A Character Comparison

After recently getting the impression that a certain Phoenix Wright character was a lot like one of mine, I got the idea to try matching the characters from that game to others I created myself. I'm not sure precisely when I started playing Phoenix Wright, but the majority of my characters were created before I had ever heard of it. So this is just a compilation of interesting coincidences, I suppose.

1. The One Who Started It All: Jake Marshall

While his Wild West persona is the most obvious thing about him, for some reason he seriously reminds me of Smith. While I don't think the blues guitarist carries a flask with him or references Texas often, their basic behaviour and tone really seem to be the same. Low-key, a little snide... It's a little hard to say precisely, but there's definitely an eerie similarity there. Their expressions seem to be the same as well. Now here's hoping I don't start writing Smith and suddenly find him calling everyone "bambina" or "hombre"...

2: Kicking Rear with a Loveable Smile: Desirée DeLite

Although I don't imagine her being quite as devoted to her man as the lady above, I think Cayman might be a good match in this case. Both are thrill-seekers, get (and spend) a lot of money because of their husband/boyfriend (who is notably less strong), and give off the impression that they can more than hold their own despite their sweet smiles. They're both pretty determined and active as well, and I could really imagine Cayman using the same poses and gestures as Desirée. I'm not so sure that Cayman drives a motorbike, but anything's possible.

3: The Big-Hearted Big Guy with Not-Such-a-Big Brain: Dick Gumshoe

I didn't think I had any major characters in this, but then I realised a certain scruffy detective is actually a lot like Edwin. Neither could ever be called the brains of the group (of, if they can, the circumstances are pretty dire), but they're still good for a lot more than comic relief. They have their own useful skill sets, both of which include being the imposing one who'll take a hit if it will help the rest of the group keep going. Interestingly, Gumshoe is my favourite character in the series, and Edwin, while not quite up with the competition among all of my other characters, was good enough to receive one of my favourite names for a boy.

4: We Take Our Crimes Seriously: Lana Skye

While there may be an "Adrian" in the game, Lana is the one who reminds me of my own Adrian. Rather cold, rather outspoken when angry, and not terribly much range of facial expression overall. Both have more or less been criminals for a span not entirely voluntarily, but, more importantly, both defend their little sisters fiercely. They may not seem all that similar in, say, the severity of their crimes, but there's definitely a connection.

5: Arrogant Within Reason: Maximilian Galactica

While I still get the feeling that this is a little contrived, somehow I quickly identified Max with Harold. Although both have rather wild hair—Harold's is neon green and spiked—Harold isn't nearly as "fabulous" (nor does he overuse, or probably even use the word), he doesn't call anyone "sweetie," and he doesn't have any interest in magic tricks. Yet both are ambitious and competitive, with rivals in their own group (both of which end up losing their romantic interest battles to the formers). As far as I've gathered, both also come from large families that they don't talk about because they're busy with their current occupations and don't really want to talk about it, as non-traumatic as it may have been. I can't imagine Harold using any of the same poses as Max, and the former has a much more casual speech pattern overall, but somehow they seem alike. Oh, and both of them do their best to not go by their given names.

That's all I can think up for now, but, with the number of characters I have, I could have missed some really good ones. I could try for a second instalment of this if anyone's interested.

Promptness

I've browsed a few other writing blogs, and there seems to be a trend in writing from prompts. I think I may start doing this, and I'll make it a series if you readers are interested. I'm going to draw my prompts from the Forward Motion Writers generator, or maybe a few from the example sentences in my Mac dictionary when I find them (they're quite curious sometimes) and then write an unedited drabble that may or may not have anything to do with the actual story of a character.

So, my first shot, the prompt being "Crowds are funny things. They can be chaotic, unpredictable, unma[n]ageable. And they can be dangerous, [especially] when rumors and complaints are running like water through them.

Today, your character finds themselves smack in the middle of just such a crowd, the threat of a riot all but certain. What they do about it is up to you."

and my randomly-chosen character being Michelle:

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Michelle had some basic riot training, of course. With the streets eternally clogged with crowds, and few of the citizens made any happier by this fact, general discontentment could spark into destructive anger within a few words. It was something that happened and something that forced her to sort damage reports. A common nuisance, nothing more.

At least, that was how it looked when she was behind police office doors or sturdy, clear shields. When she found herself standing unprotected in the middle of the crowd, the idea of a riot was a bit more worrisome. The lack of zap in her system—and, judging by the trembling arms across the throng, in the others'—did not help the situation, either.

A man with a shaved head a bit darker than her skin pounded at the front door, which looked more like an overgrown wooden shutter than a proper barrier. It would probably buckle quickly once those in the front decided to bust it down. But no—there was a secure metal door just behind it. Wasn't there, the last time she was inside? That was right, yeah...

Dangerously close to losing her balance, Michelle tried to keep up as her part of the group approached the knocking man in the front. What were they going to do when they found the door wouldn't come down? How was she going to get out of here before things escalated? How was she going to get out of here at all if she didn't get her fix?

The crowd had just come to a stop when she heard the shouting. Rising above the grumbles and cries of the rest, a man's voice called for them to unite. To strike. They all deserved another helping of zap no matter what the organization was trying to do, and together they could secure it. Even if the addicts had to claw every brick from the walls, they would get inside. 

It took little more convincing before the horde was crushing itself to get closer to the building. Everyone was eager to do his part in the distribution of just rewards, even if to do so he had to send his fellows sprawling and ready to be trampled. 

The sweating bodies pressing in on her, the feeling of air going thin in her lungs, and the roar of excitement finally sent Michelle forcing her way past those in front of her. As if these grungy, reeking zapheads deserved to get their fix more than her! They were leaving others to die so they could get a little closer, while she was a perfectly good policewoman who saved people. She would put the energy to much better use than any of them.

She never faltered in that thinking as she fought past anyone in her way.

If only her coworkers could see her now.

New Fiction Idea #27

Definitely not a complete idea yet, but something I felt needed noting down.

Working Title: Crime or Punishment

Genre: Sci-Fi/Suspense

Protagonist: Michelle, a 22-year-old tall woman with long, dirty blonde hair she keeps in a low ponytail. She's fierce but quiet and a very good shot. While she ha a certain fondness for long skirts, she's usually in her police uniform.

Other Main Character: Cayman, a 22-year-old mixed-heritage woman with short, dark hair kept braided. She smiles a lot and can be very talkative, especially when she's bragging, and she's very much an adrenaline junkie. She's excellent as disguise and avoiding detection. Technically her boyfriend is the leader of her new crime organisation, but she really holds the reins.

Antagonists: Various members of both organisations.

Setting: A futuristic American city and some of its suburbs. Population density is very high, and all non-foot traffic is kept underground. Cost of living is high due to energy shortages. An experimental new form of energy occurs in normal battery-size units; it can power an average house for a week or, alternatively, can be opened up and its contents used as a potent stimulant. Cayman's organisation deals in this product.

Plot: The local police are determined to stop Cayman's organisation while they still can. Michelle is one of those sent to fight this battle; however, she is addicted to the energy drug being dealt (it's not widespread enough yet for police drug testing to catch it). Struggling to keep with her assignment without losing her source of fuel, Michelle works with Cayman (an early childhood friend she knew well through middle school) to keep the crime organisation stable but stunted without raising suspicions from either side.

Point of View: Third-person, alternatively limited to Michelle or Cayman.