Shoya Kasamali @misstheground - Tumblr Blog

Independent roleplay blog for Shoya Kasamali, a fandomless original sci-fi based character. Sideblog to @ltbroccoli.

// Trying to figure out why it always feel so naturally to write Shoya tilting her head when she’s thinking of confused, and then I realized. It’s cause she’s a bird alien.

She does this.

#( about )

misstheground

Some random schtuff about Shoya and her speech patterns!

I mention this one in replies semi-regularly: Shoya is very deadpan. Not quite monotone, she isn’t likely to bore you, but she doesn’t typically have much energy or excitement in the way she speaks. (You know how Marc Evan Jackson talks as Kevin on B99 or as Shawn in The Good Place? Very similar to that.)

She also has a slight accent that she’s been trying to get rid of for years but can’t quite manage. At times it might sound like something an English speaker would recognize, but not similar enough for her to be mistaken as someone from Earth. It probably just sounds a bit eerie. And she can’t imitate other accents to save her life.

She does have a sense of humor, in her own odd way, but it’s usually delivered in that same deadpan manner. So it often goes over people’s heads or just confuses them.

Shoya chooses her words very carefully. She’s not relying on a translator, but has instead learned English/Standard/Common (whatever the most prevalent language of the relevant verse is). She speaks it fairly well, but because it isn’t her first language, it does still take a moment. She’s not trying to be overly formal, but that’s how she learned the language so it often sounds that way.

As for her native Selasi? She hasn’t spoken it in quite a while. Part of her is afraid of forgetting it altogether, and part of her doesn’t care in the slightest.

Shoya doesn’t use contractions. She just doesn’t. They confuse her a little bit and she doesn’t see the point of them.

Shoya also doesn’t use ellipses if she’s typing or texting. They pop up when I type out her speech sometimes, because that’s how I denote that there’s a pause or hesitation there. But she won’t use them, she finds them silly. And their proper use is to denote that something has been removed from a quote, why would you put them anywhere else?

#( about )

misstheground-a

Shoya, On Romance:

Selasi has no concept of romance. There’s families and friends, but not really anything beyond that. If someone decides they want to have children (any gender btw, not just mothers), they’ll ask one of their friends to help them out. Then, the biological parent of their children will likely still be around and be in their lives, but just as a family friend – they don’t really help in the day to day raising of the kids. Occasionally two people who both want kids will agree to raise them together, but it isn’t a romantic relationship so much as a contract.

Because of this, Shoya doesn’t have any background to base an understanding of romantic relationships on. The idea of two people staying together because they love each other beyond or differently from friendship – the concept makes sense, but practically, it baffles her. Add her being asexual into the mix and she just really has no idea what’s going on.

But note that Shoya isn’t aromantic – she’s demi. The idea of her being romantically attracted to someone isn’t beyond the realm of possibility. It’s just… there would have to be a lot of other factors before that could ever happen. It would have to be someone she considers a best friend, someone she trusts with her life, someone she could be completely open with… and that’s not likely to happen very quickly.

#( about )

misstheground

Shoya’s favorite color is purple. Especially rich, vibrant purple.

On Selasi, everything is very muted. Browns and grays and the occasional dull red. Bits of green from plants here and there, and a pale blue sky. Even down to the clothes people wear, it’s all rather undersaturated.

When Shoya left her home planet, she got herself lost trying to follow a very old starchart to the nearest starbase. She was almost ready to give up and go back (or die alone in space) when she saw it – the most vivid nebula she’d ever seen, all shining pinks and purples, absolutely massive against the dark backdrop of space. And it’s the first time she’d ever seen purple like that.

To this day, she will cite that nebula as the most beautiful sight she’s ever seen. And though she’s far too practical to fuss about having things in her favorite color, she will gravitate to purple things because of how vibrant and different it seems to her.

#( about )

misstheground

Selasi Mythology Time!

Selasi religion is polytheistic. There are multiple gods governing all areas of life, from plants, animals, medicine, etc. But the most powerful by far are Fenela, goddess of the skies, and Ruta, goddess of the deep.

Legend has it that the Selasi people were originally the creations of Ruta, to amuse her in the darkness underground. But the Selasi quickly grew tired of this existence, and began to seek more. Finally, one named Clovi dared to venture upwards, in the vain hope that something more existed above. He broke through to the surface, where Fenela saw him and was intrigued. His story of servitude in the dark made her weep, and she decided to grant him and his people wings like hers so they could escape to freedom in the skies.

Ruta was furious when she learned what Fenela had done, demanding that they be given back to her. But Fenela refused, wanting to protect her new friends from her wrath. The Selasi, who cannot remain in the skies indefinitely like Fenela can, settled on the mountaintops, to be as close to her as possible. And this is just barely within Ruta’s reach.

Ruta often does what she can to pull Selasi back down to her depths. She creates deep canyons and powerful windstorms to knock them from the skies. Anything that causes a Selasi to sway off course, physically or metaphorically, is seen as the nefarious influence of Ruta. (When Shoya couldn’t fly, it was generally agreed upon that Ruta was determined to have her.)

As far as the afterlife, Selasi believe that the best are chosen to live with Fenela herself (essentially heaven), while the worst are sent back to Ruta as appeasement (essentially hell). Most, however, don’t fit into either category and are simply reincarnated, to repeat their mortal time over and over; eventually, one fate or another will reach them.

Shoya herself isn’t entirely sure how much of this she believes, especially after leaving her planet and being exposed to other beliefs. However, it does get peppered into her speech at times – “oh gods”, “Ruta have mercy”, etc.

#( reference )

mjalti

I hate it when people ask “do you trust me” like …don’t call me out like that ……..the answer is no

#( about )

birb

#( ooc )

WILLOW ( @skymade )

“’Cause we’re friends,” Willow’s teasing. As they’d only just said, and all. But still… haha. They’re friends. Sho admitted it, they’re friends, they’re friends, friends friends friends friends friends—

Still, she tangles a hand in her hair, thinks about how stellar it’d be to sleep. Does Sho even have any ideas of how not-good awakeness feels right now? “You shouldn’t’a, though, okay? You could… you could get hurt, and all. It’s not — it’s not safe, y’know, with me, and all.”

“When is anything ever safe? I know the risks, and I accept them.” And that’s that. That’s all that matters. She has no idea how this purple disaster worked her way into her heart, but it’s happened, and she’s given up fighting it.

“Why is this Mila so determined to hurt you? What did you do to her?”

#skymade #⋆┆thread ( tracker )#⋆┆verse ( indra )#hello i have returned for the w i l l o y a #( ic )

GAG-ARM ( @bindlestars )

“I wake up every day an’ I praise to the stars how bitty y’are, Shoya.” They were hotta luck she was, to be frankish. On the regular Gag-Arm hauled around a snapper rig heavier than Shoya would be soppin’-and-soakedy wet, but with her leg acting kippy as it was, carrying her carefully was more work than she’d’ve liked.

“We’re easy close to your flyvver now. Gettin’ nearer. Pinky promise me you’ll let me take a good looksie once I lay you down, huh? That ’r faint away so’s I can see what’s what.” Gag-Arm only knew how not to use a regenerator, but few good narcotics and bandages —those and the stitchin’ kit in her rig— she could put to use.

Parsing through Gag-Arm’s speech was difficult enough on a good day, but through the haze of pain, it was quickly becoming impossible. Shoya just groaned and focused on putting one foot in front of the other. Not looking forward to her companion here getting a good looksie.

When they reached her ship, Shoya had the hatch open in a few moments, hand much shakier than usual. “I did not pinky promise,” she reminded Gag-Arm, before just... sagging down into her bed, unable or simply unwilling to stand any longer.

#bindlestars #⋆┆thread ( it is fine )#⋆┆verse ( indra )#injury /#( ic )

REY ( @sheresists )

are you hungry? she can scarcely recall a day in her life when she hasn’t been, the hollow of her stomach often yearning for half a portion more –– even while chewing on the halves she’s successfully haggled off of unkar, long used to the grit of dirt and sand crunching where it shouldn’t, adding a tanginess to otherwise long - expired rations gone stale even in their seals. these days have run her more ragged for how few and far between those have been, but it isn’t the first time she’s subsisted on fumes; after many a hard lesson, rey knows her limits, knows when she shouldn’t sleep for all her exhaustion, knows when it might actually be necessary to ask for help.

not that she often does, and not that anyone would or even could help her.

fortunately, this isn’t that time.

“ i’ll be fine. ” she returns evenly, patting the body of her rucksack, though it now wants for the bulge of a haul, for something, anything which might have fetched her more. “ do you? water, too? don’t slack on that out here, trust me. ”

“I will be fine. I will not be here for much longer,” Shoya informs her, honestly and with much relief. In Selasi mythology, there is an idea of an underworld, a place filled with nothing but darkness and despair -- much like other cultures’ idea of hell. And for Shoya, she suspects that this planet is the equivalent. An endless expanse of nothingness, filled with struggling, starving people.

She cannot imagine anyone is remaining here by choice. This isn’t like her own home planet, where visitors came once a century. No, ships are coming and going daily...

“Why do you not just leave?” Shoya finally asked, curiosity getting the better of her. “A merchants’ ship must take a passenger, especially if you are willing to work.”

#sheresists #⋆┆thread ( salvage )#⋆┆verse ( indra )#( ic )

GAG-ARM ( @bindlestars )

Well, that stopped her up real short.

When was the last time her concern had been somebody’s else’s? Asides from the vague sucky of the floatin’ fraternity. ( Rhetorical ask: She knew god-damned well who was the last person who’d thought she was worth their spit. Diuneilomo, she missed Danny like a hole in her—)

“D’you mean’t’say you’d worry about li’l ole meeee?” she crowed instead of following along after that thought, hands leaping up to cup her cheeks like an excited dolly. “Awwww, Shaya! An’ all this time I reckoned you didn’ care!”

Shoya scowled as Gag-Arm grabbed her face... but there was just a bit of softness in that expression. “I just do not want you getting hurt on my...” Oh, the word escaped her for a moment. “...conscience.”

She pulled away from her grip, and spoke, so slowly, so clearly, enunciated to perfection, “Sho-yah.”

#bindlestars #⋆┆thread ( princhy )#⋆┆verse ( indra )#( ic )

REY ( @sheresists )

❛ i scavenge. ❜ she corrects , and in her terseness , tries not to sound so affronted by it. it’s only natural for the stranger to suppose as much ; rey has given her no reason to believe better in her. she hopes to remedy that by offering what little she can by way of information. ❛ there are few fallen ships a few hours over that way –- they make up what’s called the graveyard of giants. crashed destroyers. i normally find and fix up parts to sell from there. there’s still places to comb through , but . . . ❜ when that’s everyone’s source of product , life gets a bit tricky , demanding alternate solutions. the sands are due to shift any month now and reveal some new steel cavern , titanium alloy teeth parting to reveal dangerous new mazes abundant with parts –- it just hasn’t yet , hence her . . . measures , and now , apparently this exception.

❛ i think when anyone is hungry enough , they can do anything for a chance not to be. ❜ rey answers , not sure if it’s any solace to her. though to the woman’s credit , they had been more complex mechanisms , something rey had almost delighted in in spite of it all. ❛ i’ve been doing this for as long as i can remember , so if i gave up so easily on picking a few locks , i don’t think i’d have got as far as i am. ❜

She nods slowly. Though she tries to avoid overconfidence, she knows how thorough her locks are. This girl must be quite smart and dedicated to get through them. And clearly she cared enough to be entirely unwilling to hurt someone, even to help herself. That sort was rare, especially on rundown planets like this one.

One phrase caught her attention -- hungry enough. “Are you hungry? I mean -- do you have enough to eat.” Despite her annoyance at being robbed, she’s not about to leave someone out here to starve.

#sheresists #⋆┆thread ( salvage )#⋆┆verse ( indra )#( ic )

COMMANDER LEATH ( @alljvststars )

“Do I—….” He had meant to cooperate, but the question knocks the voice out of him. For long, stumbling seconds, it’s all he can do to blink up at her, jaw shut so tightly that it feels like his teeth might crack under the pressure and it sends a burning ache all the way down his shoulder.

“Yeah,” Malcolm manages eventually, looking away sharply even though he hasn’t noticed the dense tears clouding his already-unfocused eyes. The movement drags up another wave of nausea, and he half-worries he might be sick all over her wings. His mouth keeps moving without his permission. “All the time.”

Shoya grips him a little tighter. “I am sorry.” It seems they’re both a little lost. A little broken. Adrift in space. She’d looked up his file once, out of curiosity, and read about Tarsus IV. It was horrible. Though she wouldn’t choose to, she at least had the option to return home...

“I... would offer you my home. Except I do not think I really have one. Selasi is very hot and dry. You would not like it.” She doesn’t really know what she’s talking about now.

#alljvststars #⋆┆thread ( ice planet )#⋆┆verse ( star trek )#( ic )