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My Very Brief Bio

Male, 33 years old. (I'm even more dead than before.)

Likes (other than writing and roleplaying): I'm into all genres of music. I love to cook. I love the outdoors, and walking through the park near my house. (Yes, really.) I read a lot of thriller/mystery novels. And I usually watch seasonal anime. (Or cooking shows. Because Western Media provides even fewer things that are worth watching.)

But as for my many other neglected hobbies, I've played basically every sport. (Soccer and Bowling being my favorite of the bunch.) And I'm trying to play more video games. (Going through my never-ending Steam library.) Plus, I've dabbled in making electronic & metal music, and I used to play a number of instruments. (Guitar, French Horn, etc.)

My 1X1 Interest Check: SleepingSilence's Tavern (Want 1x1 RP's? Please come in.)


Hope you have a wonderful day!

Most Recent Posts

The evidence that meshing the systems is effective is the existence of societies that prosper more by following both philosophies, compared to nations that just stick with one.


Could you provide some specific examples to what you might be describing?

When you build a car, you focus on making every part effective, because that's essential to the whole being effective. The same applies to groups, but groups are more flexible and comprised of individuals that can have many skills.


Making sure a car part isn't defective, is a lot easier than trying to figure out the various complications of a human being. Because not all humans can make a cohesive whole. But I feel the analogy falls apart even further considering battles for culture. Compelled speech or forcing members of society to dress a certain way. There isn't really a way to please everybody, like you could make sure a car is in perfect working order, which is inevitably what collectivism tries and fails to do...

Incomplete, inconsistent, or invalidated theories that might be viable with the right conditions. As far as I know, applied marxism/communism sought to forcibly end capitalism and transition into statelessness, but ended up violating individual liberties and promoting unprofitable authoritarianism that went right back to capitalism when it suited them.


This might just be an innocuous addition. But I noticed you often use unprofitable, as a slant against the political systems. Would the system you described be validated in some way, if it actually was financially sound?

Capitalism isn't bad, it's just that it can fail miserably and often does so. This failure is often when aspects of the system assume their worth is higher than the societies they comprise, which is incidentally the same reason why the populist forms of socialism, marxism, and communism during the 20th century failed so painfully.


So if a business, bank, or some sort of project fails to turn a profit and closes as a result. Do you consider that a failure of the political system?

Capitalism certainly isn't perfect. But do you feel, let's say America's Education System is a failure (no, arguing on that one) because we don't have a fully government controlled/taxpayer funded educational system? Which would be a failure, since it doesn't incorporate enough authoritarian control? Or, is it a failure because it's not actually one coherent system. But like many things not doing well in America, it's never truly free-market idea being presented. It's some bizarre mishmash of various systems that only fail spectacularly as a result?

If you acknowledge the latter, what problem do you think a 'mixed-bag system' solution would be useful for?
@catchamber Okay, so three follow up questions.

1a. So given the first two statements, you acknowledge that socialism doesn't mean results either? So if you acknowledge all can fail, which of course they can. What evidence do you have that meshing socialism and capitalism would be an effective system?

1b. How is the collectivism ('well being of society at large') supposed to mesh with individualism? ('singing appropriate song') These things are opposites of each other...

2. What is Marxism and Communism under your definitions? What do they attempt to achieve? Since they're totally different from socialism.

3. And if Capitalism sole purpose is money. What is Corporatism? And what is Crony Capitalism? They aren't the same thing are they? If not, why do the sound the same under your definitions?
@catchamber Okay, so you believe that instead of a political system, it's a theory that aims for certain and specific goals. Still a little murky, but I can go along with that...

Do you believe anarchism successfully provides individual liberty? (This goes somewhere, I assure you.)
@catchamber You actually answered a straightforward question, simply wishing to get caught up to speed, and not have to read through an endless wave of braindead quips. 10/10

So, just going by the vague notion addressed. I want to make sure we're clear on something.

We're aware that capitalism can exist with social programs, and still not be socialism. Not everything paid for or serviced by the government makes something socialist. I know (or at least remember) you seem to disagree that socialism by its very definition is the Karl Marx, building block of all current and previous socialist countries, style of abolition of private propriety and elimination of private business that instead becomes owned by 'the worker'"

So maybe it would benefit everyone here, to classify exactly what socialism is for you? In detail, so we can understand why you don't believe that both of these things diametrically opposed one another. Because you can't really have Karl Marx's ideas mesh easily into one's free-market.
My post will try to mainly be a character introduction, which will have a prologue of the turning point of her life. Then follow off with her mission about retrieving information on locating Lieutenant Davison. Currently working on it and will do more work after I go to dinner, it's probably going to run a little long.

Edit: 1,500 words in and still want to write at least one other scene. So, uh...might be finished on monday. Can only hope it's worth reading. ;D

@The Harbinger of Ferocity I wouldn't expect you to write around mine. Since I'll try to leave it fairly open to passing time, and I won't try to get too caught up in the details.
I know half the point of having no GM is minimal expectations. But I didn't expect to take so long with my first post. I assure you, despite being occupied with various tasks. Unless I have friends come over or do something with the family this weekend, I can assure I'll crank out a post by then...
So anyone want to give me the short version of what's been "civilly discussed" here? Ya know, the snark and insults back and forth aside.
Hmm...

I've always liked the username? Very straightforward and easy for nicknames/shorten it. Improvement over the previous, in my two cents. (Yeah, this self-admittedly being one of my weaker usernames aside. Everyone's a critic.)
Scarlett, The Reaper


Name: Madeleine Caddik

Nickname/Given Name: Scarlett

Occupation: Reaper. They act as repossessors, cars, merchandise, body parts, cybernetics and sometimes whole people. Needing the ability to find people, or the merchandise they’re after, using both human and computer information. Good with general awareness and being streetwise. Using intimidation and persuasion tactics, tracking and shadowing others. Able to pick locks and deal with electronic security. Proficiency with martial arts and handguns.

Appearance: She stood 6' 0" tall, has narrow shoulders, an average torso and C-cup breasts, a thin waistline, bony hips, and lengthy legs. She once had dark brown hair that was long and curly, that was elaborately styled. She had a round face, a short chin, hollow cheeks, and pointed ears. Her eyebrows are smooth, and her almond-shaped, amber colored eyes. Her nose was small and she had full lips and had perfectly healthy teeth. Without having any tattoos, or piercings. But that was before being covered in 3rd degree burns and after enduring an intense and extensive surgery...

She now looked entirely inhuman and more like an anthropomorphic wolf in nearly every feature. A rare manifestation even in Night City, which causes her to appear larger and rather intimidating, with thick reddish fur and sporting some monstrous-looking sharp fangs. For her Reaper job, she adorns a particularly crafted helmet which is worn partially because nobody else should be privileged enough to see her face. Dressed in black and covert clothing that had to be specifically sewn to fit her animalistic body. Having holsters on her hips to carry her two pistols. Her indoor fashion is chosen solely by her owner, often wearing nothing at all disregarding her personal choice.

Fashionware/Cyberlimbs:

  • LupaForm Major Package: Pointed ears, dog-nose & eyes, fangs, synthskin, muzzle, tail, digitigrade legs, fur.

Implants:

  • Modified Life Scan Body Monitor Plus: Effectively a tracker that helps any attempts at first aid and measures the proper level of needed medication. Makes her vitals known and how hurt she may become and is programmed to send hired medical help in dangerous situations.
  • Contraceptive Implant: Good for 5 years. 98% effective.
  • Stutter Chipping: Working as an auto-aim, and stops her from shooting those programmed to be her allies.

Weapons (Carried):

  • Two M970 Beretta’s (No additional modifications. 9mm barrel, 18 shots.) Her ability with firearms allows her to fire at a distance farther than your average marksman, and is fairly accurate even when using both guns simultaneously.

Occasionally given by her employer for tasks:

  • Proximity Mine (These mines use ultrasonic or infrared motion detectors and detonates whenever they sense movement within a 3m radius, doing damage to everything within 7m.)

Armour:

  • No body armor, but fireproof resistance material on her clothing that she wears on the job.
  • Bullet Reflective Helmet (specially fitted for her body): Equipped with a video camera. (2 hours of footage, Good Quality. No audio. Concealed on top front of the helmet.)

Background: Madeleine was an orphan child. Abandoned as an infant, wrapped in a blanket inside a wooden basket, laid down by the door underneath the pale moonlight. Raised by several priests from the Roman Catholic Holy Angels Church within Sector A2 Northside of Night City. Her youth was wholesome as possible in such a dangerous and crime riddled area. Spending a majority of her time there and helping out with the soup kitchen and aiding the sheltered homeless. During that time she meet and sympathetically befriended another parentless boy, slightly older than her, that seemed to be purposely avoided for deeply disturbing the others.

She disregarded everyone else’s contemptuousness, though they shared very little in common aside from circumstances. He would talk to people as if they weren’t human, but primordial beings or an animal. He was kind toward her, but addressed her in a tone you’d imagine speaking to your pet. But she played along, taking his offensive and misanthropy charitably, as entirely harmless quirk due his loneliness. His developing affection and desire went beyond the platonic for her throughout their time together, promising to save her life too one day. But soon after that proclamation, the boy had disappeared the following morning and never returned.

All while being secretly trained for firearm and hand to hand self-defense by a younger priest, finding it necessary to direct her through a specific course if she was expected to survive. His lessons left an impression and stuck to her like wet cement. Her rejection and dislike of cyberware modifications grew as she aged, getting into mischief and immoral behavior the more days she spent outside the church. Her teen years were spent fighting the priests wanting her to stay the innocent girl they raised, a misguided and failed hope. Finally becoming an adult and surrounding herself with many fair-weather friends, who'd waste their lives partying, smashing stuff, smoking and drinking in excess. Despite previously and repeatedly rejecting those drugs, consuming enough drinks convinced her that just a single pill wouldn't hurt, later she woke up in bed with a stranger. Her first and final experience with drug use...

Weeks passed before discovering that she was pregnant. This presumed tragedy, became a blessing in disguise. Getting in contact with the stranger, ending up becoming star-crossed lovers. Both moving into an apartment complex together. Ironically, her boyfriend was a mechanical genius, working on cyberware creations to benefit the downtrodden, getting the glory in the aftermath. He didn’t have a real job, but having his grandparents quite lucrative inheritance, they never needed to worry about funds. He even took out a life insurance policy for their future as a family.

Her contract job involved teaching mixed martial arts combat, target practice and self defense. Always complimented for her talents, believing she'd reached an expert status in firearms. But sharing the sin of vanity along with her significant other, using the money to afford the best natural makeup to look attractive to her boyfriend. Additional benefits of being the center of attention wherever they went. It was some of the greatest months of her life, but the miscarriage was beginning of taking a turn for the worse. She began to feel like someone was following her everywhere. Things also became a little strange between the two of them. He stopped wanting to have sex, despite her pleas to try again.

He was hiding a grim secret, he’d been a gambling addict and he hadn’t paid any debt. She learned after he was beaten senseless and threatened his loved ones were next, watching horrified from the window. He assured her that he had plenty off wealth and that he’d take care of it, winning her over by professing that he wanted a baby. Unbeknownst to her boyfriend hired people to kill these men and that was his fatal mistake. Spending a long stretch in safety, forgetting of the foreboding danger. During a passionate night, something crashed through their window and the molotov cocktails caused an inferno of fire and smoke blasted out. Fortunately occupying the bathroom at the time, the flames were still intense and growing out of control. She was quickly rescued by several strangers breaking the door and barraging in, she was the only thing inside the apartment not burned to a crisp...

Her memories of the following days were a hazy blur. Remembering lying on a cold steel operating table, her whole body had been charred and left her disfigured. She undertook a strenuous and pervasive surgery without her consent, that completely altered her appearance that required an extended recovery. She discovered that the odd boy she lost touch with a long time ago, had struck it rich and became a powerful and influential man, through nefarious means she still hasn’t learned. Somehow leading a loyal criminal gang, operating from a relatively unknown base that she'd be residing in, becoming her new home whether she liked it or not. He admitted that he was trying to relentlessly track her down for years, and has been subsequently stalking her movements from the shadows. On this fateful day, finally fulfilling his promise by saving her life and molding her into a self-described beautiful image that he felt reflected her true nature. He simply demanded for her indentured servitude in return, by teaching her to become a Reaper.

She didn’t have much of a choice, becoming what she loathed and spending time training and getting used to her new look and humiliating role. Experiencing things she’d rather forget for years until the horrendous changed into the mundane. Her life irreversibly changed with her kind-hearted action in past only giving her a twisted reminder of how the world works. Restrained by sometimes a literal chain around her neck, living a shell of the life she once enjoyed. Feeling like a phantom going through life no longer wanting to live, but fearing death kept her grounded. Only a futile purpose remained, getting revenge for her boyfriend's murder that destroyed her chance at happiness.

That was the short of it. Nowadays, she just spent ‘quality time’ with her owner and performed any desired task for meager reward in return, becoming rather good at her Reaper work over the years as her sole consolation prize. Her personal relationship with Lieutenant Davidson was tenuous at best, only hearing about him in passing between other members she’d been forced to cooperate with from time to time. But the gang she worked for underneath and her ‘owner’ had interminable interaction with them, primarily in an antagonist scope, with many things that Davidson sold was supposedly stolen property of theirs or allies that they were frequently required to repossess. His disappearance was apparently important enough to shift their focus on finding the man and repossessing him. Scarlett just happened to be the perfect one suited for that job...
If this is still going on...

Perhaps, the ones that have completed their CS could start posting and merely let the others catch up at their own time. (Since there's no GM, immediate plot concern, there's nothing anyone is really missing...)

I suppose everyone can start putting their character sheets in the CS section?
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