutral, just focused on finding a way home. He could be tempted to work as a greeter, or some other service fit that lets him work with newcomers. This will help him both watch for Alan if he arrives, and in with his nature of helping out people who need him. He could be lured into working for either company though, with promises of either a way home, or if, of course, they had Alan.
Appearance/PB: http://images.wikia.com/kuroshitsuji/images/d/dd/217341_1703973920671_1277698375_31449471_3307787_n.jpg Drawing of Eric by his creator, writer/manga artist Yana Toboso and as played by Taisuke Saeki in the stage production http://download.minitokyo.net/Kuroshitsuji.497636.jpg All icons are from the stage show.
Eric’s nationality is English, as he works for the London division of shinigami dispatch. However, since shinigami are Japanese death gods, Eric is ethnically Japanese. He’s 5’11, 175 lbs with a healthy, athletic build. His eyes and skin are dark, and his hair is bleached blonde except for one strip intentionally left black at his right temple. His voice is deep and rough and he carries himself with a masculine, cocky air.
Writing Samples
First Person Sample
[Eric appears on the screen. Even though he looks clean and in fresh clothes, his red eyes, slightly slack jaw and exhausted expression]
How does this stupid thing work again? Is it recording? Ah… it is.
[The angle moves a little bit, apparently the the camera is in his hand. The standard neat newcomer apartment can be seen behind him.]
So! I understand people are going to be watching this. Good. I’ve got something I’d like to say. I’m coming home from an after party, we’d been working overtime and GUESS WHAT? Suddenly, I’m in a baseball diamond. I won’t deny it, I was drinking. Why wouldn’t I? It was free! But, I know I did NOT drink enough to fall into a bloody baseball diamond!
[He laughs a little, but it’s stressed and slightly wild. He wipes exhaustedly at his eye with the hand not holding the NV. ]
It hurt too! If someone can tell me how I somehow managed to fall into a damn baseball diamond, I’d be grateful. Anyway, there were people waving me over. And it was dark. What the hell is up with the night here? It was much too dark. Anyway, I looked over at those people trying to get me to come over to them… yeah, as if I’m going to just stroll over. So, I decide to make a run for it. But, what do you know? I’d fallen into a baseball diamond and all… am I repeating myself too much? Tough.
Now, here’s where it gets good. I can’t even tell you what I saw when I got to the edge of the field. It was dark. I didn’t see it much, but I heard it. Oh sweet merciful death… I heard it.
I fell. Something swiped at me. I swung back, but it caught my arm.
Then I heard sirens.
The next thing know I have a bunch of strangers bandaging my arm, trying to tell me that I had a close call and that I’m in some place called ‘Siren’s Port.’ They gave me some kind of information packet and brought me to this apartment. Funny thing about nearly getting your arm ripped off, it tends to put you in a mood not to argue.
So, now I’m asking:
How in the name of shitty death did I drink so much I ended up in Canada? How do I get back home? I’ve got work to do.
Third Person Sample
Eric turned off the camera and snapped the cover of the little black Moleskine shut. Ranting was cleansing. It felt good to let his feelings be known. Maybe someone would hear it, and maybe he’d get some more information about his situation, but that was a byproduct. Mostly, he just wanted to express that he was not going to tolerate being dropped into this place.
He slipped the notebook back into his pocket and paused to examine the bandages on his arm, he scratched at them, and then stood up. The clock told him it was two-thirty-four. Well, that’s early enough to go out. Ordinarily, a warning not to go out after dark would have made the death god laugh, but given the nature of his… accident… when he’d tried to leave the baseball diamond, he decided to at least take that much advice.
As he left the apartment, his mind drifted back to the party from the night before. Granted, the memory wasn’t completely clear, but he thought he’d been sober enough to remember anything out of the ordinary. Yes, he had been. Alan said he was ready to leave, and Eric told William and Grell that he would see his subordinate home. He remembered saying something that made Alan laugh, and he could picture the smile still. The memory made his heart ache now that he was in this place.
A long, deep breath and he let his eyes adjust to being outside. Unfortunately, even the simple walk to the front door was too much in his condition. Curiously enough, there was a small bench outside of the apartment. He sat down, cradling his bandaged arm. The wound wasn’t really that serious, but it was an aching reminder of his new circumstances.
He knew his memory wasn’t that impaired with drink. He remembered leaving Alan at his door. He’d slid an arm around the younger man’s waist and tried to kiss him. Alan had pushed him off and scolded him for drinking. The memory gave him a sad smile, as he thought of the gentleness of Alan’s tone, even as he did that.
In an instant, a dark thought occurred to him. If he was taken, was Alan? Had he been far enough away from Alan’s door when… whatever it was that happened… happened?
A bolt of panic hit him that overshadowed any pain or exhaustion. Suddenly, he was on his feet heading back for the baseball diamond to search for the greeters.
As he walked, he snapped open his notebook again. He managed to activate the voice recording function while avoiding stepping off the curb. Once the recording light as on he cried out into the notebook.
“Alan? Are you there? Has anyone seen a young man named Alan Humphries?”