Four-o'-clock in the afternoon; the one time in the day when the sun's attention was fixed elsewhere and when the most clouds were out to block the heat. The shadows of those white puffs of gas in the sky covered the ground below with its veil of cool shade, allowing only enough light to brighten the area and give the surrounding structures and plant life shadows barely noticeable shadows of their own. Paired with the fresh, chilly breeze that blew from the winter winds of the neighboring countries, it seemed like as good a day as any to just get out of one's stuffy little house and enjoy the outside air.

"I want some icecream. Let's go to the store."

"But you said you would not bring your wallet today."

"...right."

It was as good a day as any, but there were those who craved for a little more frost than a cold afternoon could offer (an icecream sandwich, perhaps). But whether or not the person in question even had the spare change to make that kind of purchase made no difference. It was a fine day, and the lack of frozen dairy sweets was not going to change that.

"Perhaps you would rather rest on those benches," a metallic voice somewhat like that of a speaker on a very old radio rang from the raven-haired boy's PET device as he held it in his left hand, the right's grip wrapped on the handle of his small electric scooter. He steered to the left and toward the ACDC park, dodging a large rock or two until finally beaking to a halt beside one of the trees. Taking his subtley insistent Navi's suggestion, he stepped off his childish two-wheeled scooter and leaned it on the tree's tough bark before stumbling over to the wooden bench beside him. "It is rather breezy in this particular area."

"Were you able to download that book into the files?" The boy in the black coat spoke to the red and purple device in his hand, figuring it pointless to reply to the Navi's obvious statement.

"It is currently at eighty percent." The puppet-like Navi responded, an image of the book's cover filling the PET's screen for a moment before disappearing again. The optical eye on the PET flickered with a green light and a holographic keyboard appeared an inch above the screen, hovering neutrally over it like an invisible surface. Another holographic screen appeared upright behind the keyboard, shifting through various names and images in shimmering colors. "Would you like to take a look at what has already been completed?"

He allowed himself a tired smile, taking off his matching black fedora and wiping his forehead with a handkerchief before turning his attention to the streaming colors and numbers. With a few taps on the hologram's keys, he made the screen and the keyboard dissipitate, and the lights from the PET's optical eye shut off with a soft whirring sound. "It's no problem. I can wait."

"As you say, Jan. Anything you would wish me to make better use of my idle time?"

The boy with the long, ribboned hair (not the large, girlish ribbons mind you) referred to as Jan took a deep breath. The air felt so clean, he thought. "Nah. I'd rather enjoy your company."

*sees the birthday reminder in Makai Empire*

Happy Birthday Lunar! Hope you have a good'un! *lobs flaming gift wrappers at her with a catapult*

NETWORK NAVIGATOR

Name: Das_Marionette.EXE
(Affectionately referred to as "M" by its operator)

Gender: Unspecified (presumably male)

Element: Wood

Type: Cursor

Appearance: Mysterious and downright sinister are two of the best ways to describe this odd case of a Network Navigator. It is the manifestation of Jan's morbid fascinations to the macabre (a leisure pursuit which he takes care not to make public), particularly his attraction to the dismal form of the string marionette. Its entire body is draped with blue and purple cloth, and the only visible parts were its head and its feet. His face... it had no face in the literal sense. A wooden jaw is all it has, and even that did nothing except move up and down whenever it spoke. He was the true Marionette: dull and lifeless in every physical aspect.

Black-and-White/Colored Picture

Personality: "M" is not exactly as sociable as the typical Net Navi (partly because most everyday Net Navis are too afraid to even come near him), and much like the faceless wooden effigy it is devoid of all emotion. But not completely devoid, because then that would be extremely boring (as Jan once said). He was still capable of a chuckle or two, but otherwise showed only mutual respect to those brave enough to come up to him and ask questions. M kept to himself majority of the time, and would usually spend those long, uneventful occasions refining his own knowledge on trivial matters with his operator; the puppet Net Navi enjoyed a good debate as much as Jan did, which was one of the things the two had in common.

Custom Weapon

Karakuri: Inspired by an ingenious oriental contraption known as the karakuri ningyo—the word itself meaning a mechanical device used to trick or take a person by surprise—the Navi's seemingly endless range of weaponry consists of strange, wooden digital machinery and wooden puppets in different sets of equipment (depending on the given situation). This also has an effect on the battlechips it uses, changing them visually to suit its distinct macabre appearance. But it is all for the sake of visual appeal and does nothing to alter its combat effectiveness and whatnot. On the side-note, Marionette's robes look awfully suspicious...

Signature Attack

Marionette's Embrace: The puppet-like Navi's suspicious-looking robes elongate and, like extensions of its own body, stretch out toward its target with the speed and intensity of a lashing whip. When the draperies—three separate lengths of them—reach their mark they then begin to wrap around the said target in a deadly embrace (although "strangle" would have been more appropriate). They tighten their grip slowly, torturing the opponent as they literally squeezed the life out of the one unfortunate enough to get caught in their deadly grasp.

[Effect: "Life Drain," 30 points]

OPERATOR

Basic Information

Name: Jan Gabriel Kriegslied
Nickname: Jan
Age: 16
Gender: Male

Height: 5' 8"

Date of Birth: September 29
Place of Birth: ******

PET Modifications: Aside from its custom red and purple color scheme, his PET comes equipped with an advanced hologram device he wittily calls a "PET Vision." This device allows the PET to generate a holographic touch-screen so that the user can access files via a USB and sift through them the same way a home computer manages data. This clever mechanism allows Jan to read his e-books, listen to music, browse the internet, watch television, track his location from anywhere on the planet (GPS systems are lovely, aren't they?), and many other things away from home and away from the hustle and bustle of crowded internet cafés. Oh, and it also comes with the latest "no cable" jack-in feature. How wonderful!

Notes on Pronunciation:
* Jan: [jahn], [yahn]
* Kriegslied: [krihgs-leed]


Physical Traits

Physique: He is surprisingly slim for someone who enjoys eating as much as he did, but those different transformations that occur in every boy's puberty are evident: broad shoulders, a tough jaw, a strong abdomen... and a few others that are not exactly worth mentioning. He is as healthy as anyone his age could be.

Facial Features: His looks practically scream foreigner, almost to the point of subconscious racism—but just almost. Jan's strong nose bridge, red lips (he does not use lipstick), wide eyes, and small nostrils are definitely alien. His angled eyebrows, fair complexion, undefined cheekbones, and smooth chin however are traits most natives of his current home-country have in common. All the qualities really do come together so nicely in all honesty (vanity aside).

Hair Style: Jan's hair is long, the length stopping just under his shoulders. He is very keen when it comes to keeping it neat, combing it to the back of his head and then tying it with a small ribbon. He's thought about it, but big ribbons just make him feel uncomfortable.

Hair Color: Black, like ink. Damn you racists and your color schemes.

Eye Color: There isn't much of a difference between the color of his hair and his eyes.

Outfit: Jan, a firm advocate of the existence of laundry, tends to wear different clothes each time he decides to do anything outside his home. But whether the boy was out buying groceries at the local marketplace or having a leisurely ride around the park on his electric scooter, there are a two things in his get-up that remains constant: a long black coat (commonly worn by grumpy businessmen) and a matching black felt hat.

Accessories: The only visible pieces of jewelry Jan is usually seen wearing are a small pair of rectangular glasses rims and a silver watch under the sleeves of his right wrist that served only as decoration since it had stopped working years ago.


Psychological Traits

Personality: Jan is many things, and with many adjectives to describe him. He's great around friends, but prefers to keep to himself in quiet places. He is even-tempered, but his words and actions become dangerously brutal given the right circumstances. He loves Jazz, but he enjoys a noteworthy guitar solo as much as the next guy. He might even act like an egocentric, society-hating prick (or something synonymous), but then again he might have just been sleepy. One can never be too sure, especially around someone who thinks he might be suffering from acute bipolar syndrome. But that is all hear-say.

Meh, Four's been busy with a few things. Oh well. xP

No! You can't sum up my life with Pac Man! I won't let you! *sobs*

Yep, no mistake there. Life Drain suits "Das Marionette" a little better than a regular ol' 60-point whammy attack, I think. Gives it a more lifeless feeling and whatnot. *makes weird ghost sounds*

Wooooh~

(OOC: Is it okay if I use this format for my character sheet? I was already making my character sheet before I saw the actual format. >_<)


OPERATOR

Basic Information

Name: Jan Gabriel Kriegslied
Nickname: Jan
Age: 16
Gender: Male

Height: 5' 8"

Date of Birth: September 29
Place of Birth:

PET Modifications: Aside from its custom red and purple color scheme, his PET comes equipped with an advanced hologram device he wittily calls a "PET Vision." This device allows the PET to generate a holographic touch-screen so that the user can access files via a USB and sift through them the same way a home computer manages data. This clever mechanism allows Jan to read his e-books, listen to music, browse the internet, watch television, track his location from anywhere on the planet (GPS systems are lovely, aren't they?), and many other things away from home and away from the hustle and bustle of crowded internet cafés. Oh, and it also comes with the latest "no cable" jack-in feature. How wonderful!

Notes on Pronunciation:
* Jan: [jahn], [yahn]
* Kriegslied: [krihgs-leed]


Physical Traits

Physique: He is surprisingly slim for someone who enjoys eating as much as he did, but those different transformations that occur in every boy's puberty are evident: broad shoulders, a tough jaw, a strong abdomen... and a few others that are not exactly worth mentioning. He is as healthy as anyone his age could be.

Facial Features: His looks practically scream foreigner, almost to the point of subconscious racism—but just almost. Jan's strong nose bridge, red lips (he does not use lipstick), wide eyes, and small nostrils are definitely alien. His angled eyebrows, fair complexion, undefined cheekbones, and smooth chin however are traits most natives of his current home-country have in common. All the qualities really do come together so nicely in all honesty (vanity aside).

Hair Style: Jan's hair is long, the length stopping just under his shoulders. He is very keen when it comes to keeping it neat, combing it to the back of his head and then tying it with a small ribbon. He's thought about it, but big ribbons just make him feel uncomfortable.

Hair Color: Black, like ink. Damn you racists and your color schemes.

Eye Color: There isn't much of a difference between the color of his hair and his eyes.

Outfit: Jan, a firm advocate of the existence of laundry, tends to wear different clothes each time he decides to do anything outside his home. But whether the boy was out buying groceries at the local marketplace or having a leisurely ride around the park on his electric scooter, there are a two things in his get-up that remains constant: a long black coat (commonly worn by grumpy businessmen) and a matching black felt hat.

Accessories: The only visible pieces of jewelry Jan is usually seen wearing are a small pair of rectangular glasses rims and a silver watch under the sleeves of his right wrist that served only as decoration since it had stopped working years ago.


Psychological Traits

Personality: Jan is many things, and with many adjectives to describe him. He's great around friends, but prefers to keep to himself in quiet places. He is even-tempered, but his words and actions become dangerously brutal given the right circumstances. He loves Jazz, but he enjoys a noteworthy guitar solo as much as the next guy. He might even act like an egocentric, society-hating prick (or something synonymous), but then again he might have just been sleepy. One can never be too sure, especially around someone who thinks he might be suffering from acute bipolar syndrome. But that is all hear-say.



NETWORK NAVIGATOR

Name: Das_Marionette.EXE, affectionately referred to as "M" by its operator

Gender: Unspecified (presumably male)

Element: Wood

Type: Cursor

Appearance: Mysterious and downright sinister are two of the best ways to describe this odd case of a Network Navigator. It is the manifestation of Jan's morbid fascinations to the macabre (a leisure pursuit which he takes care not to make public), particularly his attraction to the dismal form of the string marionette. Its entire body is draped with blue and purple cloth, and the only visible parts were its head and its feet. His face... it had no face in the literal sense. A wooden jaw is all it has, and even that did nothing except move up and down whenever it spoke. He was the true Marionette: dull and lifeless in every physical aspect.

Black-and-White/Colored Picture

Personality: "M" is not exactly as sociable as the typical Net Navi (partly because most everyday Net Navis are too afraid to even come near him), and much like the faceless wooden effigy it is devoid of all emotion. But not completely devoid, because then that would be extremely boring (as Jan once said). He was still capable of a chuckle or two, but otherwise showed only mutual respect to those brave enough to come up to him and ask questions. M kept to himself majority of the time, and would usually spend those long, uneventful occasions refining his own knowledge on trivial matters with his operator; the puppet Net Navi enjoyed a good debate as much as Jan did, which was one of the things the two had in common.

Custom Weapon

Karakuri: Inspired by an ingenious oriental contraption known as the karakuri ningyo—the word itself meaning a mechanical device used to trick or take a person by surprise—the Navi's seemingly endless range of weaponry consists of strange, wooden digital machinery and wooden puppets in different sets of equipment (depending on the given situation). This also has an effect on the battlechips it uses, changing them visually to suit its distinct macabre appearance. But it is all for the sake of visual appeal and does nothing to alter its combat effectiveness and whatnot. On the side-note, Marionette's robes look awfully suspicious...

Signature Attack

Marionette's Embrace: The puppet-like Navi's suspicious-looking robes elongate and, like extensions of its own body, stretch out toward its target with the speed and intensity of a lashing whip. When the draperies—three separate lengths of them—reach their mark they then begin to wrap around the said target in a deadly embrace (although "strangle" would have been more appropriate). They tighten their grip slowly, torturing the opponent as they literally squeezed the life out of the one unfortunate enough to get caught in their deadly grasp.

[Effect: "Life Drain," 30 points]

It's faulty German (because I don't know how to speak or write in German... oh, the irony!), meaning "War Song."

Everybody's so friendly. *feels somewhat special*

*checks character sheet*

Kriegslied: [krihgs-leed] I think it sounds cool. xP

To Planey: *stares at avatar* Oh my.

To Zanallen: And neglect Lord Zetta? Never!

To DarkZero: I won't~

To Darkstar: Heheh, I'll keep that in mind.

To Hiko: Don't be mean. *gives Hiko a carrot cake*

To P.A. Master: I keep an open mind. *is a member of the Buddhas for Christ* xD

To RevivedSin: Danke (German for "Thank You").

To EN: ...You do?! :O