The Build-Up
IF CAVALIER:Keep in mind that if you're an Outer cavalier (not Shitennou) you only have your personality to demonstrate to us why your character is that specific Cavalier, and that element. You can incorporate these elements subtly. You don't have to have a Terra that plants trees constantly. Also keep in mind that the Shitennou are each according to a
season which you should keep in mind -- Kunzite Winter, Nephrite Fall, Zoisite Summer and Jadeite Spring.
The Reef - WTF IS IT?!:The term "reef" can be used to describe a rock, sandbar, coral, shipwrecks, and any other sort of obstacle beneath the surface of water. Reefs can be barriers to protect an island, form a lagoon, or home to hundereds upon hundreds of various fish, algae, coral, and other ocean life.
A
coral reef, as its name suggests, is a marine ecosystem in which the main organisms are corals with algal symbionts -- and because of this, these systems have a wider genetic diversity than tropical rainforests! These systems are picky, however: they require marine waters, wam temperatures, and ample sunlight. These systems must aslo produce enough calcium carbonates to build the physical reef structure. Because of this, coral reefs are restricted to shallow tropical and subtropical waters.
Coral Reefs take on these forms (from coralreefinfo.com):
Apron reef – short reef resembling a fringing reef, but more sloped; extending out and downward from a point or peninsular shore.
Fringing reef – reef that is directly attached to a shore or borders it with an intervening shallow channel or lagoon.
Barrier reef – reef separated from a mainland or island shore by a deep lagoon (ie Great Barrier Reef)
Patch reef – an isolated, often circular reef, usually within a lagoon or embayment.
Ribbon reef – long, narrow, somewhat winding reef, usually associated with an atoll lagoon.
Table reef – isolated reef, approaching an atoll type, but without a lagoon.
Atoll reef – a more or less circular or continuous barrier reef extending all the way around a lagoon without a central island; see atoll.
Bank Reef – Bank reefs are larger than patch reefs and are linear or semi-circular in outline.
Aspects of the Reef in Flaws/Virtues:Quote:
Optimistic: Villains' got the upper hand? Great! Alex would like to point out that this is a good thing! Mainstream villians always gloat when they get the upper hand and reveal their secret plan, and that's when we (ie: the awesometastic heros) spring into action and beat them down and spoil their plans! So what if we're tied up and beaten senseless? I bet I can still move my leg juuuust so and trip them! HA! That'll show'em!
Reefs are formed in shallow, tropical and subtropical waters. With all the sunlight and warmth, it's difficult to be gloomy! And since reefs are formed in shallow water, it is rather difficult to delve too deeply into gloomy and complicated topics. It's easier for him to bounce back from despair, since the surface is nice and close.
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Dependable: Got a princess that needs saving? A prince to be located? A villain's plans to spoil? Alex'll be the first man to volunteer! C'mon, he has a snazzy outfit, a rapier... He
looks like a video game hero, therefore he's going to act like one, and that means taking on all quests and doing them! Okay, so maybe he'll skip the occasional small side quest, but he'll come back and do them later! Promise!
Beneath the flourish of life, the rocks, coral, and underwater obstructions that create the reef exist to support the life. They may be hidden, but they're there -- and always will be.
The Great Barrier Reef in Austrialia has been existing for more than
18 million years! This reef stretches over 1,200 miles along the Queensland coast, and while it may be broken up, it is still a formidable natural wonder with its 1,600 known shipwrecks and collection of dangerous sea creatures that call it home.
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Talkative: Gone are the days of ellipsis-prone heros and cunning dialog in which the main character never speaks. Now... Now the tongue is as sharp as the swor- okay, that's a lie. Alex in cavalier form is still as talkative as ever, except now he can steamroll conversations by going on and on and on about insults, compliments, theories, jokes, song lyrics, poems, catchy TV jingles... Well somebody
please elbow him or throw a rock at his head to shut him up?!
A reef isn't just an underwater rock! It's a riot of life! It would be a shame to just concentrate on one or two things when there's so much going on, from fish eating fish to coral trying to grow over coral and barnacle on barnacle action!
Take these pictures. On the left is a shot of the Great Barrier Reef. On the right is the same picture, but with labels. With all that going on, how can you
not say anyth- OHLOOKITTHATFISHMAN I haven't seen one of those in awhile! It's green like that patch of seaweed -- that's how I didn't see it! Did you see it? Do you know what it is? I mean it's totally awesome and kinda reminds me of another thing which really all and all gives you a good idea about this right? Right!
Click for a larger view:
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Subordinate: Sure Alex may look like a hero and try to act like it, but if you want him to be a fearless leader... good luck! He prefers to follow others than to lead them. His first action as leader would be to designate someone else as leader -- he can't handle the pressure! If he can't give someone else leadership, then his teammates better be prepared for the long-winded and confusing speech in which they'll
wish he wasn't leader.
A reef serves as a place for life, or in some cases a protective barrier for a lagoon. It isn't the reef's case to dictate what grows where and what fish swims where! The reef is made up of too many lives to pay attention to each and every one of them, and paying attention to all the likes and dislikes each thing has is just too much pressure for him.
Case in point, see the above reasoning. With
so much going on, Alex isn't comfortable ordering other people around. The reef is such a delicate ecosystem, what if he makes a wrong decision? What exactly are you guys supposed to be doing? I mean I kinda forgot but at the same time HEY GUYS WE'RE CAVALIERS WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO RUN RIGHT IN AND SAVE EVERYONE AND DO EVERYTHING AWESOME 'CAUSE WE'RE CAVALIERS RIGHT? RIGHT??? Hey guess what you, you're the leader now HAVE FUN! =D
Belize Barrier Reef Aspects of the Reef in Hobbies:Quote:
Video Games:Ever wondered where Alex's allowance money goes? When it's not used at the arcade, it disappears into buying the latest and (sometimes not so) greatest of video games. If there's a game out there, he's probably played it. Or at least watched someone play it -- even if he's out of cash, there's a 90% chance that he can be found at the arcade after school loafing around, unless he lands himself in detention.
Then you can find him there after he gets out.
Video games are like reefs: shallow plot with soul-sucking abilities and colorful characters and worlds, some are even picky and finicky and won't work until you blow into the cartridge (I'M LOOKING AT YOU, NES/SNES)!
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Clickityclickitybeep:A true screenager at heart, Alex loves technology. When his thumbs start hurting from playing video games, he hops onto the computer and surfs the web, becoming a true cyberslacker despite the protests of, "I'm looking at this stuff for schoooool!"
The internet and modern technology itself is an ecosystem with its own unique species, such as trolls, cyberers, ads, viruses, trojans, adbots, talking ads, scams...
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YouTubilliionare:As much as he loves video games, he doesn't play them constantly or run around dressed as a character from one. Instead, Alex attempts to make videos... that look like video games. Got a good test score? Flip the paper over, do a dramatic drumroll, flip it up and cue a victory theme! Do bad? ...Well, there's always the tuba from The Price is Right show that begs to be used.
Every reef is unique with its own creatures in some way -- each video is its own bit of coral, which together creates a chain that surrounds the island that is Alex's pitiful YouTube popularity rating.
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Just Add Duct-Tape! When it comes to electronics, Alex has a knack for fixing them... To a point. If it happened to take a wild journey through the wash and squashed by a passing bus, the most Alex could do for it is put it in a shoe box and give it a decent burial. But if it just went through the wash, Alex might be able to repair it long enough for it to get replaced by means of frankensteining other parts to it. Alex tends to think outside the box, and often tries the unexpected in order to get the results he wants. In a way, he’s an aspiring MacGuyver, however he has more failed results than the legendary 1980s secret agent. That doesn’t stop him, though!
Electronics are like minitature ecosystems, just as video games/the internet can be a digital reef. Instead of requiring marine water, lots of sunlight and tropical water electronics, need no water, lots of air, and a slightly chilled temperature as to not overheat. Electronics even look a bit like reefs!
While the parts may look broken up and separate, they form what they
are as a whole. A reef may be made up of small clusters of coral and other obstacles, but it's still a reef right?
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