forum Airships, Quills, and Mechanical Hearts// Victorian/Steampunk RP (o/o)(Closed)

Started December 27, 2019 by @lavender_ladybug group

tune

Welcome! I’ve been in the mood for a steampunk RP for a while :)

Sydney Steel is a traveling musician and an aspiring writer who isn’t quite fully human. He wasn’t born with a mechanical heart, but he’s had it ever since he can remember. After escaping indentured servitude, he travels across the city and country, staying at tavern inns and playing viola to pay for the rooms. He’s been told he can’t truly love because he isn’t fully human, and he believes it, until he meets someone that changes his mind.

Some notes

• This will possibly be a romance, but not right away. I’d like to try my hand at a slow-burn romance
• Ideas for drama in the plot are gladly received!
• Detailed responses please, or at least ones that further the plot
• Good grammar is appreciated
• The setting at first is a city England, but it could likely change if our characters travel
• I might add to this list but I can’t think of anything for now

I’ll post a template when someone joins!

(Hey, this seems interesting. Mind if I join?)

Of course! I’ll get the template up soon!

(Mind if I be your first stalker?)

I don’t mind at all! Feel free to :)

Name:
Gender:
Nickname/Aliases:
Birthday + Age:
Sexual/Romantic Preference:
Appearance:
Identifying marks:
Quirks and Habits:
Background:
Personality type:
Motivation:
Other:

Name: Sydney Steel
Gender: Male
Nickname/Aliases: N/A, except some people call him by his last name
Birthday + Age: February 9 + 23
Sexual/Romantic Preference: Pan
Appearance: Sydney has a long oval face with a slightly bumped nose bridge, and steel blue eyes. He has a beginning of a beard around his jaw, transitioning into a mustache about the same short length as his beard. He has a more rounded jaw, and average body type for his 5’8” height. He has dark ginger, wavy hair that’s usually well combed and styled, the length reaching to his temples. His hair style is the typical Victorian as most everyone. His apparel, however is more eccentric than the typical Englishman. He wears a brown leather coat decorated with pendants over a white undershirt, and wears a teal-colored cravat around his throat.
Identifying marks: Not visible when wearing a shirt, but he has a long scar on his chest from when his heart was replaced with a mechanical one.
Quirks and Habits: He clasps his hands behind his back when he’s just standing and doesn’t know what to do. He also twirls a strand of his hair while he’s sitting and/or bored.
Personality type: ISFP-T, grandiose in performances, enjoys spending time with people even if it drains him, well mannered, cautious when making decisions, will develop more throughout the rp
Motivation: To make people smile with the music he makes, and to find someone who truly knows him, and loves him for him.
Background: He doesn’t remember his life before his mechanical heart, and thus he never met his parents. He had a heart deformity, and when his parents took him to an underground doctor to help save his life (by replacing his heart), they weren’t able to pay. The doctor made a deal with the parents, and they agreed that after the surgery had been done, Sydney would stay with the doctor as an indentured servant in the stead of paying with money. The doctor was less than kind to Sydney, telling him that he was less than human.
Other: He has a mechanical heart.

(If you wanted me to make a male character, I can do that too.)

Name: Persephone Zona Lambkin

Gender: Female

Nickname/Aliases: Somehow some her friends got Phoebe from her name

Birthday + Age: October 15 + 22

Sexual/Romantic Preference: Bisexual

Appearance: (If you want me to describe just tell me) https://66.media.tumblr.com/ad179db3e335b1b1fe511c5388a45318/9d451af8710709ee-0e/s250x400/5cc70d4619e7e40148a29a88e4005d395a007cc2.jpg

Identifying marks: Persephone has a lot of freckles. It is scattered around her arms, a few on the base of her neck, and most noticeably the trail from cheek to cheek. The freckles vary in visibility from lightly dusting her face to popping out from her pale neck.

Quirks and Habits: She fidgets a lot. Whether it be shaking out her hands or lightly tapping her foot, she is moving. No matter the mood, she just can’t sit still. It gets more prominent she is nervous or bored. There are times she know what to do with her hands so she just taps them against something.

Background: Persephone has lived what one would call an easy life. Her family had a steady income that made very close to being rich and she had two loving parents. She didn’t know much hardships that others have gone through and can be kind of naïve because of it. But she still works hard and excelled in all her studies waiting for the day she takes over the business. It was all she knew and through that, Persephone developed a tendency to seek approval from everyone.

Personality type: ESFJ-A, observant, warm, tries to bring best out of everyone, supportive, responsible, dependable, loud, can be a bit overbearing but backs off when asked, energetic, seeks approval, struggles to understand the concept of unkindness, accepting, and sticks to her morals no matter what

Motivation: To brighten someone’s day, to get to the approval of everyone she meets, find the good in everyone, and continue the success of her parents’ business.

Other: Is allergic to berries and has glasses but she refuses to wear them outdoors

Sydney let out an exasperated breath as he looked up at a tavern sign. The Future Fiddle Inn He’d been wandering around the city for hours, looking for a decent tavern and inn, and now he finally found one. He shifted the two straps on his shoulders. One was for his leather bag brimming with papers, and the other was for his instrument case. Both painfully pressed into his shoulders like prison chains. He took in a breath. Just a few more steps, he told himself, and then he could relinquish them to the floor.

The vagabond opened the door to the tavern, stepping inside with a newfound motivation—the promise of rest. He was greeted with the clanking of glasses, a drinking song somewhere in the corner, and everything else he would expect to find at a tavern. He’d visited many of these places in his lifetime, and yet they were all the same. Metal cages, small boats, and strange lamps that looked like airships hung from the ceiling. Gears, wheels, and local artwork was displayed on all four walls.

Sydney made his way to one of the tables near the spiral staircase—the one he suspected would lead to the inn rooms. He sank down into the chair, unraveling the straps from his shoulders and resting them on the ground beside him. He leaned back in the metal chair and tore a hand through his hair. This was his second favorite thing to do after arriving at a new tavern: observing the strange sorts of people who chose to spend their late afternoon at an alehouse.

Persephone has had a long day or at least what would be considered a long day in her life. It was an early rising and then straight to the books. Very few breaks and to make sure she was reading, to recite or summarize the lastest text. It was dull and she was feeling a bit more antsy today for no particular reason. It didn't help that she swears that she had read a third of the books of today's lesson before. But who was she to complain, it was no manual labour involved. Or at least not yet. That was to come in a few years time and what a joy that must be was all the girl could think. Day in and day out, the same old text that was apparently promised to help insure her fit to take the business. It was all the something to her.

So that is how she found herself out on the town, with no real destination. Did she want to go shopping for new clothes she may never wear or stop at one of the local gardens to see which flowers were in bloom. Or maybe, just maybe, go to the bakery and try to persuade the baker into free samples again. So many options that she didn't know what to choose. Maybe do everything and see if there was enough time in the night? She didn't know what to do.

Eventually she had found herself in front of a tavern. The Future Fiddle In the sign read. Persephone never heard of it, not a single passing word. Then again she was almost across town in an area she knows nothing about. But what is life without a little adventure? Dull is what it is. So she gathered a bit of nerve and walked in with her normal smile. Whatever she is met with, it can't go wrong if she shows it some kindness. Or at least that was her philosophy.

Sydney stuck his fork into the meal he had ordered shortly after arriving. He took the bite, looking up at the woman who walked through the door. He set down his fork and watched her with some interest. She was pretty, but that unfortunately meant that most times she would be coming here to meet someone. Someone she was already courting, perhaps. After a few moments he scolded himself for watching her, and he averted his gaze back to his plate of potatoes. Surely when he played here, he would have to play a song for her, even if he never mustered the courage to actually talk to her. Greensleeves, perhaps?

Persephone paused at the doorway scanning the tavern. She hadn't been to somewhere like this before. The atmosphere was more lively and a bit hostile in some areas. Much different from the bland energy that came from the resting spots in her side of town. It was all about sealing that next deal or not losing an investor. No, it was different here. In a good way. People actually looked like they were enjoying themselves to some degrees. Like they were actually friends and not trying to out bid each other.

Looking around much more, there didn't seem to be many empty tables left. She obviously didn't want to sit with a group of strangers, that could be considered odd and at worst rude. The young lady fiddled with a piece of her dress as she considered all the empty tables that she could sit at. There was one to her left that was right next to the door if she wanted it easy, but there was also one near the bar. That would be nice if she was a drinker which she was not. Then Persephone considered one near the staircase. Not too many around, so not as high of a chance to disturb a party. The nearest party, was a lone main already eating the food provided by the tavern. In the end she decided on that table and made her way over to it.

Sydney looked back up as the woman made her way over to his table. He blinked with some surprise. The last thing he was expecting was for an attractive young woman to actually approach him. “Oh. Good day.” It was only after he greeted her that he realized that she could only be going upstairs. He cleared his throat free and took another bite of his potatoes. He kept an eye on her, though, to see if she would continue on her way upstairs. He expected no different.

At every tavern Sydney visited, he would pick someone from the audience he felt particularly aware of, and played a song for them. But never in his days as a traveling musician had he so much as talked to one of these people he decided to play for.

Persephone was about to sit down when a voice spoke to her. She straighten up a bit in surprise and looked around. There was no one looking at them so she assumed it was her. If it wasn't, then this was going to be an awkward interaction. "Hello," She chirped with a warm smile. "Lovely day isn't it?" It wasn't an extent greeting but enough to spark small talk if the lone man wanted. As she waited for a response, she slipped into the table next to him. The chairs were quiet comfy and had a lot more support than she expected. She guess that whats she gets for judging a book by its cover. She took a moment to do one last sweeped of the place with her eyes before settling them back on the man. Her fingers continued to fidget under the table as she waited.

Sydney looked over at the woman. So she was in fact sitting with him and not going upstairs. He blinked at her, setting down his utensil on the plate. “Yes, yes it is,” he offered a polite smile along with his response. “I’ve spent most of my day outside enjoying it.” He spoke softly, as if he was unsure of every word he said. Out of instinct—not that he was worried she might take it—he used his foot to pull his viola closer to his chair. “I Uh,” he cleared his throat. “May I ask for your name?”

Persephone's eyes flickered back over to the stranger once he spoke once more. He had finished his first sentence when her she turned her full body to him to show interest and attention to his words. Her face spread with a polite smile at the comment of him spending most of the day outside. She longed for that but made no word of complaint. Instead she just said, "That sounds lovely." It then fell silent and the only sound that filled the air was the blended chatter and the faint tapping of her fingers. But it didn't last long and her eyes were only back at the door when the stranger spoke again. He asked for her name and Persephone took a pause to think. "I will tell you mine in exchange for yours." She offered with the same polite smile. She had a feeling by the tone and stuttering that the stranger felt nervous. She just hoped that with this small talk he would relaxed a bit more as she didn't want anyone nervous with her.

“Hm, a fair trade,” he decided, and picked up his fork to take another bite of food. He took a few moments of chewing, looking down at the table until he swallowed, setting down his fork in the plate again. “Sydney,” he answered firstly. As common habit, he refrained from adding his last name. Last names always seemed to complicate things. “I am a traveling musician, playing songs for taverns and inns to earn my keep.” He wiped his mouth with his napkin, setting it aside once he was done. He looked back at her, “And you?”

Persephone kept a friendly smile as she turned her body to face the stranger. She liked meeting new people and hearing their stories as it was one of the few ways she can learn about the world beyond the city boarders. So when the stranger took a pause to eat, she made no movement to rush him. That would probably make anyone uncomfortable, which is the opposite of what she wants. The girl kept a relaxed posture with her head tilt ever so slightly. Once the stranger begin to speak, she leaned forward slightly with attention. "A traveling musician? You must have been all over! Even if not, how were the places you resided in?" She asks with eyes bright in wonder. The prospect of traveling for a living seemed like an amazing opportunity. Especially if its for something you like. Her smiled widen a bit more at the thought of traveling before taking a moment to introduced herself. "Well its a pleasure to meet you Sydney. I am Persephone Zona Lambkin. Bond to a life of business and dull parties."

“Persephone,” Sydney echoes thoughtfully. It was a beautiful name, albeit one he hadn’t heard much before. “A pleasure to meet you too, Ms. Lambkin,” he nodded politely. He looked down at his plate for a moment to ponder her earlier questions. “Yes, I’ve been quite many places, and they’ve varied in quality. Some places are more expensive than others, and usually more expensive means better quality.” He looked back at her with a small smile on his face, “…Usually,” he lightly chuckled. “Sometimes the expensive places aren’t the best either.”