Application
Player Information:
Name or Handle: Aiko
LJ: orcashark
Email: aikowaffle@gmail.com
AIM/Plurk name: AikoKazayama/procrastinado
Any current characters here?: Nope.
Character Information:
Character Name: Midvalley the Hornfreak
Age: Never stated in canon (possibly mid to late 20's?)
Canon: Trigun
Appearance: Midvalley is a suave motherfucker your average human in terms of physical appearance. He is tall and broad-shouldered (like every male character in Trigun). He has dark hair, tired eyes, sharp features, and a penchant for white suits and pink dress shirts, looking the part of a classy saxophonist even when off the clock.
Personality: Midvalley is a man of few friends, and his closest friend is himself. He has virtually no qualms with ending the lives of others if it will extend or better his own. He has no greater fear than his own death and strives to avoid situations he deems too potentially lethal. A realist and an atheist, he believes there is no heaven or hell, and thinks it foolish to die with the hope that there is anything waiting for one after death.
On a lighter note, when not under pressure to kill or be killed, Midvalley can be stoic but congenial with a subtle sense of humor (namely black humor.) His passion is sound. He's strong-willed when he wants to be (and he doesn't always want to be, if there's an easier way to achieve the same ends). He is not evil. Cold-hearted and mainly concerned with himself, perhaps, but he doesn't get any satisfaction out of harming or killing others, for him it's merely a necessity for survival. He's quicker to use caution and logic than indulge in impulsive behavior, but he does trust his gut/sixth sense when he gets a bad feeling about something (or someone). He's a pretty individualistic guy, opting for dealing with things himself or with one or two others rather than going for strength in numbers. But the few friends he has, he is loyal to; aside from his sax and "sound," they are one of the few things in life that he finds worthwhile. He would be hard-pressed to take a bullet for anyone, but he'd defend and help his friends where he can.
I think it's pertinent to note that for most of his canon appearance, Midvalley is forced to serve under Knives' thumb as one of his Gung-Ho Gun assassins, a job he does only out of fear of death, which would most certainly come if he tried to escape or fight back. His outlook on life during this time is especially bleak, however, he gets by through force of will and on the hope that if he is patient, an opportunity will arise for him to escape his situation and go back to pursuing a (by comparison) safer, easier life in relative freedom. His chance arrives, but it's only once this chance is ruined and his last friend is as good as dead that, in a fit of pique, he overcomes his fear of death and attacks (Knives' right-hand man) Legato. This is worth mentioning in order to show that, while Midvalley values his own life over what is generally considered morally right, he isn't without his own personal moral code and limits.
Background: General idea of what Trigun is about here. Midvalley's canon appearance is woefully brief, so there isn't much history to toss around. What we know is that before the Gung-Ho Guns, he was an assassin for hire, in a band with two other musicians with the same deadly musical talents as his. However, Knives killed the other two and enlisted Midvalley into the Gung-Ho Guns, where he stayed for over two years. Midvalley wasn't happy about it, and tried to kill Legato on two occasions but failed both times for different reasons.
His main appearance is when he was sent on a mission alongside fellow Gung-Ho Gun and friend Hoppered the Gauntlet, as well as Zazie the Beast. Their objective was to make Vash suffer, though Midvalley and Hoppered had their own plan; Gauntlet wanted to kill Vash for his revenge, and Midvalley wanted to run away to escape Knives and Legato. They planned to work together to achieve these ends, betraying Knives and (supposedly) killing Beast in the process. Unfortunately for them, Beast wasn't actually dead, and was able to send word to Legato about their betrayal. Midvalley fought with Wolfwood while Gauntlet fought with Vash, both attempting to and failing to kill them. Before Midvalley could carry out his plan to run away, Legato himself showed up, and Midvalley tried a third and final time to kill him, but Legato manipulated Gauntlet's arm to shoot Midvalley through the lungs before he could carry out the attack, and promptly crushed him to death beneath his huge-ass motorcycle.
Canon point: Post-death. Midvalley's canon appearances are brief, and the majority of his significant character development happens in the events leading up to his death. Playing him post-death makes it easier on me as the player to use as much canon as I can in his character, and also provides opportunity for in-game development as he copes with the idea of life after death.
Special Abilities: Since I'm not sure how his abilities would translate over, I'll just describe them. Midvalley has the ability to listen for and manipulate sound waves in a superhuman fashion. Using his baritone saxophone (raggtheoretically he could do the same with any instrument), he can create sound waves capable of causing pain or outright killing in a quick and bloody fashion, destroying the sensitive tissues of the body and brain. He can also cancel out other soundwaves through the use of his own; if he wanted to, he could make a busy city street sound completely silent to those within range of his sax. He can also glean information from his surroundings by listening to the wind or other sounds interacting with it, similar to sonar but possibly even more precise.
Sect: Civilian.
Job: He'll have to find a way to get a new sax first, but once he does he'll be a freelance musician, possibly bounty hunter on the side.
Samples:
First Person:
[The post is audio; he's not super tech-savvy but it didn't take much to figure out the simpler functions of the device. There's a hefty pause before he speaks; best to be careful, one never knows who could be listening.]
I've never seen lost technology like this before. But if I'm not mistaken, this is a communications device.
So. Who do I have to thank for this surprise? Because I don't recall getting an invitation.
Third Person:
It was going to be a long day.
Today's orders were clear enough. The sooner he got it over with, the better.
Legato had given him no details, and he didn't ask. It didn't matter, really, and considering his 'employer' he doubted any real reason for a job like this was necessary. The task had been given to him alone, but Hoppered accompanied him. Midvalley didn't point out this fact, and neither did Hoppered. Fine with him.
The town wasn't as large as some they'd visited previously, supported by only one plant, and just barely by the looks of it. The streets were empty... save a mother and child, who hurried past them with suspicious glances. He watched them go, disappearing into what looked to be a small church. The corner of his mouth twitched. Convenient. The thought entered his mind unbidden, though he couldn't deny it was true- a relief, even. With everyone gathered in one place, he could finish his job with the least amount of fuss.
He told Hoppered to stay outside. It would be best to not cause more suspicion with his appearance.
The priest stopped in his preaching and everyone turned to stare when he entered the church, and he was sure some had their hands at their belts, hidden by the backs of the pews. He set down Sylvia's case and held up his hands with a smile; he was merely a traveling musician, he said, and sat down at a pew in the back, next to the child that had passed them in the street. The mother was clearly wary of him, but he only smiled at her and directed his attention to the front.
He sat in silence through the service, remaining silent through hymns and bowing his head in prayer when necessary but with no god on his mind. He might have pitied these people once, but that feeling had long since numbed. It was their choice, to live this way. Just bad luck that the cards played out in someone else's favor.
When the service ended, he implored everyone to wait. He strode to the front to stand before the altar. He opened Sylvia's case and pieced her together. By the time he was ready to play, the people were less wary, a mix of confused or pleased, the children curious. He wetted his reed and slipped it into place with completely steady hands.
This would be too easy, too quick. It was the best he could offer them. He lifted the mouthpiece to his lips and took a deep breath.
Hoppered was still waiting outside when he exited the church. Midvalley nodded to him and set Sylvia's case down, then scuffed his shoes in the dirt to rid the soles of blood. Hoppered spoke up for the first time since they'd left.
"Are you sure that was everyone?"
Midvalley looked at him, adjusted his suit jacket, and lifted Sylvia's case once again.
"Let's go."
Anything Else: I don't suppose there might ever be events in-game that would allow Midvalley to regain his saxophone from home? Just curious!
Also, do the new arrivals have any money to start with?