Post by Schweizer on Oct 21, 2009 20:15:51 GMT -5
Canon Character Application
My name is Schweizer and I am 18 years old. I want to join this site because I was searching for somewhere to play Switzerland and well, he kind of looks like Link in his younger days, so it all just makes sense.. I have been roleplaying for Seven years? At least Six. and I normally post between the Between 100 and 700 wpp (depending on the person RPing with me) mark. Here is my application:
Character name: Vash Zwingli; Switzerland
Age: Looks 18; About 718
Appearance: Vash has a smaller frame and shorter stature than most other men, which makes his long blonde hair the first thing many of them see. His hair is grown longer than usual and is styled in a way that looks both deliberate, yet slightly wild. He green eyes often convey a sense of ice cold calculation only matched by the precise posture he takes on when moving. The young man’s body is toned from top to bottom and carries a few scars that simply come with the territory of his profession. Vash rarely wears his emotions on his sleeve, preferring to reserve them to only himself, as he finds public displays unprofessional. Vash is usually seen wearing Earth toned clothing and prefers a sturdy pair of boots to any other kind of footwear. To top it off, he frequently wears a white hat and dark gloves.
Personality: When unprovoked, Vash is a very calm individual. He can easily occupy a room and go completely unnoticed, which is often his goal, as he doesn’t like to chat with new people. Going even a step further, he is more likely to assume that he will dislike a person upon first meeting them and does his best to end all such introductory conversations quickly. Even after he gets to know someone, he will often keep them at an emotional arms length. He will frequently refuse to pick a side in a debate or fight, although, he would quickly choose to follow whichever side was willing to pay the most for his services.
Generally speaking, if Vash is choosing to speak with someone for anything other than a business deal, then it will hardly be as reserved. When it comes to many topics, he has a very short fuse and isn’t afraid to tell someone everything that is wrong with them. One of his biggest pet peeves is appeasement, which he will immediately seek to stop, as he finds it better to disagree with everyone than to agree just for the sake of smooth sailing. Aside from an employer, he never accepts being controlled and will ignore any demands that do not benefit him.
Just as important is his frugality. Vash never spends a coin he doesn’t have to. While many believe that time is money, Vash would typically disagree, as he would rather waste time than waste money. He is often willing to put up with less than desirable circumstances if it will benefit him financially in some way. When he must shop, he will often total the exact amounts in his head as he does so, making sure to not go even slightly over whatever limit he had privately set for himself at the beginning of the journey.
Public displays of affection bother him deeply. Vash has convinced himself that he finds such demonstrations as improper, but that is a cover up. More likely, it stems from his own disability to fully express any affectionate feelings of his own. He will often attempt to stay away from any situation that might call for such things. If possible, he will end any romantic actions that he is forced to be around, using whatever tactic he needs to.
There are a few things that Vash will show compassion and caring for. The primary target of his warmth is Liechtenstein, who he cares for like family. Due to his inability to really convey his fondess to her, he often just does whatever he can on the physical level to make her happy; such as buying her things or treasuring any gifts she gives him. Essentially, as she is the sole person he truly cares for, he feels his own worth is at least partially decided by how well he can please her.
Occupation:
Vash is one of the few Arquebusiers active in the world. This profession relies heavily on skill with the arquebus, a muzzle loaded firearm. Along with that standard weapon, he also carries at least two matchlock pistols with him, as the loading time of a arquebus is too long to rely upon it exclusively and survive for long. For melee combat, he carries only a few combat knives, which places him at a disadvantage against longer bladed weapons. Vash is an adequate rider; however he rarely rides during battles.
Vash doesn’t work for any military in particular; instead he is often hired as a mercenary. In this way, he often has no emotional attachment to the causes that he is paid to support.
Strengths:
Vash is the quintessence of professional distance. When assigned a task, he simply does it, not questioning motive or morality. He is able to stay focused and cannot be easily distracted. There are very few moments in his life when he has felt genuine fear and he is not affected by mind games associated with intimidation.
As a cook, Vash is known for his skill in making dairy products. Most prominently, cheese and chocolate seem to be the staples by which he is recognized.
With the arquebus, his aim is equitable to a trained crossbowman. Similarly, he is well qualified in shooting the pistols he carries, however they need to be fired from a closer range than the rifle. Vash is a competent hand to hand combatant as well as knife fighter and thrower. Small scale tactics come fairly naturally to him, as well.
Weaknesses:
Because of his short temper, Vash can be distracted by various things. Mostly, when his own honor or worth is put into question, he will act more rashly. He will become unfocused when he is around people expressing love. But, the quickest way to anger him is by threatening or demeaning Liechtenstein, who he protects with a passion unmatched in other aspects of his life.
Although he is a soldier of fortune to be feared, he is no general. He has no interest in grand strategy or politics. While he understands the general flow of how one battle relates to the next, he will rarely consider it and would not excel at it if he did. His skills in diplomacy are likewise stunted. He has a much easier time figuring out when something won’t work than he does formulating his own plan or expressing that plan to someone else. Conversationally, he isn’t very quick at insults, often frustrated by the non-linear nature of banter.
Backstory:
Switzerland was the only child of Helvetia, a relative of Ancient Celt. His precursor was only able to interact with him a short time before he was killed in battle by Ancient Rome. His memory of his parent is very hazy and has mostly been blocked out. The young boy then became a servant of Ancient Rome, however, he was rarely visited and was kept under a relatively loose reign. In contrast, he often saw Germania, Rome’s bodyguard. He would often imitate the older blonde’s posture and grace while moving, hoping to one day avenge Helvetia. However, by the time he was any kind of fighter, Germania had already beaten him to it.
Around the time of Rome’s death, Switzerland met Austria, a boy who was similar in age to himself. For years, he tried to get the other nation to be as tough as he was, often yelling at his failures. However, in time, he began to accept that his friend wasn’t going to change and he stopped trying so hard. As Switzerland stopped being demanding of Austria in battle, Austria slowly started to become bossy toward the blonde at other times. It wasn’t long before Switzerland got tired of being treated as a possession and the two broke all ties with each other.
For years, Switzerland worked in the service of other nations, mostly France, Spain and occasionally the Italies. He never attempted to grow close to them and they seemed to not mind. Under their employment, he took place in many wars, though he was also used to aid in internal disputes. Switzerland decided to be officially neutral after the Battle of Marignano, which left him with one of his few scars.
Switzerland became the only guard of the Pope at around this time, making a distinction between working for the Pope and working for the Vatican. He came to consider this the only service to outside countries that was worthwhile. While his other mercenary work began to diminish, it was far from over at this point.
Switzerland was able to stay neutral in both World Wars, even though he was literally surrounded by countries that were deep in the conflict. His resolve to stay out of the war was aided by his treasured Alps, which create a natural barrier against attack. After World War One, Liechtenstein came under his protection and guidance, having lived with Austria before. Switzerland treated her as a sibling and the two quickly became very close. To this day, the two of them are tied together in many ways.
Sample Post:
Twenty-seven targets were set up down the range. The conditions couldn’t have been better for target practice. Of course, even if they had been adverse, he would still be out there getting ready to start. It was more than a training exercise; it was a reminder, a very important reminder. Twenty-seven, that was the number these days. It was hardly a fluke; there hadn’t just been a special sale on such a weird number (which was a shame). No, each target meant something. He couldn’t recall if there was ever only one target, but he doubted it. He was pretty sure thirteen had been the first number. But, the past was not important. He had twenty-seven targets, twenty-seven bull’s eyes to make. Perfection wasn’t just a nebulous goal, it was a necessity.
His first shot rang out, the projectile speeding toward its mark. He didn’t have time to look now, he needed to reload and shoot the next one. For now, he would assume he hit it. The next shots went similarly; he looked down the barrel, held his breath and pressed the trigger. His whole body was used to the rocking sensation that took place after that. He welcomed the kick. In battle, the kick let you know that the explosion you just heard was your weapon and not your end. Outside of battle, it was just part of the deal.
As he shot the last round, he put down his weapon. He would clean it soon after he had checked each target in turn, taking it down once he had seen the hole. Each one had a name on top. The closest said ‘For Bern’, which was surrounded by targets for Fribourg, Valais, Jura, Obwalden, Uri, Ticino and a few others. Each one was a different territory, with one extra. It was a simple system, but not common. Most people shot at targets they wanted to hit. For Switzerland, each shot he took was for one of the things he protected. It was one of those things that only had to make sense to him.
He eyed the last target, the twenty seventh. It was always hardest to hit, he made sure it would never be easy. On the top of that target, it said ‘For Lili.’ Switzerland put his hand to the target, feeling the indent his bullet had made. It was off center. It would be easy to believe that he had simply placed the target in an impossible to nail area, but he wouldn’t let himself get off that easily. He collected up the piece of paper and went to retrieve his gun. He would have to apologize to her later, even if she would have no idea why.
((A/N: If the sample should have dialogue, I'll write a new one, I just wasn't sure what to write about, so I just sort of went with what came out. I got the profession from a Total War unit.))
Switzerland is love, btw.
