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For this we go out dark nights, searching
For the dimmest stars,
For signs of unseen things:
To weigh us down.

To stop the universe
From rushing on and on
Into its own beyond
Till it exhausts itself and lies down cold,
Its last star going out.

Whatever they turn out to be,
Let there be swarms of them,
Enough for immortality,
Always a star where we can warm ourselves.

Let there be enough to bring it back
From its own edges,
To bring us all so close we ignite
The bright spark of resurrection.

Let There Always Be Light (Searching for Dark Matter) by Rebecca Elson

ℜules.

I. TPWK. Treat people with kindness! That applies to every other applicant, but also to me. Be nice, be respectful. All in all, be normal. Oh, and the most important rule: have fun!

II. SLOTS. This apply fic will not have slots. However, later on in this chapter I will include some character ideas that I would love to see executed, and they might have a slightly higher chance of getting chosen. I anticipate I will choose no more than 11 characters for the main cast ( the rescue party, other than Lev ) but, if there even are that many applications, many OCs would appear in the side cast ( Lev's vanished crewmates, shadows of the past, tweaked to be members of the SCA ).

III. CREATIVITY / DIVERSITY. When making your characters, aim for originality. That means interesting personalities, diverse backgrounds, and, in the case of this particular fic, also different species ;) I won't tell you you can't apply with a white, twenty-something, straight, nice, and otherwise boring human girl character, but there are definitely much more compelling options.

IV. DETAIL / NEATNESS. Be detailed when working on your forms, even if only to make sure I'll portray your OC in a way that feels accurate and satisfying to you! Do it for your own sake! The more detail, the greater the chance of me picking your character as well. When it comes to neatness, Google Docs certainly help, and I love to see the different layouts, but simply commenting is also welcome.

V. ACTIVITY. If your character gets accepted, I expect you to complete things like opinions and reading chapters in a timely manner. Other than that, voting and commenting are also greatly encouraged, because they help with motivation to write! The first password is the celestial body, like a planet, star constellation, etc., that in some way resembles your character. And, if you fail to comply with this entirely, your character can just tragically get consumed by the nebula, or something. Of course, if you go on hiatus, or something that stops you from being active happens, simply let me know. I get that we all have our lives.

VI. PASSWORDS. Other than one hidden password (to make sure you read the rules carefully), tag 2+ people who'd be interested in applying and share this on your message board. Thank you in advance :)

VII. DUE DATE. Unlike my other apply fic, this one will have a set deadline from the very start: February 10th, 2025. However, as we approach that deadline, I might either expedite or impede it depending on the number of applications (and whether or not exam season at uni goes well for me).

ANY QUESTIONS?

𝔉orm.

Full Name. Include first, middle, and last name (if applicable), meaning if you want to.

☠  Suggestions:  Vega, Arqud, Wilm, Carsin, Deus, Ilana, Xy, KT-4, Axis, Hoard, Buck, Agost, Vuk'u, Malmo, Ovid, Dame'er, Samson, Machina, Lwei, Ursa, Casimir, Syre, Vyron, Galahad, The Wanderer, Roscoe, Belmar, Pyrion, Iskra, Balthamir, Styrnhern, Kava, Fara'ynn, Bosco, Vixen, Lyric, Bjorn, Orion, Zha'ela, Miridyn, Prax, Valkyrie, Kip, Dravena, Flint, Odyseja, Frieda, Hani, Medea, Tauron, Soledad, Major, Blightborn, Crane, Henic, The Warden, Kanon, Moon, Rex, Napoleon, Tarrek, Dane, Quon, Rosindhal, Grimhaven, Vesh, Licor, Rusty, The Keeper, Calsmere, Vor, Maelstrom, D'Kaloran, Lokk, The Sentinel, Fira, Valestar, Abyssia, Lunaris, Thravessa, Wildspire, Prime, Everscion, Fyrnox, Aalvorn, Embermoor, Tymnea, Etta, Braitmorn, Zekai, Calyx, Altherim, G, Merecairn

Nickname(s). What people call them. Include who calls them that, why, and how they feel about it.

Preferred Name. The name they prefer to go by and is most commonly used.

Species. The galaxy is a vast place, with countless different races / species! Go crazy! Lev is, for example, a Thalassari, made up by me, but for the most part your generic, semi-aquatic humanoid species with blue/green skin, webbed fingers and proficiency in water. There aren't many universal sci-fi species, but you can either choose from ones existing in other media (though I'd adjust the name later on) or come up with something entirely your own. Either way, provide an explanation (detailed or not) on what the species is like: physiology, abilities, culture, life span, etc. They don't have to be humanoid.

☠  Suggestions:  elementals, space elves, plant people, androids, bird people, plant people, reptilians, rogue war machines, plasma and energy-based beings, space vampires, ice giants, chimeras, humans and posthumans, uplifted animals, insectoids, alien aliens, shapeshifters

Age. The age range for this particular one is non-existent due to the fact that different species would age at different rates, but also: an elderly map-maker? a child stowaway? Sign me up!

Physical Description. Must be a narrative description, or at least a list of features. I don't intend to make any graphics with characters' faces, so this is just for me to know what to write them as. To encourage you to be creative, you won't be allowed to just throw out a name and call it a day. You can name a faceclaim towards the end if you're very inspired by someone in particular, but the detailed description is mandatory anyway.

Gender and Pronouns. Self-explanatory. All are welcome.

Sexuality. Self-explanatory. All are welcome.

Love Interest. Would you like your character to have a love interest or not? If yes, suggest possible / preferred tropes. The characters with love interests, however, won't be focused on more, I'll aim to be fair to every accepted OC, so don't feel pressured to say yes.

Role / Stereotype. Self-explanatory. Some ideas will be listed down below, but also here.

☠  Suggestions: The Child, The Songbird, The Jaded Ex, The Artificial Companion, The Stargazer, The Wayward Priest, The Mole, The Seer, The Exiled Monarch, The Voidborn Savant, The Gladiator, The Bard, The Rival Pirate, The False Prophet, The Master Thief, The Retired Captain, The Mapmaker, The Merchant, The Bounty Hunter, The Stowaway, The Groupie, The Gentle Giant, The Nebula Escapee, The Explosive Engineer, The Historian

Personality. What are they like? Please, be descriptive and detailed. I love an interesting psyche.

Backstory. Please be detailed and creative. Truly, go crazy! Come up with your own planets, star systems, cultures, etc.

Likes and Hobbies. What do they like or enjoy doing? Include as many as you like but preferably seven or more.

Dislikes. What do they dislike? Include as many as you like but, again, preferably seven or more.

Fears. What are their phobias and greatest fears? Can be inconsequential, can be huge.

Skills. What sort of skills or otherwise strengths do they have? Can be trivial, but this is mostly about what they can add to the table as crew member.

Reason for Joining the Rescue Party. Self-explanatory. Be creative: from the money Lev's offering, through wanting to prove something to somebody, to a deeper fascination with the nebula itself. Surprise me.

Style and Aesthetic. Colors, clothes, vibes; this can be a Pinterest board or written out.

Theme Song and Mixtape. Songs that either describe them or they'd listen to. Can be written out or a Spotify link! Yes, I'll be merging all into a huge TO:WN playlist.

Quotes. Things they could say throughout the story, at least three.

Extra. Anything else you'd like to include, extra info that didn't fit anywhere else in the form. I love trivia.

Password & Tags. Rules!

APPLY HERE.

( Deadline ── Feb 10th )

ℭharacter ℑdeas.

☠  The Child: Young, sharp-eyed, and always asking too many questions, The Child is both a tether to Lev's past and a source of constant chaos. Born into privilege but raised on tales of their mother's supposed villainy, they carry an insatiable curiosity about the world Lev inhabits. Their youth contrasts starkly with the crew's hardened edge, as they dart between pragmatism and idealism. Despite their naivety, they're capable of surprising ingenuity, often stepping into situations others would deem too dangerous or unimportant. When interacting with the captain, they have much more of a sharp tongue too. Their presence forces Lev to face her lingering guilt and the weight of her choices. It's a mystery why (or how) they wound up at the smugglers' hideout and decided they wanted to join their mother on this quest.

☠  The Songbird: A former star singer, their ethereal voice could silence a room. Once adored galaxy-wide, The Songbird abandoned fame after a scandal. Driven by a desire to use their music as a tool for unity and healing, they are perpetually kind, always seeking to mediate conflicts. Despite their gentleness, their resilience shows through when they refuse to back down from injustice. Their personality is warm and magnetic, making them the glue that holds the chaotically assembled crew together emotionally.

☠  The Jaded Ex: This ex-crewmember's return to Lev's life is anything but amicable. Bitter and battle-hardened, they once stood by Lev's side through thick and thin, only to walk away after a betrayal—or so they claim. Their loyalty was tested one too many times, and now they carry a grudge as sharp as their blade. Pragmatic and cunning, The Jaded Ex acts as the group's reluctant moral compass, though their ideals have been dulled by years of disillusionment. Their history with Lev crackles with unresolved tension, teetering between reconciliation and outright mutiny.

☠  The Artificial Companion: An advanced AI housed in a sleek humanoid chassis—or perhaps a patchwork of scavenged materials—this Artificial Companion is far more than a machine. Through years of operation, they've developed quirks and preferences that make them distinctly "human," despite their synthetic nature.  They might long for recognition beyond their programming, struggling with the philosophical implications of personhood. The Artificial Companion could serve as the crew's tech expert, navigator, or even a makeshift medic, constantly updating their skillset via the ship's databanks. Deep inside the nebula, though, they might lose all the advantage they usually hold over others.

☠  The Stargazer: Wide-eyed and eternally optimistic, The Stargazer is a dreamer through and through. A young(?) astronomer or navigator, their love for the cosmos is contagious, even to the most jaded members of the crew. They're resourceful and innovative, using their deep knowledge of celestial mechanics to guide the Euryale through treacherous paths. Despite their youthful enthusiasm, they can be surprisingly grounded, offering quiet wisdom in moments of crisis. Their boundless hope stands in stark contrast to the crew's collective cynicism, serving as a reminder of why starships exist in the first place.

☠  The Wayward Priest: Once a respected figure in their religious order, The Wayward Priest left after a profound crisis of faith. Haunted by choices they made while upholding a doctrine they no longer believe in, they wander the galaxy seeking purpose. They might still wear the remnants of their old robes, blending sacred elegance with a traveler's grit, and carry a holy artifact they refuse to explain.

☠  The Mole: An agent of the Stellar Compact Authority embedded within the crew, The Mole hides behind a carefully crafted persona. They joined under the pretense of loyalty to Lev's cause but harbor a secret agenda: capturing or neutralizing her in the name of justice. Whether this mission evolves into genuine camaraderie or bitter betrayal remains to be seen. The Mole's overly formal demeanor and fixation on rules occasionally draw suspicion, but they are clever, adaptable, and not above using anything they've got to deflect questions. Their expertise in certain areas proves invaluable—when they aren't caught in moral dilemmas.

☠  The Seer: An enigmatic being whose species is known for their limited foresight, they reluctantly assist the crew with cryptic guidance. The Seer's motives remain unclear, and their eerie demeanor keeps the crew wary. Despite their wisdom, they are often distracted by strange rituals and an obsession with tracking patterns in seemingly random events. Their unsettling knack for predicting disaster leads to both mistrust and reliance.

☠  The Exiled Monarch: Once a ruler of a distant star system, The Exiled Monarch lost their throne in a violent coup. They joined the Euryale as a means to escape assassins, regroup, and—perhaps—plan their return to power. Aristocratic and proud, they often clash with Lev over her casual demeanor, but their regal poise hides a core of desperation and resilience, and they can recognize the roots they share with the ship's captain. They contribute an air of authority and diplomacy to the group, acting as a negotiator when their dignity isn't offended. Their wardrobe, a mix of worn regalia and practical attire, hints at their fall from grace, as does the faint shadow of regret in their eyes.

☠  The Voidborn Savant: Brought up aboard a nomadic fleet that never touches planetary soil, The Voidborn Savant is a tech prodigy and inventor. Their upbringing among the stars gave them an intuitive understanding of ships and machines, but their isolated life makes them socially awkward and prone to eccentric behavior. They are an invaluable mechanic for the Euryale, often speaking to the ship as if it were alive. Their obsessive, passionate nature masks a deep-seated fear of losing the only home they've ever known: the cold, endless void of space.

☠  The Gladiator: Raised on a hostile planet where only the strongest survive and later a famous arena fighter, The Gladiator is now a shadow of their former self. They are a hardened warrior with primal instincts and an unorthodox combat style, fiercely independent and scarred in more ways than one. They joined Lev to escape their violent past and find purpose beyond bloodshed. Despite their gruff, brooding exterior, they occasionally show surprising tenderness, particularly toward the younger or more vulnerable crew members. Their unique perspective and survival skills prove invaluable during dangerous missions. As a warrior? Well, they remain formidable, but they choose not to fight unless absolutely necessary.

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