Top OC 2025 Audition: OOC
Mao Armada // 25 // (he/him)*
Mao drifts towards the photographer and fixes his hat. It’s clear he’s been wandering around quite a bit, but hasn’t found whatever he’s been looking for. “Uhh… howdy. I’m pretty lost, I think.” He holds his map out in front of him. Then he looks up and around at the crowd of contestants inside Lord Ascan’s Manor. “I… don’t think this map’s gonna help me out much, here.” His voice is low and monotone. Casual, but not comfortable. He shifts his weight from foot to foot in agitation as he tucks away the map of his homeland, the Outlands of Etra. “Listen, uhh… I heard there’s some… competition? I’ve been makin’ my way home, but if I’m stuck here anyway, and I don’t know how long that’ll be, well… I reckon I should play along, right? Just until I can find my way outta here.”
With some help from the other contestants and a moment of deliberation, Mao decides to join the Hide and Seek guild. His map serves as a convenient representation of “guild pride,” whatever that means. “Hiding from one thing, seeking out some other thing… sure, I can work with that. Don’t… don’t ask, though, alright?”
“An introduction…? Let’s see. I’m a hunter by trade. I’m from Lonestar, northern Lonestar. I’m headed back that way, back west… or, I suppose, I was, until I ended up here. I’m a sharpshooter-turned-sniper, but right now, I’m just tryin’a get away from all that. Now, if there’s a saloon anywhere around here…” he looks around doubtfully. “…well, I guess I’ll just be off somewhere lookin’ for it.” He surveys his surroundings one more time, trying and failing to make sense of this strange place before wandering off again.
*note: Mao eventually uses they/them pronouns, but this is before they figure that out :)
Been cookin' this in secret for a bit... heheh. (Originally posted with The Mile by Dead Letter Circus-- the "Endless Mile" version.)