Stark

Name: Rosslyn Atwell 'Ross' Age: 17 Gender: Female Personality: Ross is the resident tomboy, and she couldn't care less about that status. She's a good srudent, but still manages to get on the bad side of many of her teachers. She's playful, but perceptive...and she doesn't take crap from anyone. Appearance: Ross stands at about 5'2", but still manages to decieve people into thinking of her as a boy. To make that matter worse, she cut her straight brown hair short enough to be considered boyish. To offset these traits, she has the good grace to pierce her ears and at least tries to dress a little feminine Weapons: A pair of small handguns Side: Student Bio: Ross's tomboyish ways came from her father--the one who raised her. Her mother died when she was young, leaving her dad to pick up the pieces and raise his young daughter. Needless to say, he took some liberties. Ross was always encouraged to do what she wanted to do, and that often entailed rough housing with the neighborhood boys or scraping her elbows and knees as she climbed the tallest trees in the neighborhood. When she was thirteen, her father had her out at the shooting range learning how to 'protect herself'. It wasn't long after that her father was killed in a drunk driving accident on his way home from a business trip. At that time, Ross was sent to live with her aunt--a journalist who was very close to her brother (Ross's dad). She was more than glad to take the young teen in. Ross took two things with her as she left for her aunt's--a two of her fathers handguns.

I concur with whomever said Inuyasha...yes, I know it's popular, and yes, I know that it's set in a (relatively) interesting time, but I think that the characters are rather flat and one dimensional, and the plot has repeated itself multiple times. I also think that it's been on for too long--can we just kill Naraku and get it over with? Sorry if I stepped on any toes. :animeswea

I'm a bit of a grammar nazi myself--and I hate it when people have illegible handwriting! I admit, my grammar and handwriting aren't perfect, but when I spot an error it just bothers me. *shakes head* Please don't get me started on this.

Personally, I don't look at that stuff. I just try to live my life on a day to day basis, with some consideration for my future. However, if you're talking about armageddon, well. Look around you. We do have all the signs mentioned in the book of Revelation(I think...I'm no biblical scholar), but this whole bit about God creating the world just to have it end is sort of silly. That's just surmising, however. Logically, everything will come to an end. When and How are the parts no one ever really knows about. For all we know, the world may end whe the sun inevitably turns into a Red Giant--In another few billion years or so. Or, it could end tomorrow in a great cataclysm that no one could have predicted, save yesterday's prophets. You also mentioned the disasters that have plagued this year. I just think it's Mother Nature trying to tell us to stop screwing with her--she'll just screw us back! In terms of Bush, I look on the smaller scale. I can't say anything about him being the Antichrist, but I can say a few things about him being just one more step on the very path Rome went on. Also, people have been saying that it's the 'Final Days' since...well, for a few hundred years (I think. Again, I'm no scholar). It's probably just a cry for attention, and something that they do to make them selves feel meaningful in this life. In summation, I'll steal a line from a song from Miss Saigon. "Dance like it's the last night of the world". More directly, don't worry your head over this stuff, okay? If it does happen, it's probably beyond all control.

Name: Rio Defelice Item: None Gender: Mars Age: 22 Personality: Rio is a quiet individual with a lot on his mind and without a coherent way to articulate these thoughts most of the time. Because of this deficiency he tends to be on the reserved side?not out of detachment, but out of uncertainty. When he does find the right words for his thoughts, he?ll say them clearly. He can speak, but is better with the small talk rather than the deep issues that burden his mind. The smile he wears is very deceiving. People think he?s a simpleton. But in his eyes lurk shadows and a wariness directed towards a group he dare not speak against. Appearance: Rio stands at approximately 5?11?, and his agility is only helped by his long arms and legs. His hair is dark brown and uneven?giving the impression that he cut it himself with an old blade. He does what he can with it, but usually fails and lets it hang freely around his face, accenting his clear gray eyes Background: IC Time meant nothing to him. It was all just a blurred string of dreary days and hopeless nights that started with the harsh, knotted word uttered from the judge?s lips; ?guilty?. That single word haunted him more than the combined images of his fallen captain and the scornful looks of the townspeople as he was brought to trial. He suffered, and in silence bore his fate. ?You?ve committed terrible crimes, haven?t you?? Asked a girl that stood just outside the bars-just beyond his shackled reach. ?Deceit. Treason. Murder.? ?No.? He heard a hoarse voice answer. His voice. It was a lie. He had committed no crime. ?Then why are you here?? He had no answer. Instead of looking at the girl and her mocking smile he stared at his dirt-caked hands and scabbed wrists. ?You want to get out, don?t you?? ?Yes.? The creaking sound of a rusted gate opening caused him to look up. She stood there, hand held out in invitation. He felt as if he were witnessing an Angel, and the Angel was offering him a chance at heaven?s gates. ?Tell me, Mr. Convict. What is your name?? He closed his eyes; his name was something he had long forgotten. But behind those eyes he saw a river, wide and deep, and men laughing as they jumped naked into the flowing body of water. ?Rio.? He said, remembering what the word sounded like in the countries to the south. Then, in a touch of bitter humor, continued. ?Rio Defelice.?

I see...thanks for the explanation, Dagger. It's just proof that Anime and Manga can be extremely different. I'll be sure to check into that sometime...once I get a real job. :animeswea And you're right on that other point too--people do act upon their own self image. It's really the core to everything that person does, confirmation or denial of that image they hold. But there's just so much pressure to conform anymore. I look around at the people at school and I see that they all look alike. I'm probably straying into a different topic here, but most teenage girls I see around are just cookie-cutter copies of each other. And vain and shallow to boot. Stereotypical image there, reinforced by what is seen in movies. In particular the one with Lindasy Lohan...'Mean Girls' I think. Then it bounces back and the people see themselves that way only to have it reinforced once more by the media. It's a bad cycle. It's a little frightening to me. It also makes me think of Ayn Rand's book 'Anthem'. But, that's for a different conversation. I'm not saying that I know anything. I'm only stating what I see. And what I see, for the most part, doesn't make me feel all fuzzy and warm and happy inside.

Whoa! They all look great! Ah, Gemini? Your pics seem a little too dark for my tastes...still, I like the way you mixed the two pics on the banner. Astdis, they both are pics I liked before, but I never knew how well they'd translate as banners. The bottom one in particular--I was debating over that one for a little while before I essentially gave up on my search for a decent pic. Thank you! Now I don't think I'll forget to pop FFVIII into my PS2 anytime soon!

Thank you, Adahn, for the answer. Now I don't feel so ignored. :animeswea As for the Utena bit--I don't recall any girls saving boys. Then again, I've only read a couple volumes of the manga (4-ish. I think) so maybe I missed something... The answer? Point taken. You're right, and I don't agree with the image--hence the whole tomboyish role I try to manage. I'm not a feminist or anything, I only seek equality. I'd act upon it, but my actions are rather curtailed by my parents, considering that I am still a minor. Also, don't worry about the understanding bit. No one has to know everything about any subject. That is why we are able to communicate, and able to share ideas with each other. Maybe then we all can come a bit closer to understanding, and maybe not be so opinionated about somethings.

Wow. That was a rant. :animeswea Anyway, I'm not one to disagree with those points made, they are very valid. I myself haven't spent much time studying the subject, but I do realize that there are all of these unwritten rules in our world that people are brought up in compliance with. You notice it with babies--"Oh! He's such a strong little boy!" or "Oh, she's such a sweet little girl!" It's how we are brought up. Don't start throwing around genetics, please. Nature may have given us the ability somewhere inside, but people are brought up in such a way that they don't see it anymore. Girls are taught that they will never be quite as good at math as boys, and that it's perfectly all right to be 'barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen'. Boys are brought up with the rough-and-tumble ideal that people call 'masculinity', and that it's perfectly all right to cheat on his wife/get drunk and cause a fight/ be a complete a**hole when he so feels/ et cetera. A promiscuous man is called a 'player'. A promiscuous girl is called a 'whore'. What's the difference? And it's not 'taught' as in taught at school. It's taught through the images you see on TV and movies. It's how society acts as a whole, and people pick up on that. Notice how it's always the 'damsel in distress' image you see in fairy tales and on cartoons. How come the girl never saves the boy? Hm? Just a thought. But, if someone can answer that, I'd be most appreciative.

I wouldn't necessarily call Vicious(Cowboy Bebop) a 'villian' in the truest sense, but I do consider him to be on that level as far as characters go. He's just so...cold. His name describes him perfectly--Vicious wa vicious desu. He's a heartless sonofagun who cares about no body. A bad*ss indeed, but a frightening character too. Also, Legato Bluesummers (Trigun) of the Gung-Ho Guns is another frightening character. My thoughts on him are the same as Vicious--cold, heartless, lack of respect for human life what so ever. Plus the way he just tormented Vash...yep, he's high on my villians list.

Hello. I started playing FFVIII recently, so I'm looking for a good Squall Leonhart avatar and/or banner to help get me in the spirit. The one I found on the OB is good...but it just doesn't quite hack it. I'd make one myself...but I don't have much talent in the visual arts. I also don't have any pictures for you all to use, unfortunately. But, seeing as you're all a creative bunch, I'm sure you'll find something. :catgirl: Thanks in advance! I have confidence in all of you!

I'm a girl, but not a typical girl--I'm a bit on the tomboyish side, refuses to wear make up/skirts/dresses et cetera, and even went as far as to cut my hair really REALLY short. In spite of being a tomboy, however, I'm really short. Because of this I know I can never hold my own in an actual fight with a guy. Still, I try to focus on my mental abilities more than my physical ones. I like taking the interesting classes (You're in Statiistics, I'm in Sociology) because I feel that I can at least accomplish something worth while with what knowledge I gain. Still, I find myself getting too emotional at times--a fact that I blame in part to the regular hormonal fluctuations that accompany a girl's physiology. I'm not saying that any other way, so deal with the academic jargon, okay? Anywho, if I do decide to get married, it'll be to someone who I can move toe to toe with--and someone who doesn't decide to carry me around just for the fun of it. There needs to be some degree of respect between us, and a comfort level too. Career-wise, I think it should be fairly equal in who earns how much money. Same goes with chores around the house--unless he's a much better cook than I am. Children? It's not something I've considered for my future--I'd hate to see little children running around driving me crazy like I do my parents. Besides, I have some issues that have a genetic basis (very fair skin, very light eyes) and I don't want any possible kids to constantly worry about sunburn/photophobia like I have to. Besides all this, many more opportunities are opening up for women within the past several years. It's even construed that a couple of women will run for the next Presidential election!

Whoa. There's a lot of people here whose names I've been pronouncing wrong. Unborn Lord Xion in particular--I can never figure out how to pronounce words that begin with the letter 'x'. :animeswea Anyway, on to the task at hand. My name shouldn't be hard to pronounce--it rhymes with 'dark' and 'mark'. If you can't figure it out...so sad. The reasons behind the name 'Stark' is a little tricky if you're not familiar with really good sci-fi shows, especially within the past few years. Bluntly, I pulled a classic ploy and named myself after a character from a now cancelled sci-fi series. Also, I just happen to like the phrase 'stark raving mad'. My confession: I watch a little too much Farscape. :animeblus

No. I'd see it for myself. Besides, my choral director put it beautifully: "Opinions are like bellybuttons. Everyone has them; some have lint." After I watch said anime, that's when I'll decide whether it's any good or not.

I've been through a whole string of forums, and the OB happens to be one of the best I've found so far. About this time last year (2 years ago? It's all a blur...) I was hanging around at GaiaOnline--it was my first forum. But things there quickly devolved into maddness for me. The community was far too big and far too hyper, and there was a lack of decent conversation that I so crave. I mean, it's sad when you have a bunch of 12 year olds posting about the kiddy anime. Don't they know there's a world outside their house? After this I went to a few different forums that were geared toward one specific anime, like the Swords & Sunflowers forum for Samurai Champloo.It was there I discovered that 40 some year old anime fans make for interesting things... But I was out of the loop. They had all seen Samurai Champloo a couple of times over, and they were over-analyzing every episode as it came on to AS. I couldn't keep up. Then a friend mentioned the OB to me, so I lurked for a couple of days and discovered that I liked it. I'm comfy here, and not too afraid of making a fool of myself to post. Various different anime are discussed here, there's an excellent (and literate!) RP section, the posts are of good quality for the most part, and the people are friendly. What more can you want in a forum?

Anime-wise, my favorites are as follows: Furi Kuri, Cowboy Bebop, Fullmetal Alchemist, and Trigun. Not in any order, this. I also liked Witch Hunter Robin, when they had it--Why'd they take it off!? :animecry: Comedy wise: Not too many. I only enjoyed the Venture Brothers because it mocked everything I thought I knew about heros, villians, Johnny Quest, nerd games, and science. :animeswea

The most facinating Angels I have seen in any series would have to be Immortal Rain and Neon Genesis Evangelion. I only say this because Angels are typically depicted as humanoid, beautiful creatures. In both of these tales, the Angels are rather...horrific. I can't begin to describe these Angels... In terms of beautiful Angels, however....Angel Sanctuary. Two words for my reason: The Angst!

Do what you think is best, Howlingvampire4. IMO, you could spray all of your hair silver, and have it spikey over the side of the headband. If your still going for the Kakashi angle, then you can wear one of your hidden in the leaves headbands. If not...pick one through eenie meenie minie moe. I don't know! As for that spark, what you did was get me thinking. Thank you. Ichigo, when not in soul reaper form, likes to wear tight clothing. I have tight clothing. I also have orangey/red hair that I can easily spike. Over all, it shouldn't be too hard. Still, I'm just trying to give you ideas as well; don't take what I say as the gospel truth.

*whstles* Wow. That IS long. Can't see how you stand it... Anyway, you obviously can't wear them all on your head! lol, you have too many! I was thinking that you could perhaps attach them to a strap and wear that strap over your shoulder...? Wait. That works for pins. Better idea! You could wear them all around your arm or leg, and make your clothing seem a little tattered, as if you've seen a lot of fights. Also, your hair; tie it back somehow. Ponytail, braid, bun...just make it so it stays out of your way. Having long hair could be a detriment if your were a real Ninja Slayer. It may work in Anime, but not in real life. Perhaps you could wear a head band around your head, so that it seems you were once affiliated with one of the Ninja villages. Or, just renounce any attachment to a village and go rogue. Don't mind the rambling. I'm just thinking aloud, as it were. As for your question, there's not much I CAN do for Halloween. I used to be able to pull off a few characters, but now my hair is waay too short (Got it cut last Monday.) Now, the most I could do would be Ichigo. I figure I'll just wear my kitty ears again... :animesigh Then again...Ichigo. Could work for me...Thanks for the little spark of an idea!

Female Kakashi, hm? Not too bad, when you consider how many men dress up as Faye Valentine to cons. How long, exactly, is long? When you think about it, Kakashi's hair is pretty long, even if it is spikey. My hair, short as it is (Too short, according to some guys!) can't pull off that look. With enough gel or hairspray you might pull it off... But that may be too much work. Yeah, a female Kakashi could work, just do something flattering with your figure and make your hair/headband similar to Kakashi's. And, don't forget the mask. :catgirl: In terms of easiness, however, wayofthereversed had a good one--Ninja Slayer!

I have nothing against yuri...it actually can make for some interesting fanfiction. As for actual series, this is where it gets tricky. I don't have the cashflow to buy DVDs consistantly, so anime series is out (And I wanted to see Noir soo much! :animecry: ). But, if anyone knows of any manga that has yuri in it, I'm not opposed to checking it out. :catgirl:

Why not just find yourself a vest and be Kakashi? You already have the mask and the black clothes. Or, a different idea, combine your two interests and be a Vampiric Ninja? It's just a thought, but not a bad one. I had a friend be an Elven Cleric one year for Halloween. So...combining a couple of ideas CAN work.

Okay, I think that the drive to create something is pure instinct. We all want to be remembered somehow, and by as many people as possible, so we strive to leave a mark somehow. For some people that can be art, others through music. Writing is a way too--have you noticed how many stories written by men who are long since dead that we now deem as good literature. Talk about leaving a mark, these people have found a degree of immortality! What I personally have created is nothing much, just a 47 page story that needs massive editing and around 20 or so poems, about five of which that I'm willing to publish. What I want to create is a story that one day will be known as good literature. Okay, I want to be famous, or at least leave an indeliable mark on absolute strangers. I want people to read what I write and go "Wow...that was great." That's what I ultimately want to create. Nothing special, mind you. Nothing world shattering. Just...it's something, at least.

I don't think that Wild Adapter is a straight up shonen-ai/yaoi manga. It has a definent plot, and the relationship with Kubota and Tokito is never outright stated. Besides, it's pretty obvious that Kubo-Chan has no interest in a relationship of any sort. He just...is. It's more like Get Backers, for your example. People can draw their own conclusions from it, like people can draw their own conclusions for Saiyuki. I mean, there's never any relationship explicitly stated, but there's loads of shonen-ai fan fiction on it that it becomes a fact. Oh! And, Duoikari, I envy you. WA and Saiyuki artbooks!!! :animestun I want one now! :animecry:

my fear is more.....intangible, if anything. I fear being alone, and dying without consequence. The first one being pretty obvious--I can't stand the feeling of having absolutely no other human around after nine o'clock at night, with the lack of hearing the TV on somewhere or the sounds of mt mother working on her computer. I know, I do have my dog, but he's such a wuss that I don't know how he'd react if someone broke in! How comforting is that? As for the latter, it's more of an insecurity issue. I tend to have these very dark thoughts at times, occasionally contemplating suicide, just so I can figure out how the people around me will react. If I don't leave a mark on anyone, my life will have been a failure. Of course, these moods do pass as I realize that people do care about me, so this fear is really unneeded. I realize that it's illogical. But, that doens't stop it from happening. If fear means having a physical reaction, then I have an example; fire drills. It's something about the shrill BEEP BEEP that startles me, makes me drop everything, jump, and throw my hands on top of my head. I laugh right afterward at the silliness of it all, saying "Oops, it happened again," and just brushing it all off. But, that's probably more of an auditory sensory issue than an actual fear.