The Safehouse (OOC)

Jack's done. Now to tie him into the pack with everyone else.

Lets see, after a cursory read over of what's available on everyone and a recap on the OOC stuff, looks like we've Ellen, a professional dancer in training (expect lewd jokes), Bran, a failed movie star hitting that all important what-will-I-do-now part of his life, Patrick, a classic case of talent wasted on a selective work ethic, spinning his wheels in a food truck (hee hee, spinning wheels), Romana, the fleeing scientist who will undoubtedly appeal to Jacks manly need to play the protector, and Jess, the lovely studio-artist who will undoubtedly be the focus of Jack's seduction attempts.

Don't really know alot about Taran. I get what he did and where he is now, but not so much what he's doing now, so I can't think of a tie-in.

So, step 1: Jack unlinked.

Jack works a 9-5 shift doing mindless data entry and tech support for a cell phone company, so no real tie in there, but he makes more than enough to live on, giving him broad social aspects. I assumed he met the one or two of the crew during his winning ticket for a climbing excursion, and then decided to stalk them non-creepily, attending similar functions, showing interest in their interests, general stuff like that.

Jess seems the ideal target for Jack's affections in that way, beautiful, successful, charismatic, everything a lonely man could fall for. So, there's that angle.

I'm basing Jack's roommate off of my own, so he'd be artistic as well, though in an indie way, so there's always the idea that maybe his roommate has connections to Patrick, especially if Patrick's conspiracy theories merge into nerdyness. I'll post a full listing on the roommate on my thread, but abridged version, he's into anime, gaming, interested in physical training (boxing especially) and collects swords. He's attractive physically, but has an abrasive if misogynistic attitude and low tolerance for women's stereotypical behavior (manipulative acts, using sex as a bartering chip, etc). Also, only child who has a strong relationship with his mother.

Anywho, there's another potential tie in.

While I've not really noted it as a personality trait, Jack's a bit of a lech. He's not sneaking around sniffing women's panties or peeping into ladies locker rooms, but he's lost interest in being a bachelor and is actively seeking an exciting and attractive woman to make him feel better about his otherwise boring life. This meaning that any women with Attractive as an advantage will likely catch his eye and fall victim to his occasional innuendo or pick-up line. This - besides the basic morality of the act - would likely be why he would be doing this volunteer work, since his general apathy would prevent him otherwise. Likely, he's trying to impress Ellen or Jess, likely Romana too, depending on how prior tie-ins go.

So, thoughts?

You can start posting. Need for clarification please ask.

Avalon is a fictional location. Everything else is in the links. I have concerns with posting maps from the web. I'm working on this.

LISA is very secretive. It acknowledges nothing except its location.

OK, here's some thoughts on Jess's current relationships w/ and/or views of other club members.
Disclaimer: This is ALL open to negotiation. Let me know if you think I've got your character pegged wrong, or if you don't like the way I'm heading. It's a two-way street, after all.

Taran Beernink- Jess would probably see Taran as a kindred spirit (i.e. liberal w/ hippy leanings), and is secretly jealous about his footloose and fancy free (in her mind) adventures through CA. She would be open to being friends with him, possibly drinking buddies, and maybe a little behavior that might be construed as flirtatious.

Bran Black- She sees him as damaged goods - there is obviously a good side to him, but he sometimes grates against her nerves, especially with what she sees as his 'rebel boy attitude' masking something else. I imagine more than once she's gotten exasperated with him (and possible he has with her), but in the end she is willing to let bygones be just that; as long as he is too.
(edit- especially considering the start to the scene. I'd like for them not to be *enemies*, but perhaps this isn't the first time she's snapped at him?)

Jack Derringer- Jess wouldn't know what to make of Jack - she likes any attention he might give her, as long as it is kept within reasonable bounds (the minute he gets lewd or disrespectful, she will let him know), but is really ... repulsed by his constantly sarcastic attitude and seeming lack of drive. She will be friendly but guarded with him, I envision a cycle (perhaps short lived so far, if Jack is new to the group) in which she warms up to him, and then takes offense at something he's done or said and pulls away, only to warm up again days/weeks/months later... Rinse & Repeat.

Padrick Roth- Like Taran, she probably sees him as a kindred spirit (even if he's not) because of his struggle as an artist. That being said, I can see the two getting along very well in club activities, but not really connecting outside the club (maybe they bump into one another at an art opening and have a pleasant conversation, but there are never any nights out drinking with friends)

Romana Volkov- A newcomer and mystery to Jess, the older woman is a cypher; Jess, as normal, will be friendly and outgoing with her, though not expect much in return until she proves otherwise (after all, in Jess's mind, many of the club are artists & musicians, which leaves her as the odd ball out; and the cliched idea of a scientist isn't exactly known for being an outdoorsman).

Ellen White- We've pretty much worked this out, I think; Ellen and Jess met ~3 years ago, and though they have a friendly rivalry, are actually good friends who care for one another. They occasionally hang out outside the club, and serve as rock climbing partners to one another.

On a side note-
Keramane, I think you have an extra 2pp to spend - In the Game Ad, kakimasu said that we don't need to invest in equipment, so I think your EP is probably due for a rebate...

But it also reminds me that I'd like to at least *outline* the equipment Jess has, if just to keep it straight in my head.

Sorry for my quietude. I mostly have internet access at work, which means Monday-Friday, and I work evenings. So I can post once a day on weekdays, and maybe a post every once in a while on weekends.

As for relationships, I'm sorry I didn't make this clear, but Jess isn't Taran's type. They could totally be friends/drinking buddies, though, and Taran may or may not have brought weed onto one of their less strenuous hiking trips. Not the Cascade trip, though, because when you're dealing with that kind of wilderness you need to stay sharp.

Taran and Bran have a whole lot in common, and Bran is pretty similar in some ways to Taran's older brother as well. I think that Taran's a few years further in his story: he already learned he's not going to make it big, and spent some time getting over it.

He's also likely to get along well with Ellen and Padrick, though not so close to Romana or Jack.

Interesting point in the IC thread; how do you want IC posts? Any format that appeals?

I actually like the fieldset with a picture, and bold for speech, or even color for speech. Anything to help me remember who is who; especially if someone doesn't post their character's name in every post, I tend to get confused. Pictures help me remember who is speaking when.

But I am open to whatever the group/storyteller decides.

Bran is likely to weather her exasperation in silence, her failure to see what he thinks is obvious is not unexpected and is pretty much instantly shrugged off and forgiven. My first post for Bran was intended to achieve two thing. Firstly, he is not easy to 'pin down' without a little thought he can be both kindly and a bit of an ass depending on the situation and who he is dealing with.
Secondly, Bran's suspiscion of the authorities gives everyone a chance to make explicit the reasons why the marines or whoever arn't just being dropped down to help those stranded people.

@OgremanSam - no worries; it can be drinking buddies, or maybe something along the lines that she tried to be mildly flirtatious and got the 'friendzone' signals from you.

@Coronoides - Oh, I wasn't questioning the reasons or character behind your first post; but Jess also wouldn't have let it slide - like I said, she can see there are good parts to him, but she also sees the "bit of an ass" part too.

As for formatting, I'm up for whatever our illustrious leader prefers.

I don't mind the fieldset+portrait idea, just as long as we can agree to set a max/standard size for the pics (so we don't have giant pics that take forever to load or chew up half the screen, for those of us that sometimes check on our portable devices...)

Edit - is there an automated way to do that already? Going back to the IC thread, all the head shots seem to already be the same size!

Nah, I just cut mine to the approximate size.

@Morigan, no problem. I've found it often pays to be extra clear over text communication that's all. Pic size is blind luck on my part. My internet skills are something like those of a typical six year old.

Pic size for me I find a pic crop it and then resize it to like 50 pixels wide so it's pretty small, loads fast, and looks good enough.

I'm a luddite as well ( barely any computer skills)