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[nestingdevil]

PLAYER INFO

Name: Tony
Preferred Contact: Plurk (theavarice), Discord (theavarice), or PM. It's all good!
Age: 37
Invite Link: Here!

CHARACTER INFO

Character Name: Greed
Canon: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Age: 200+
Canon Point: End of series, after his second death (but coming back in his original body)
Wiki Link(s): Here! If you need more, here's a write up!

SOMNIA-SPECIFIC QUESTIONS

1. Dreams are how Sleep chooses you. What might draw your character into Somnia— a wound, a wish, a weakness? Would they follow the dream, or run from it?

Since he'll be coming from the end of the series, it's going to be a combination of a couple of the things! The first being the obvious - he's dead, and not the kind he can normally come back from. Given the choice between the nothingness of oblivion and a chance to live again a third time running? He wouldn't hesitate. After all, he's a creature of habit; a man as insatiable as his namesake.

And there's that catch phrase of his: "There's no such thing as no such thing." What might be impossible to some isn't to him, and he's always going to want more. More things, more people, more time. He knows the choice he made was going to have a price, but if Sleep is offering up a bargain? If she's willing to make a deal?

Well, it would be rude for him to deny her, wouldn't it?

Secondly? He'd honestly be intrigued. By all means, he should be dead and nothing, not even Truth and all of its doors, should be able to bring him back. Something with that sort of power - to say he'd be interested would be putting it mildly. There's a chance at something new: a new life, a new world. And with them, they bring their own possibilities. Their own wild, endless possibilities. He wouldn't know what waits for him beyond that impossible black, but the promise of it would enough for him. Curiosity killed the cat, and all. Even if Sleep's is vague, he wouldn't be able to help himself. His avarice runs deep, and more. Oh, is it always the name of the game.

As for running or following, he would definitely follow. But it wouldn't be in a desperate way, no. Depending on how the dream comes to him (which from the description looks kind of like a black, tugging flood), he would simply follow as cool as ever. As casual, comfortable, and slick as ever, as if this is something he's owed. It would be in that snide kind of way. As if he's quietly mocking the very idea of being wiped from existence.

So, he'll gladly take that step forward. But don't believe for a second that he'll be willing to follow anyone else's rules, hers or otherwise. It's just a deal for him. An equivalent exchange. And if he gets a chance at a third-time running? Well, that's only fair, isn't it?

2. Somnia is a slow unraveling—of worlds, and of selves. How does your character respond to fear, transformation, and losing control? Do they fight, adapt, collapse?

Greed always responds to fear with defiance. Be that when facing down his own death (not once, but twice), or when someone tries to harm or take what's his. It's teeth and claws first, questions later, and he makes sure to always put up some sort of front. When it comes to him personally, it's going to be with that cocky, snide, and sure kind of attitude he's known for. Against a threat, he'll return the gesture with a cruel smile, a biting sneer, and the wildness of a creature that has no problem laughing in the face of it all.

Even when he's being lowered into a vat of molten led the first time he dies, he laughs all the way down. So when it comes to fear, his first choice is defiance to the very end. To flip whatever it is the proverbial bird while howling all the way down.

As for transformation, he is used to some sort of change. One of his abilities is the Ultimate Shield - a second skin that he can urge up that's as hard and tough as diamond. However, one of the things he doesn't like about it is that it makes him look uglier in his opinion. But that's an ability he's been able to control since he was created over 200 years ago. A new transformation would be something he would be interested in, and he would probably find it a lot more intriguing than not. Of course, the downside is having to get used to the fact that he won't be able to use some of his old tricks anymore. But Greed is fascinated by new things, and having some different perks to work with would be more of a wonder than anything else. He's vain as all hell, so as long as he can still have his good looks, he would be able to adapt pretty well.

Now, if it's something that spirals out of control, that's when it might be a little bit messy. I don't see him panicking, but I do see that wanting, needing nature of his kicking in. Depending on the situation, it could tip to the extreme. Because that avarice of his is a constant like a fever. Something burning underneath the surface that's always thirsty, always starved. I imagine if those transformations ever get extreme, his core will probably do the same. It might not be a Philosopher's Stone anymore, but that doesn't mean he's changed. I can see certain transformations amplifying his want even more and reflecting it back into whatever Vessel he ends up being. It won't be something he recognizes, nor something he might consciously pick up on. More it would be similar to a wild fire that's gone out of control. That is something he would be a little fearful of. But the regret and fear would come after once he's been able to recollect himself. Greed isn't a creature that lives with regrets, but if losing control cost him one of his? If he accidentally hurt or killed one of his own? That would definitely make it a whole lot more complicated where he might act a bit brasher than usual, do that distant, cool thing he does when he doesn't like a situation, or lash out depending on the circumstances.

In terms of specifically adapting or fighting back, it depends on the situation. If he's being forced to work under someone else or follow someone else's rules, he'll fight back every, single time. Again, he's defiant and there's no leash in the world strong enough to hold him down. But if he's given free reign? He adapts pretty well. Having left the rest of the homunculi 100 years prior to the series, he had to learn how to make his own way in the world. How to live among humans (and those not quite) while also never pretending to be something he isn't. He isn't a big-picture planner, more doing things on the fly kind of guy, and even if he has some plans up his sleeve, they're more loose. So it's easy for him to turn on a dime when necessary, and if things don't go as planned, he usually finds some sort of way to wing it, though that doesn't mean that he'll always be successful.

He also had to adapt to sharing a body after he died the first time, which comes with its own set of challenges. But again, he was able to adapt pretty well while coexisting inside Ling for almost 2 years.

In the end, he's always willing to make an offer or a deal as long as it's fair. And sometimes, that means making an exchange of sorts as a means to an end.

3. Connection is the only constant. What kind of bonds does your character form— fast and burning, slow and wary, deep and desperate? How might that shape their time in this world?

Another c-c-c-combo here! When it comes to relationships, Greed has a range. He can just as easily meet someone anonymously for a single, one-night encounter just as much as he can have relationships that last months, years, decades. Here, I can see him forming a variety of bonds. Some of them will be hot, heavy, and burning - relationships struck in the heat of the moment. It might be as simple as getting a mutual itch scratched, or an exchange of something (information, goods, what have you). However, for the things that he claims, for the things he calls his, those I can see lasting longer. Of course, he'd never admit that there was a desperation behind them, or how deep those relationships go. He'll be quick to blame it on his nature; that it's just his avarice and not the fact that he actually cares about the people he calls his possessions.

And that's what the deeper relationships would be. On the surface, it's him claiming those close to him. But while he makes it a point to never lie to anyone, that isn't a two-way street. He'll lie to himself every, single time. And for those that may fall into this category? He'll make a point of keeping them safe in his own, weird way. Be that digging out his own kingdom in this new world for both him and them while claiming how he plans to take over the place, taking care of them with a bit of flippant respect (almost like he doesn't care, but boy oh boy, does he ever), or meeting a threat face to face. See, hurting or killing anyone that's his - that's stealing in his mind. Damn anyone or anything that happens to get in the way.

I think here, Greed will continue doing a lot what he's always done: collecting strays, giving them somewhere to go, and making sure any harm that comes to them is minimal at best. This could cause some friction down the line, whether that's from others or Sleep herself. Given that Sleep is possessive of everyone she's brought here, he'll definitely be a healthy dose of competition. Almost like: "Oh? You think you own mine? Ah, sorry. But that's not really how it works."

I can definitely see these tighter relationships putting more of a fire under him to rebel, not that he needed a lot to begin with. And if those bonds get severed at any point? Depending how it happened, it'll be a different kind of blow. Death of one of his would be easy: that's the point where avarice turns to (ha ha) wrath, and you best bet he'll be coming in to get back what he's owed. However, if it's something he's caused, or if the other person (persons?) end up pulling away from him, he won't do much to fight it. Greed makes a point about choice. And while it would sting, while it'd hit him right in that rotten core of his, he'd let them go. No questions asked, no desperate begging. He'd just let them go and quietly slink off, leaving any thoughts about it to him and him alone.

For acquaintances, it wouldn't sting quite as much. Greed is used to living in the underworld and all the unspoken rules that come with it. An exchange is an exchange, and a deal is a deal. It isn't personal, and he wouldn't take it as such. He's used to those kind of relationships where everything is a transaction and in this new world, it wouldn't be much different. However, I can definitely see him trying to build up his own network of sorts. One where he can start gathering information, rumors, whatever else.

listen a sin just wants friends don't look at him like that

4. What are two major forces in your character’s personality that are often in conflict? (Ex: logic vs emotion, power vs guilt, obedience vs rage, etc.)

Oddly enough? Avarice and loneliness.

Avarice is as avarice does, and he wants of everything: money, women, men, sex, status (you know the spiel by now). It's what defines him. Everything he does is built around his insatiable need and while he may have admitted what he truly wanted during his last, final moments, that doesn't mean he's lost his nature. This absolutely butts head with his loneliness because he doesn't like to admit to himself or anyone else that he actually wants company. Sure, he'll say that he wants someone, absolutely. But admitting that he's lonely, even slightly, butts up against his entire demeanor. He's nonchalant, casual. He doesn't need friends.

But that's where he bullshits himself into a corner. It's basically like someone trying to understand the human concept of friendship, but missing the translation. This is where the conflict comes in. Because, while every part of him may be screaming for company, he shrugs it all off on his want. That he just wants people, because he can never have enough to be satisfied. That he just wants company, any company, in order to fulfill his needs. It's an internal conflict and only at the end of the series, does he fully come to terms with it.

Now does that mean he's going to start admitting that here? OH HO absolutely not. That admission came like a death-bed confession and now that he's got a third chance at living, he'll be burying that again, despite how much something in the back of his skull may be yelling at him about it. I can see it having an impact on him in terms how he interacts with others. At first, it'll be the usual spiel. How his avarice makes his decisions for him, how whoever he may connect with is just one of his possessions. But given time, it'll simmer. He'll never outright say it, but his actions are always going to be a dead giveaway.

A great example is when we see how he interacted with his original crew in Dublith. On the surface, it just looks like a monster of a man with a gang of criminals and thieves. But once they're killed off but the Amestrian military and Wrath, the whole scenario changes its tune. Greed goes from slick and smooth to full on snarling when Wrath asks if he has sympathy for his pawns. He immediately bares his teeth, stating: "Sympathy? Who do you think I am? ... They're mine and no one takes what's mine." It's a human reaction that's been warped. His possessions were his friends and the idea, the grief, of being left alone, of having them taken from him, is a clear indication. He can blame it on his avarice all he wants, but being stripped of the people he chose is that loneliness factor, coming to snap back at his namesake.

VESSEL SELECTION
Which Vessel Type are you choosing: Token or Offering? Offering!
Why does this Vessel type feel appropriate for your character? Greed's never been human and he never will be. He's a creature that teeters on the line - that's almost there, but never quite. The reason I think an Offering will be a good match is because homunculi are monsters in their own right. They're something made, something against the natural order of things, and an Offering seemed like the best choice. Given that his core is made up of thousands of human souls, I figured having a Vessel Type that reflected that would suit him best! As an Offering, he can still be who he is, what he is, just with a twist. Looking at the two options, this seemed like the more fitting choice!

Besides, I'm going to be completely honest here, I'm always down for monster designs and given the opportunity, I will always go the monster route.

Choose one OR list three subclass options within your chosen Vessel type that you think would suit them: Top choice would be Daemon, but if you need others, feel free! This was the original list:

➥ Daemon (inspiring desire and devotion, sin incarnate, tends to always be willing to make some sort of deal).
➥ Drake (possessiveness, hoarding tendencies, protective of what's his, rumbling voice)
➥ Kimera (he's already something that shouldn't exist, an abomination against the natural order, regeneration)

Samples: Here and here!

Comments

[nestingdevil]

Personality:

Greed has the atmosphere of a person that just does not give a fuck, to put it frank. He wants it all - money, power, status, women, sex. To quote, "He wants the finer things in life." But despite his avarice, Greed has a very friendly-bordering-on-unsettling demeanor - all smiles that welcome each and every person into his arms. Well, for the most part anyway. He comes off very frank and he's not afraid to show people who he is. The attention he gets, the feeling he gets - that is what matters to him. Status doesn't just mean money and power (though as I said previously, those are important too) - people matter. What they think of him matters - how they act around him matters. Everything is a possession for Greed and that is how he lives his life.

Despite his rather selfish nature though, his personality is of a different cut than the rest of his siblings. Whether intentional or not, Greed has a very upfront demeanor, but he also seems to be rather intrigued when it comes to humans. He holds no ill will against them (another oddity in the sin-bunch) and is actually impressed by them on numerous occasion; IE Ed's determination and skill when they first met in Dublith, Ling's concession to let Greed take over his body. While he might mock them sarcastically, he has admitted respect and even a slight admiration: "I like that determination of yours."

He's a care free kind of guy, sends his anxiety to the wind kind of guy. But he'll be the first to claim someone if they're loyal and once he's done that, he's there for life. Or as long as said person lasts. Greed does things his own way and he has no intention of following orders or rules. He'll break them as soon as he gets that spark of want, need - which is to say, he'll be quick to turn tail from law and order at the drop of a hat.

If one happens to get on his bad side, he can be vicious. But he has no intention of harming "women and people with loved ones." He'll spare a foe if they turn around and walk the other way. But if they continue to threaten his things, he'll stop at nothing to bring said offender down. That being said though, he's not prone to violence. He'd rather strike a deal to get what he wants. However, should push come to shove? Obviously, he'll roll up his sleeves and get into it. Not without dramatics, groans, and the usual quip: "It's just better to take the deal."

A thing to point out, though, is that unlike the rest of his siblings, he does have a few standards. As I mentioned above, he won't harm women. That means he won't fight, harm, hurt, etc women if he can help it. Perfect case in point: during his first incarnation, Izumi ends up attacking head on. In both the manga and the show, he comes off with a pout saying to the extent of: "Oh give me a break. I'm not interested in fighting a woman." It just isn't in him.

Greed is also vain - as vain as he can be. His "ultimate shield" comes with the price and that price is less elegance than he's comfortable with. When he first shows off his ace-in-the-hole to the elder Elric brother, he even states that his shield form "isn't flattering."

Seems Greed also has a soft spot for outcasts, as seen with his taking in of the chimera from Lab 5. God help the outcasts all right - and Greed is the very creature to do so. This same trait is repeated when he's purified and placed into Ling as a vessel. When he defects from the rest of the homunculi a second time, he even admits: "Working under me means you're an outcast." He seems to be drawn to that sort of idea; a concept of living his life by his own rules, needs, and ideas. Nonconforming in all the right and wrong ways, though he'd be the first to say that right and wrong aren't so easily established. At least, not by his standards.

➥ The Ling-Yao Effect

While I'm throwing him back in his original body here, there have been significant changes due to the shared-mind aspect of Ling Yao. While Greed is still that - needy, avaricious, etc - Ling provided a sort of anchor to what he really wanted. Showed him a bit of humility (though questionable). His desire to possess the world, to possess power, money, fame, etc, is still there, but with the sub-text that his things are more than that. That there's worth in his possessions: they're his friends, the only thing that he chose. And that? Holds a lot of value.

Greed's always been the odd-man out, in terms of the seven deadlies. He wasn't prone to violence prior and he still isn't. But he finds a lot more value in the company he keeps, IE the friendships he makes. While he's still at the point of disregarding it at the surface, Greed's the kind of creature to stick by those he aims to keep. He may still call them his possessions, his things, but deep down, the guy's got a bit of a softer spot thanks Ling's influence. And if someone crosses the line, he's not about to risk losing his things a second-time running.

He's still a bit crude, a bit rough around the edges. But with both the experience at the 'Nest and the eye-opener that was/is Ling, Greed's far more concerned at keeping his things his - probably a little more tenacious when it comes to protecting what he's got hoarded (see: minions, friends, whatever you want to call 'em). Life and the living are far more valuable and while he won't come out and say friendship is magic, it is something that he holds a little more dear.

In terms of Ling, it's an odd sort of thing. Ling's probably one of the rare people Greed can compliment pretty frequently and mean it fully and truly, without sarcasm and without other intentions in mind. Maybe a bit of humanity slipped through the cracks. Equivalent exchange after all, right? What it can be said is that Ling did shed light on some things: that ever-present need that couldn't be satiated, the desire beating since it was made. Greed couldn't fill it, no matter how hard he tried. And while he had what he really wanted back in Dublith, it didn't occur to Greed until far after - when all was dead and done and it was Ling that corrected him. That showed him he didn't want just the world in his hand and all the power that came with it: he wanted some buds to go along for the ride.

I think it's the first time in Greed's life someone actually called him on his shit and put on the brakes. Even without having the parasitic relationship here, the situation's left its mark. Greed won't change entirely - couldn't, really - but there's definitely a new-found appreciation for those that he keeps in his inner circle. Probably a little more fiercely protected with this knew-found knowledge, thanks to the brat from Xing.

So the same sort of factors apply: he's still a cool-cut criminal deep down. Still flaunts the nonchalance and uncaring attitude to the wind. But when it comes down to the wire, the Sin's far more likely to jump into the heat of things to keep him and his safe. Though, it can be said, he'd probably shrug it off the next second. Because he can't keep things too serious for too long.

Even before being exposed to the Prince, Greed's always been a little more friendly. A little more in touch with the mortal lot and while he's pushy and a bit abrasive, that other side of him does get more and more exposed thanks to Ling's prodding. A good example of this in canon is during third fight with Wrath, which leaves both him and the current-Fuhrer hanging over the edge of Central. Greed's holding on and Lan-Fan goes to grab his hand. Because it's her duty - Greed tells her that's stupid and why the hell would she risk herself. She's hurting her own-well being and he can handle it. But when she bleeds, when she says that her grandfather has passed, it seems to shock Greed into silence. He's not human, so he'll never be able to fully-understand the grieving process, but he knows the feeling. At least, he think he does. I think that aspect of him was brought out by Ling - through force. Through making Greed actually look at the world around him with a second set of eyes and say, "See? This is how it really is."

It's a big change, especially since Dublith, where Greed only remarked to Wrath that he had killed his "possessions." Saying, "Just who do you take me for, exactly?" when Wrath made the comment that Greed had some feeling for his pawns. No - to him, they were merely his things. And he just took it at simplicity's face-value: that it was stealing. He mistook grief for his avarice - calling Wrath out for pilfering what was his. When, in actuality, he just didn't want to lose the only sort of family/life that was by his choice and his alone. Ling kicks this into Greed's skull pretty early on. This sort of change would be reflected currently. As said above (I think I've repeated myself too many times SORRY FOLKS), Greed's not going to admit it. Not openly. But that exposure's stuck around like a bad scar.

It's a bit confusing. Someone once remarked to me that Greed's almost there - almost human. Kind of like someone staring in, trying to mimic the movements, but it's still a little off. Like there's still something missing in the translation. But with being exposed to Ling and actually having to make a choice against his rather-questionable moral-compass (IE never lying, never harming women, everything else is all in or all out), he chooses to lie through his teeth to save someone else. And maybe this all goes back to the very beginning: that Greed doesn't want to see people that he's claimed as his very own harmed, hurt, or worse. I think he learned the lesson a few times over and it gave him a bit more clarity on things.

But that doesn't mean he's turned into a hero of the people. More that nice back-alley that always has the light on. If someone gets lost, they're welcome to stop by, but don't think for a second the devil won't ask for a due or two under the guise of business. However, there's more than meets the eye there: that he cares even if every part of him says, "Pfft, whatever." I believe Greed always had this in him, but he just didn't know what it was until Ling showed up and, quite literally, knocked the definition into his head.

In current circumstances, Greed'll still play the part of the slum-dog down the street. Itching for money in his hand, for power at his fingers, for women in his company, and plenty of other needs and wants that even he doesn't know yet. But I think he's more apt to play a part where situations call for it. "Always been a fan of the underdog," as to his own words, after all.

He's a rebel and a menace. Charming and vicious. Deadly with all his given-gifts, but an open door should a misfit or two fall into his lap. Or should he find interest. Or simple because, hell, he wants to.

And everyone wants something, don't they?