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Applications Three
APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED!
RESERVATIONS ARE OPENED!
NOTE: APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED OR PROCESSED FOR APRIL, DUE TO A CURRENT DISCUSSION ON THE GAME'S FUTURE.
RESERVATIONS WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR A LONGER PERIOD.
MAY APPLICATION CYCLE WILL BE POSTED HERE AS SOON AS IT IS DETERMINED.
We're so glad you're thinking of joining us in Haven, where we are all safe.
In order to apply for a canon character, please fill out the information below and post it in a comment in this entry. For an OC, please apply using the OC information. Please do not link to applications, all applications must be posted here. Please do not delete your applications; if you do not want it to be seen, you can request for it to be screened after a decision is made.
You may apply for two characters every application round, to a total of six characters. Only two of these may be from the same canon, and they cannot be too familiar with one another. Please make sure to mark the header of your comment(s) with RESERVED or NOT RESERVED, as well as the character name and canon. App challenges are not allowed currently.
Try to remember spelling and grammar are important, and in app length quality and not quantity is what matters. All parts of the application must be your own work, plagiarism will not be tolerated, though you are welcome to reuse your own old applications.
If you are asked for revisions, please don't panic! It doesn't mean the mods don't like you, only that we probably need more information before making a decision. If you are asked for revisions, you will have one week to supply them.
Applications are open on a monthly cycle, where they will be opened on the second Friday of every month for a week, and then processed on the third Friday of the month, before being closed again.
We now have a test drive community athaventest which is continuously open. Posts there may be used in lieu of a sample in the application. You may also link posts, logs, or threads from other games and memes in lieu of samples, though we ask that they be no more than one year old. As of November 22nd 2014, samples cannot be "where am I" intro posts. The reason for this is that we often find it hard to gauge characterization from those, as most people when immediately in a new surrounding are confused or frightened.
While we encourage players who have dropped to re-join us, we do not encourage the continual rapid dropping and re-apping of the same character in a short time period. You are welcome to request specific housing, and all attempts will be made to accommodate that request, but it may not always be possible.
To see what we are looking for:
Canon Characters:
Sample Application (Faith Lehane)
Sample Application (Iroh)
Original Characters:
Sample Application (Mors)
Sample Application (Vera de Barr)
Sample Application (Malkus Iverwelling)
Previous Game History:
Sample Application (Abel Nightroad/Mayfield RPG)
Sample Application (Bolin/Discedo)
The old application posts can be found here and here if you would like to look through past accepted applications.
Applications will be open on the following dates (from 7pm EST):
10th-17th April
8th-15th May
Applications will be processed on the following dates (at 7pm EST):
17th April
15th May
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Roronoa Zoro | One Piece | Reserved
Contact Info: plurk: handsoplenty
Other Characters Played: N/A
Requested apartment: N/a
Character Name: Zoro Roronoa
Canon: One Piece
Canon Point: Between chapters 597-598 Effectively right in the middle of the time skip. More specifically during the flashback in the most recent chapter where Mihawk takes him off booze.
Background/History: History is heeere
no subject
Zoro is strong. Being strong is really what Zoro is all about. It’s his ultimate goal in life to be the strongest swordsman. His entire self-image is tied up in his own massive strength and he continues to improve it, lifting insanely huge weights to both better his power and stamina.
Yet, while being the strongest swordsman remains his dream and plays a large role in who he is, this dream shifts and even is overshadowed by the desire to protect his crew and his devotion to his captain. In a sense, Luffy’s dream becomes more important to him as evidenced when he was willing to give Kuma his head to save Luffy from getting executed. He will also protect members of his crew when they need him to and has been seen at least once presenting his back to the enemy in order to block a blow aimed at one of his crewmates. This is significant because he risked a very large part of his pride. For Zoro, a swordsman should not have scars on his back as it is a sign of cowardice and weakness and he even came close to death to protect his back and got a massive scar on his chest because of it. Though Zoro often risks death, sometimes for reasons of pride, sometimes for noble reasons, always in a fight which he has to try hard to win…But sometimes for stupid reasons too, like attempting to cut off his own feet as a last resort, deciding to go winter training and getting lost and nearly freezing to death. My god, can he be dumb.
Zoro is also very loyal and true to his word. He promised to follow Luffy with Luffy as his captain and sticks to it. He will almost always follow Luffy’s decisions unless they threaten to break up the crew. For instance, when Usopp left in Water 7, Luffy wanted him to come back with no consequences. Zoro told Luffy he wouldn’t follow someone who so easily let the crew walk over him. Usopp had left of his own free will and if he wanted back, he had to apologize. Zoro doesn’t allow anyone to disrespect his captain and won’t allow Luffy to disrespect himself like that. However, his loyalty to his captain goes even beyond that and he was willing to die for Luffy, sacrifice himself in exchange and takes on Luffy’s pain at great physical harm to himself. In short he’s willing to give up his own dream for Luffy’s ultimate goal.
Tying into this, Zoro is also stubborn. Really stubborn. If he starts a fight he generally finishes it and continue to fight until the battle is over, despite the fact that he is heavily bleeding and probably close to death. Once everyone is safe, then he can relax.
He’s good at reading people and their true intentions and has a very fine tuned bullshit meter. He also understands everyone has their circumstances and will pretty much let them do their own thing unless their bullshit proves detrimental or they really need to understand something. If the time comes he’s not afraid to cut right to the point of something no matter how harsh he may sound. At the same time he believes everyone has the right to be as they are no matter how stupid it is in the end so long as they are willing to accept the consequences of that. He’s very good at reading fighting moves and the nature of someones’ fighting, as well as the nature of his own swords.
Despite all this hardcore nature, he can also be pretty gentle, especially around those that are young like Chopper and he’s seen at least once washing Chopper’s fur. He has a definite soft side.
He also has no sense of direction to speak of, is a heavy drinker and is often found sleeping somewhere on deck when he’s not obsessively training. He pretty much does the grunt work of the crew sometimes but he’s pretty okay about it though he can get pretty snippy if he feels he’s being manipulated or used. Also even though he’s mostly laid back, he has a sense of pride that can be poked by Sanji, provoking them into a brawl—though sometimes he pokes Sanji first since a part of him loves jerking the cook’s chain. He also never got stuck upside down in a chimney. Never. Whoever told you that was making things up
no subject
Items/Weapons: I'd like for him to arrive with his three swords.
Sample Entry:
[the feed clicks on to Zoro obviously in one of the tunnels. He looks a little weary as if he hasn't slept recently, but is nevertheless solid on his feet]
I know that there are a lot of problems with the tunnels and people are afraid to go in them, but why not look at it as a training opportunity. In order to get out of here we have to be strong enough to beat our enemies. That's not going to happen if you avoid the dangerous places. [he folds his arms] For anyone who wants to learn I am holding training sessions here, so feel free to come find me.
[he hesitates, then adds]
If you can. These tunnels are damn confusing. [Guess who has been lost for three days?] Is there really an exit? [dubious]
Sample Entry Two:
Zoro sat by the wall, swords propped against his shoulder as he watched Luffy playing around with some rocks in the middle of the cracked road. He leaned back and took a tiny sip of the rot gut bathtub whiskey he and the love cook had managed to throw together a few weeks ago. It wasn't the best. It was actually so disgusting it would be a stretch to even qualify as 'bad', but the important part was that it was alcohol. It took the edge off of this world full of flinty edges and uncertain times.
Food was the problem. Well it always was, but in this case moreso than usual. There just wasn't enough of it and Luffy was looking rangy and underfed. It pissed Zoro off to no end. He wanted to crush the assholes of Yao or whoever they were, help his captain cut a swath through them and do what they always did-- break the world and let it remake itself into, hopefully, something better. Free all these people from-- this. And he would... One day they would all find a way to rise up and tear this place to the ground and take their lives back into their own hands. Take their freedom back.
He just had to get stronger.
Zoro chugged the rest of the booze and then set the bottle aside, standing and sliding his swords through his haramaki in an easy movement.
"Oi, Luffy, I'm going to the tunnels."
If Luffy wanted an adventure, he'd come with. Or anyone else who heard. He didn't mind taking people through for errands or to get stronger or to just see what was there. For him, he had monsters to fight-- No matter who they used to be.
-> REVISE
Specficially we'd like to see more insight into Zoro's relationship with the other members of his crew and how being part of the crew has changed him. While not every member needs to be mentioned or given great detail, the more major ones (Nami, Sanji and Usopp for instance) should be noted since they have greatly affected Zoro's growth over the course of the series even before the timeskip occurs.
We apologize for the inconvenience. You have one week to reply to these revisions. Thank you.
h'okay
None have changed him as much as Luffy. Prior to Luffy, Zoro was just a bounty hunter, the strongest in the East Blue. Though he had intermittent companions in Johnny and Yosaku, he was still stronger than them by far and most of the people he came across (as his reputation suggests)
But when Luffy came along, he was on par with Zoro strengthwise. He was the first person probably who could, and did, watch Zoro's back and look after his well-being. In essence, with Luffy entering his life, Zoro no longer needed to rely solely on himself and gradually began to relax in the company of someone who liked him and, more importantly, had the same kind of reckless, wild ambition.
His ambition is another thing that gradually changed for the sake of Luffy. (Though not neccessarily influence. In other words, Luffy didn't ask Zoro to change, Zoro decided to do that on his own)
At first his ambition was all or nothing, do or die, for the sake of Kuina and nothing else. Post the initial fight with Mihawk at the Baratie, his ambition changed to being the strongest swordsman and not dying. In fact, not even losing. Because the Pirate King deserved the greatest swordsman in the world. (Also a testament to how much faith he had in Luffy even then)
Throughout his ambition remained strong and yet when they were faced with the unbeatable Kuma who trashed Luffy-- Zoro, who had once upon a time had said he'd kill Luffy for getting in his way, offered his own head for the sake of his Captain's.
Further still after they'd been trashed yet again by the same man, he sacrifices something almost harder to give up than his life-- his pride, as he bows to Mihawk on hands and knees, begging Mihawk to train him so that Zoro can become stronger in order to support Luffy. But he asks without any hesitation or regret, putting aside his own massive pride for the sake of another.
Looking after their nakama is how Zoro supports Luffy. Whereas Luffy often goes on ahead to fight the big battles, he doesn't have to worry about the other less skilled fighters of their crew because Zoro (and Sanji to some degree) is watching over them... As they watch over him, influencing him and bringing out different sides of his personality in their own unique ways.
In the beginning, Nami and Zoro tended to have a more cantankerous relationship more often than not. They do get along to an extent but she's often frustrated by his tendency to be irreverent, to look for trouble and to get lost continually. For Zoro's part, though, he went from distrusting Nami to accepting her as one of the crew. (Though it needs to be said that even after the Arlong Park arc he had a line which went: Is she going to betray us again?) She annoys him by using him for the most part, and he can't stand to be used by anyone.
Yet even they grew closer throughout, subtle though it was. Though there will likely never be deep emotional bonds (aside from the ones attached to nakama) she knows she can rely on him and he on her and they are comfortable together. Though she will still use him on occasion.
With Nami is where Zoro's protective side comes into play. He has said that scars on his back are a swordsman's shame, and yet he's protected her by hauling out her out of the way, putting his back to the blade and barely deflecting it. He has also been known to carry her around even when heavily wounded, even though he tends to gripe about it. For the most part she is the sibling that annoys him but that he cares for inspite of everything.
Usopp, like Nami, also requires Zoro's protection more often than not. Zoro never seems to mind Usopp clinging to his legs or hiding behind him and never seems to think any less of him for it, which is again another sign of his protective nature which his nakama help cultivate. And while for the most part he has an easy relationship with Usopp, he will not put up with Usopp's bullshit of claiming the glory when he didn't even fight the battle.
With Usopp, too, is where you see the harder side of Zoro. The side of Zoro that believes in the good of the whole crew rather than for the sake of a single individual. After Usopp left the crew back in Water 7 in a painful way, Zoro would not let him return without an apology, insisting on this so strongly that he even told Luffy that he would quit if Luffy let Usopp back in just because.
Part of the reason is because while he doesn't mind Usopp's need to be protected, he won't let Usopp get away without facing the consequences of his actions. Because what if he does it again at a worse time? It also shows that while he may love the crew and protect them, his primary loyalty is always with Luffy and Luffy's goal and ambition. He won't even let Luffy betray himself by accepting any less than he deserves.
Yet once Usopp apologized and returned, Zoro was glad. He held no grudge and in fact likely saw it a sign of strength. I think he recognizes Usopp's own inner strength, and even if Usopp can't always recognize it himself, Zoro knows he can do better.
Sanji is a completely different kettle of fish. He is probably the one who most keeps Zoro down on a level playing field, never letting him get too cocky and driving him to be even better while completely antagonizing him at the same time.
But the relationship between Zoro and Sanji is like an onion. There are layers.
The very core of their relationship in relation to Zoro's point of view can be found in Arlong Park where they work apart at first, to grandstand their egos (but not in competition at this point) and then work together in order to buy Luffy time. Zoro taking the brunt of the attack so Sanji can get away and do what needs to be done to free Luffy. This doesn't mean that Sanji doesn't fight side by side with Zoro, however, and they even have a combo attack where Sanji will kick Zoro high into the air to give him a boost of power, speed and height. But they always work best together when they are working for the good and protection of their nakama.
Oddly enough, considering their usual portrayal of constant sniping at one another, their relationship for some time was fairly friendly in a companionable sort of way. What changed it was the equivalent of a dick measuring contest when they fought to decide who brought down the biggest kill. So essentially? The reason they fight is due to their rampaging egos and need to one up one another and win. This usually takes the form of verbal battles, insulting each other until they either break it off or head into a fight. They're a lot like bickering siblings where one can give no ground to another because of their massive pride. In this way, they also drive each other to become stronger and better.
Even though their antagonism can become quite heated at times, they still care for and look out for one another in small ways. These usually show when things are at their most tense. For instance, when they were forced to leave Luffy behind temporarily in Alabasta in order to fight a strong foe, Zoro deliberately picked a fight with Sanji in order to let off some tension. Also, in relation to Zoro offering his head to Kuma, Sanji tried to sacrifice himself for Zoro's sake but Zoro refused to let him, knocking him out and showing the greatest part of his protective side. He won't allow even Sanji to sacrifice his life.
Still, they still get along from time to time when they are not throwing their egos at each other. Essentially Sanji's presence keeps Zoro from being too cocky and spurs his motivation on a near daily basis to keep getting (and proving that he is) stronger. Also no matter how much they may fight each other, Zoro knows that Sanji will always have his back in a fight should he need it.
Finally, there is Chopper. Though Chopper is not much of a direct influence, more it highlights Zoro's truly gentle side. Zoro will contentedly sit and wash Chopper's back (while the other idiots peer into the girl's bath) treating Chopper almost like a little brother.
And like a little brother, he guides Chopper, too in some ways; knowing that, unlike Usopp, Chopper doesn't necessarily know how to be strong. So he will tell him to toughen up about various things (like desert heat which is killer on a reindeer) but will still drag him behind on a makeshift sled. Likewise, when Chopper manages to overcome some difficulty, Zoro is visibly proud of him for doing so. Essentially, Chopper allows for a little of Zoro's vulnerability to slip through.
-> ACCEPTED