mayfield_ooc | Applications

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Applications

• Please read over all the rules and information before applying in order to minimize any confusion before joining.

• If applying for a character that has already been dropped, it would be a good idea, though not required, to know something of their previous interactions. You are also free to pick up a dropped character with no memories of their previous time in Mayfield.

• All content for the personality and sample entry in your app must be written or roleplayed by you; for the personality section in particular, we do not accept copied text from wikis or other sources. Obviously, you may not copy your app from other players, whether in Mayfield or other games. Application plagiarism will result in a ban from the game.

• If you wish for your character to be placed in a specific house, please mention this in the relevant section of the application and specify that permission was obtained by the PCs already residing in that house. We will be operating by the Honor System for this, and there is no need for others to comment their permission in this post!

• Other special requests would also best go in the beginning of the application. Remember, grammar and spelling are important -- if your app contains errors, you will be asked to revise.

• Please post all applications or canon updates in this post; posting them elsewhere and linking to them from here may cause them to get changed later. Posting them here keeps us from having to save them.

When Applying, Fill Out the Following:

Name: Not the character's name, but yours or however you'd like us to refer to you.
Personal Journal: If you have one; a journal on another website is fine.
Contact Info: Any other way of contacting you. IM screen names, e-mail address, etc. AIM appears to be the common link between most players, so having a handle on AIM is preferable.
Other Characters Played: Any other characters you play at Mayfield, if applicable.
Preferred Housing: We encourage random matches, but if there is a particular house you want, you will need to contact every person in the house for permission. Please post your app AFTER doing this. If you cannot get in contact with any one person, please wait a week after contact and we'll accept it as a good faith effort. It is not necessary for those you received permission from to comment; we believe you! If you have no housing preference, simply put "N/A".

Character Name: Names, nicknames, whatever is applicable. In western order, please. If the character has no last name (adult males especially), you are free to either make one up or let us do it.
Character Series: 
Character Age: 
Background: We will accept copy/pastes or links to Wikipedia or another source, provided that the source reasonably explains the canon. This section is necessary, so if you can't find an explanatory source, you'll have to write something up yourself.
Personality: The more detailed here, the better. This lets us get a good feel for the character. Please try to back up your details with canon examples when you're getting past their basic character and more in-depth. Generally, we want to see at least four good-sized paragraphs.
Abilities: This section may end up being optional for you. If your character has any abilities or powers, such as magic, they'll be taken away upon arrival in Mayfield. These will come back over time, though.
Sample Entry: Please write as if you've already been accepted and writing an ordinary post from your character during their stay in Mayfield. Using an "introduction" post is fine, but we tend to discourage it, as the typical "who am I where am I what is this crazy place" format doesn't really give us a good grasp of how your character will behave on a daily basis. If you have trouble writing sample posts, we allow links to museboxes or other RPs to demonstrate as a sample. However, you'll want to post with the account you'll be linking to in that situation. Please make sure that your app is written in first person (!!!), as that's the format that will be used in the roleplay. Generally, we want to see at least five sentences, if not more. Prose log style samples will not be accepted. If you're confused about the distinction, we will be happy to explain. Remember, we're looking for FIRST-PERSON format; prose narration is fine, but it cannot make up the bulk of the entry.

When Applying for an Original Character, Fill Out the Following

Name: Not the character's name, but yours or however you'd like us to refer to you.
Personal Journal:
Contact Info: Any other way of contacting you. IM screen names, e-mail address, etc. AIM appears to be the common link between most players, so having a handle on AIM is preferable.
Other Characters Played: Any other characters you play at Mayfield, if applicable.
Preferred Housing: We encourage random matches, but if there is a particular house you want, you will need to contact every person in the house for permission. Please post your app AFTER doing this. If you cannot get in contact with any one person, please wait a week after contact and we'll accept it as a good faith effort. It is not necessary for those you received permission from to comment; we believe you! If you have no housing preference, simply put "N/A".

Character Name: Names, nicknames, whatever is applicable. In western order, please. If the character has no last name (adult males especially), you are free to either make one up or let us do it. 
Character Age: 
Background: For OCs, we require a detailed background to be fully written out. Please make sure to describe both the character's specific, personal background, and the world the character is from. If it is exactly like the real world, you'll still need to describe the location and the specifics of the society the character lives in (also please note here that we no longer accept 'Canon OCs,' so if this world is not one invented by you, the character is not appable).

This section will need to be somewhat long; there's no specific length we want, but we want to have a very clear feel of the character's backstory, so that we can compare it to the personality section.
Personality: This section is probably the most important. We're looking for at least six or seven paragraphs, but what's more important is that this be comprehensive and detailed. We want to see what makes your character tick, and we want to see that you understand what makes them tick and have fleshed them out as a character. Some things we will need to see include their important relationships and the major events in their lives and how these have shaped them, how they tend to interact with others and the world around them, their strengths and weaknesses, and what motivates them, among others.

If we do not have a strong sense of personality or it doesn't seem to match up with the background or sample, we will not accept the character even if your writing is strong.
Abilities: This section may end up being optional for you. If your character has any abilities or powers, such as magic, they'll be taken away upon arrival in Mayfield. These will come back over time, though.
Sample Entry 1: We're looking for a first person sample here; prose or action log format is not acceptable. If you write a sample, please write as though your character has already been accepted and is in Mayfield. You may write an introduction or first post, but we tend to discourage this, as the typical "who am I where am I what is this crazy place" format doesn't really give us a good grasp of how your character will behave on a daily basis. You may also use a link to a post in a dressing room, another game, or a musebox. We're looking specifically for a clear sense of character voice; spelling and grammar are important, but showing strong voice and characterization is more important than anything else. Remember, we're looking for FIRST-PERSON format; prose narration is fine, but it cannot make up the bulk of the entry.
Sample Entry 2: In this sample, we'd like to see a different side of your character than we saw in your first sample. This sample also needs to be in first person, but you may do a sample heavily based on introspection and action as long as it shows us a different side of your character and your first sample was strongly focused on speaking voice. For this sample, we will ask you to write something out as though your character is already in Mayfield. Please do not link to a sample elsewhere or use their first post/waking up in Mayfield here. That can go in the first sample instead.

• Before applying, please look over any applications that were recently accepted to get an idea of what we're looking for.

• If you apply for a character that has already been reserved, we will inform you and ignore the application until the reserve runs out. You may not apply for more than two characters from the same canon. For the sample entry, you may write your own entry, or use a post from a musebox, dressing room, or other game. We recommend testrun_box if you prefer the latter!

• After you're accepted, please follow all of the instructions given. You will need to reply to the acceptance, post your journal to the friend add page and your canon post, join the communities, and use the friend add page to update your journal. Once you're accepted, please introduce yourself on the community when you're ready to play.

• If your app is "Pending", do not freak out! This means that we need you to make some revisions, and does not mean you're rejected. We generally give players a chance to revise before rejecting them, but we will reject apps that do not address the concerns stated when we asked for a revision. If you have been rejected, our reply will clearly state this to be the case. If we have not gotten back to you yet, under no circumstance does this mean you are rejected. If it has been over a week since our last reply, it would be a good idea to contact us with a reminder, otherwise, please be patient!

• If you have received a "Pending" notice, you will have one week to supply us with your revisions, or your reserve will be considered expired and that someone else is free to apply for the character.

• The typical wait for a reply on apps may be anywhere from a day to a little over a week. If any part of your application requires a pending, it may be another week after your reply to that before we can get to you. We process a high volume of apps every round, so please be patient.

• If you have not heard back on a pending for over a week after apps close, please send a PM directly to the mod account.

APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

We need you to elaborate on Grell's personality, as we're not getting a sense of the character beyond surface traits. We'll need to see more in depth analysis.

In addition to that, we're confused about your idea of Grell's gender identity. It's clear you don't interpret Grell as transgender, which is your choice, but we do need you to justify your decision in a way where we feel confident that you understand the character's gender identity and we understand your reasoning. We aren't sure what you mean when you say 'Grell outwardly presents himself as male,' and we need you to elaborate. Using female pronouns and referring to oneself as female generally would generally mean that someone identifies as female, and female pronouns should be used. If you do not want to use female pronouns or identify Grell as transgender, we need you to explain what specifically in canon leads you to the conclusion that Grell is 'outwardly presenting himself as male' and gets satisfaction from claiming to be a gender 'other than what he is.'

Finally, your sample is in the third person when we required a first person sample. Please rewrite the sample in first person, formatting it like you might format a post in the game.

Thank you! I would be happy to elaborate. First of all, two of my closest friends are transgender, and I have worked with GLBT youth, and studied sex and gender issues in college. So, it is a matter I'm familiar with. :)

"Presenting" is a term that is used by transgender people. What gender you "present as" is the way you dress, cut your hair, etc. to show your gender. Grell has never, in any incarnation, has ever attempted to present himself as a woman. He likes to put on make up, and sometimes shows a desire to cross-dress. He also wears long hair. He has never attempted to "pass" for a woman, or look like a woman, or make anyone think he was a woman. If he were indeed a transgender woman, this is what he would be doing.

Instead, Grell outwardly displays his male gender, making sure everyone around him knows that he is a man, then refers to himself as a "lady" and calls himself by female pronouns in order to make the people around him uncomfortable. Grell, as we know, loves negative attention. He loves to be scolded, struck etc. As shown in the "Making of Kuroshitsuji OVA" when he shows delight at getting whipped, and in most of his interactions with William. This is completely contrary to any kind of transgender behavior. Most trans people only want to be recognized for their real gender, not taking pleasure in confusing people by presenting one way and speaking another.

The primary example of this is in both the anime and manga, when Grell fights Sebastian. Yes, he's telling Sebastian how sexy he is and flirting. He's telling him he's a lady and saying he wants to have Sebastian's babies. But, he's doing it to make Sebastian uncomfortable. And, he openly revels in Sebastian's attacks and disgust.

Further proof of this is in "The Tale of William the Reaper." Here again we have him deliberately annoying William with his affections and enjoying his annoyance. We also have further proof that Grell is not a transgender woman. When we see a young Grell, we see him with short hair and using male pronouns. He displays a sexual attraction to men, but no evidence of his stated desire to be female is apparent. That is, until he fights with William and William beats him. It's then Grell discovers that he likes being dominated and treated roughly. It's then that he adopts his more feminine persona, as an response that emerging fetish. Again, this is NOT transgender behavior.

Also, we need to take into account Japanese culture. In Japan, they do not differentiate between a man who is gay, and a transgender woman. The word for a very effeminate gay man and the word for a transgender woman is the same word. So, having Grell state that he wants to be a woman and use female pronouns would just be a way to communicate how "gay" Grell is, and how into men he is. Also, in Japanese gay culture, gay men referring to themselves as female is very common, and called "Big Sister Speak."

Long story short: Grell's calling himself "She" in the anime and the manga is portrayed at best, as something to laugh at and at worst something to be disgusted by. So, in honor of my trans friends, I do not play Grell as transgender.

To elaborate on Grell's personality, I suppose he can best be summed up as the epitome of self-absorption and self-indulgence. He wants to be the center of attention in all things. When unhappy, he throws himself into huge fits of anguish and melodrama. When angry, he goes into homicidal rages. When happy, he waxes poetic in manic bliss. And, when he's attracted to someone, he pursues them wildly, making a nuisance of himself.

These serve two purposes. 1. To make himself the center of attention and 2. Because it's a lot 'safer' than real emotions.

To traipse around like a tragic heroine dying of a broken heart reciting Shakespeare is fun for Grell. Truly feeling hurt... hurts. Flying into a hysterical rage because he's been given paperwork to do by his boss is fun, doing paper work is not etc. And, this is typically how Grell conducts himself.

He's self-deluded, for example the way he acts the way Sebastian loves him back, but he's not stupid. In season 2 when he has Tea with Sebastian, he openly admits it "feels weird." that's because, like everything else, Grell's play acting are more fun for him than the actual experience.

Grell's issues: his need for attention, his desire to be abused, and so on, point to a very damaged individual. And, it's normal for emotionally damaged people to escape into games rather than face reality, this all fits together very well for me.

It's head-canon, but I like the idea that the Kuroshistsuji reapers were humans who became shinigami after they died. Since there is no evidence to support this in canon, I don't usually bring this into RPGs unless I have approval.

But, http://kissthegrell.livejournal.com/1295.html here is a link to something I wrote for a private RP. It doesn't need to come up in this RP, but this is a earthly human life I wrote for Grell. I thought it might help you understand how I play him.

Warning: contains child abuse, sexual abuse, blood, and violence.

The children here... THE CHILDREN HERE! They're such little BRATS!

I was so happy... SO HAPPY to be in my beautiful white dress with red polka-dots. It's quite the best dress! It never wrinkles, the colors never run, it flatters my figure so beautifully and... ahh!

Where was I... Oh yes! I was going out to get some groceries. I like buying groceries and making dinner! I expect William will come for me soon, but in the meantime I rather like playing house. Anyway... groceries. I was going to get them when I saw some ADORABLE little children! They were so cute! I love kids, but I'm not very good with them, you see. I went over there, so that I could play with them and one of them said I was a man.

A MAN! And when I tried to play hopscotch with them, one of them put his FILTHY LITTLE HANDS IN MUD AND SMEARED IT ON MY DRESS!

I don't know what the little bastards were screaming about. My death scythe isn't that sharp. I only chased them for a couple of miles anyway.

One thing I noticed that I left out:

Body dysmorphic disorder is common in people with transgender issues. It comes with being in the wrong body for your real gender.

Grell is not only NOT body dysmorphic, he's actually very vain, and infatuated with his own outward appearance. This is not what one would expect from someone in the wrong body.

After some discussion, the mods have decided to reject this application. We still feel there are problems with the personality section and sample not clearly demonstrating the character. Additionally, we don't believe your interpretation of Grell's gender identity is consistent with canon. We would accept your interpretation if you had been able demonstrate reasons from canon to believe Grell is male. However, your sample contradicts your explanation, showing Grell wanting to be considered female and dressing as female. Furthermore, your statements that a person happy with their body cannot be transgender, or that a transgender person would always present their gender in very specific ways are misinformed and make us concerned about how you will play this character in game.

You may reapply next application cycle if you wish.

I do not think I will, as you have in multiple places misrepresented my statements and my sample. I also am offended that you have called me misinformed, as I studied gender and sexuality on the college level and have adopted family that is transgender. But thank you, there are no hard feelings and have a good evening.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Applications

Pending

Grell: Transgender

Grell: Personality

Grell: Sample

Transgender Additional

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