After The Fox

Former master thief. Enduring mischief-maker. ((Independent RP sideblog for an original character. Go to 'character summary' if you want to read a short essay, go to 'about' if you want to read a novel.))

[the-thief-called-fox]

So, “Doctor” Strange… *narrows eyes slightly, examining his hands, but saying nothing* … -is that really what people call you? -do you like eggrolls?

@doctorstrangeaskblog

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

*he pulls his hands off her sight when he realizes she’s staring* Yes. I’m Doctor Strange. And you are….? Eggrolls are fine. Is that what you want to order?

[the-thief-called-fox]

*hesitates a moment, mentally noting that he seems genuinely self-conscious about his hands, but doesn’t pry*

…Hmm, who am I? *tilts her head cryptically for a moment before shaking her head and scoffing* Believe me, I’m no one. … But most people call me ‘Fox’. And yes, eggrolls are good.

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

You think my name is weird but you call yourself Fox? Wonderful. I’m ordering some eggrolls then. Do you want to eat anything else?

[the-thief-called-fox]

It’s a nickname. I didn’t choose it. But it’s preferable to a lot of other things I’ve been called, admittedly. 

…Um. Well. I don’t want to push my luck… but I haven’t had a proper meal in a while, and if you’re serious- *points at the menu entry for chow mein* -this is the greatest thing on earth. 

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

Yeah, I’m serious. Chow mein? Okay. I’m also ordering some portions of fries. So…if you don’t mind telling me…what happened to you?

[the-thief-called-fox]

*Freezes for a few beats, brow furrowing a bit* …You’re going to have to be more specific than that.

What do you want to know? Within reason, of course.

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

More specific? Why does it sound like you’re desperate, stealing from people because you’re hungry? Are you running away from someone?

[the-thief-called-fox]

… Correct on the first statement, but the second, no. *nods her head in spite of what she’s saying, giving him a meaningful look and then casting her eyes around suspiciously to imply she’s not at liberty to speak truthfully*

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

Oh. *mutters* And…if I took you to the Sanctum, maybe you would be able to speak?

[the-thief-called-fox]

...”Sanctum”? Is that a wizard thing? 

At any rate I’ve only just met you... and I’m afraid I should go after I eat. I...must get back before I’m missed. *she smiles, wryly, though a genuine warmth underlies it* 

[the-thief-called-fox]

So, “Doctor” Strange… *narrows eyes slightly, examining his hands, but saying nothing* … -is that really what people call you? -do you like eggrolls?

@doctorstrangeaskblog

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

*he pulls his hands off her sight when he realizes she’s staring* Yes. I’m Doctor Strange. And you are….? Eggrolls are fine. Is that what you want to order?

[the-thief-called-fox]

*hesitates a moment, mentally noting that he seems genuinely self-conscious about his hands, but doesn’t pry*

…Hmm, who am I? *tilts her head cryptically for a moment before shaking her head and scoffing* Believe me, I’m no one. … But most people call me ‘Fox’. And yes, eggrolls are good.

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

You think my name is weird but you call yourself Fox? Wonderful. I’m ordering some eggrolls then. Do you want to eat anything else?

[the-thief-called-fox]

It’s a nickname. I didn’t choose it. But it’s preferable to a lot of other things I’ve been called, admittedly. 

…Um. Well. I don’t want to push my luck… but I haven’t had a proper meal in a while, and if you’re serious- *points at the menu entry for chow mein* -this is the greatest thing on earth. 

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

Yeah, I’m serious. Chow mein? Okay. I’m also ordering some portions of fries. So…if you don’t mind telling me…what happened to you?

[the-thief-called-fox]

*Freezes for a few beats, brow furrowing a bit* …You’re going to have to be more specific than that.

What do you want to know? Within reason, of course.

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

More specific? Why does it sound like you’re desperate, stealing from people because you’re hungry? Are you running away from someone?

[the-thief-called-fox]

... Correct on the first statement, but the second, no. *nods her head in spite of what she’s saying, giving him a meaningful look and then casting her eyes around suspiciously to imply she’s not at liberty to speak truthfully*

[the-thief-called-fox]

So, “Doctor” Strange… *narrows eyes slightly, examining his hands, but saying nothing* … -is that really what people call you? -do you like eggrolls?

@doctorstrangeaskblog

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

*he pulls his hands off her sight when he realizes she’s staring* Yes. I’m Doctor Strange. And you are….? Eggrolls are fine. Is that what you want to order?

[the-thief-called-fox]

*hesitates a moment, mentally noting that he seems genuinely self-conscious about his hands, but doesn’t pry*

…Hmm, who am I? *tilts her head cryptically for a moment before shaking her head and scoffing* Believe me, I’m no one. … But most people call me ‘Fox’. And yes, eggrolls are good.

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

You think my name is weird but you call yourself Fox? Wonderful. I’m ordering some eggrolls then. Do you want to eat anything else?

[the-thief-called-fox]

It’s a nickname. I didn’t choose it. But it’s preferable to a lot of other things I’ve been called, admittedly. 

…Um. Well. I don’t want to push my luck… but I haven’t had a proper meal in a while, and if you’re serious- *points at the menu entry for chow mein* -this is the greatest thing on earth. 

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

Yeah, I’m serious. Chow mein? Okay. I’m also ordering some portions of fries. So…if you don’t mind telling me…what happened to you?

[the-thief-called-fox]

*Freezes for a few beats, brow furrowing a bit* ...You’re going to have to be more specific than that.

What do you want to know? Within reason, of course.

[the-thief-called-fox]

So, “Doctor” Strange… *narrows eyes slightly, examining his hands, but saying nothing* … -is that really what people call you? -do you like eggrolls?

@doctorstrangeaskblog

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

*he pulls his hands off her sight when he realizes she’s staring* Yes. I’m Doctor Strange. And you are….? Eggrolls are fine. Is that what you want to order?

[the-thief-called-fox]

*hesitates a moment, mentally noting that he seems genuinely self-conscious about his hands, but doesn’t pry*

…Hmm, who am I? *tilts her head cryptically for a moment before shaking her head and scoffing* Believe me, I’m no one. … But most people call me ‘Fox’. And yes, eggrolls are good.

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

You think my name is weird but you call yourself Fox? Wonderful. I’m ordering some eggrolls then. Do you want to eat anything else?

[the-thief-called-fox]

It’s a nickname. I didn’t choose it. But it’s preferable to a lot of other things I’ve been called, admittedly. 

...Um. Well. I don’t want to push my luck... but I haven’t had a proper meal in a while, and if you’re serious- *points at the menu entry for chow mein* -this is the greatest thing on earth. 

[the-thief-called-fox]

So, “Doctor” Strange… *narrows eyes slightly, examining his hands, but saying nothing* … -is that really what people call you? -do you like eggrolls?

@doctorstrangeaskblog

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

*he pulls his hands off her sight when he realizes she’s staring* Yes. I’m Doctor Strange. And you are….? Eggrolls are fine. Is that what you want to order?

[the-thief-called-fox]

*hesitates a moment, mentally noting that he seems genuinely self-conscious about his hands, but doesn’t pry*

...Hmm, who am I? *tilts her head cryptically for a moment before shaking her head and scoffing* Believe me, I’m no one. ... But most people call me ‘Fox’. And yes, eggrolls are good.

[the-thief-called-fox]

So, “Doctor” Strange... *narrows eyes slightly, examining his hands, but saying nothing* ... -is that really what people call you? -do you like eggrolls?

@doctorstrangeaskblog

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

He certainly looked like he could be well-off. He had a beard, but not an overgrown one; no, it was one that was meticulously groomed. She could guess he probably had money. Waiting for him to become distracted by his phone, the thief crept up behind him and carefully started picking the stranger's pocket. She was normally good at choosing targets; but she'd never tried to steal from a sorcerer before...

…..

(Another beautiful day….must see the world with positivity and-)

*GRABS*

Did you just try to steal my phone?

*clothes shift*

@the-thief-called-fox

[the-thief-called-fox]

(She tries to escape but finds herself quite immediately caught. This man has inhumanly fast reflexes) …No, believe it or not I was going for your wallet, you’re holding your- 

*turns to look at him, bewildered by his sudden change in appearance* …phone. … Wait, how-

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

….that doesn’t make things any better. How? I’m a sorcerer- and yes, magic is real, ghosts are real….

[the-thief-called-fox]

*rolls eyes* Great. A sorcerer. Just my luck …You’re probably just about as broke as I am.  *glances at his hand around her wrist and exhales a short breath, looking back up at him* -Tell you what, there’s no need for this to interrupt your day any more than it already has. I didn’t take anything from you- just let me go and I’ll be gone.

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

Broke? Wait, why are you assuming I’m broke? Do I loo- Wait…just how desperate are you to steal like that? Don’t tell me you’re starving. Are you…lost….by any chance? How old are you?

[the-thief-called-fox]

…You ask a lot of questions. *trails off, as if expecting him to yield, but quickly realizes he’s not in any hurry* *sighs* …If you must know. I’m not a child. I’m not lost. …but I am hungry.

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

Alright. Why don’t we stop by a cafe to eat something, so you can tell me how I can help you? I don’t like the idea of you walking around stealing people.

[the-thief-called-fox]

…And what’s it going to cost me? You know they say there’s no such thing as a free lunch…

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

I say there is free lunch. Look, do you want free food or not? You can go away anytime you want, but know that I’m just trying to help.

[the-thief-called-fox]

...*narrows eyes shrewdly, looking him over as his hand loosens its grip on her wrist, as if she can’t quite understand why he’s doing this* ... You’re strange. 

...Most people wouldn’t offer to help someone they just caught trying to pickpocket them. But who am I to judge? Lead the way, sorcerer. 

[the-thief-called-fox]

Aesthetic Collage Prompts

Day 18: Gemstone(s)

Prompt: Find images of gemstone(s) you associate with your character.

Though January is not her birth month, I tend to associate Fox with garnets, specifically the burgundy/maroon colored ones. There are a wide array of hues and shades of garnets to choose from; they range in color from wine-dark reddish purple to warm peony pink to coppery persimmon and even vivid, almost luminescent, green. 

Garnets have a mysterious quality to them, and seem to hide secrets in their depths. This is likely in part due to their secondary status to more highly valued and more widely known stones like diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, and also due to a garnet’s slightly darker and smokier color. 

As a result of their lower value, garnets do have some personal meaning to Fox; she was never allowed to keep much of what she stole, but her boss would occasionally indulge her in keeping small trinkets of relatively low value- including some garnet jewelry. I imagine when she ran away she would have had to sew these items into the lining of her jacket, and probably pawned most of them for cash relatively early on.

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

He certainly looked like he could be well-off. He had a beard, but not an overgrown one; no, it was one that was meticulously groomed. She could guess he probably had money. Waiting for him to become distracted by his phone, the thief crept up behind him and carefully started picking the stranger's pocket. She was normally good at choosing targets; but she'd never tried to steal from a sorcerer before...

…..

(Another beautiful day….must see the world with positivity and-)

*GRABS*

Did you just try to steal my phone?

*clothes shift*

@the-thief-called-fox

[the-thief-called-fox]

(She tries to escape but finds herself quite immediately caught. This man has inhumanly fast reflexes) …No, believe it or not I was going for your wallet, you’re holding your- 

*turns to look at him, bewildered by his sudden change in appearance* …phone. … Wait, how-

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

….that doesn’t make things any better. How? I’m a sorcerer- and yes, magic is real, ghosts are real….

[the-thief-called-fox]

*rolls eyes* Great. A sorcerer. Just my luck …You’re probably just about as broke as I am.  *glances at his hand around her wrist and exhales a short breath, looking back up at him* -Tell you what, there’s no need for this to interrupt your day any more than it already has. I didn’t take anything from you- just let me go and I’ll be gone.

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

Broke? Wait, why are you assuming I’m broke? Do I loo- Wait…just how desperate are you to steal like that? Don’t tell me you’re starving. Are you…lost….by any chance? How old are you?

[the-thief-called-fox]

…You ask a lot of questions. *trails off, as if expecting him to yield, but quickly realizes he’s not in any hurry* *sighs* …If you must know. I’m not a child. I’m not lost. …but I am hungry.

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

Alright. Why don’t we stop by a cafe to eat something, so you can tell me how I can help you? I don’t like the idea of you walking around stealing people.

[the-thief-called-fox]

...And what’s it going to cost me? You know they say there’s no such thing as a free lunch...

[the-thief-called-fox]

Aesthetic Collage Prompts

Day 17: Flower(s)

Prompt: Find images of flower(s) you associate with your character.

I’m not exactly sure why, but the flower I most associate Fox with is the sunflower. On the surface it does not fit her at all. Sunflowers are big and bold and showy, with vibrant colors and a warmth to them that reminds one of a smiling face. None of these are qualities that describe Fox. 

No, Fox is like a sunflower in that she is tough, resilient, and fiercely stubborn. Sunflowers tend to be weedy growers and are not phased by heat, drought, or pests. Sunflowers are survivors. They are not soft or delicate. aside from their warm yellow petals, everything about them is coarse and rough and prickly to the touch. In spite of this, they enrich the soils where they grow and produce seeds that serve as an important source of food for animals, particularly for seed-eating wild birds. Similarly, Fox has a reputation for being a bit rough around the edges,  but underneath it all she’s quite loyal and protective of those she cares about.

...Additionally, she is quite fond of Vincent Van Gogh’s series of sunflower paintings.

[the-thief-called-fox]

Aesthetic Collage Prompts

Day 16: Animal(s)

Prompt: Find images of an animal(s) you associate with your character.

Though Fox herself would probably say black cats best suit her, the nickname assigned to her squarely pins red foxes as her animal symbol. Like a red fox, Fox is a wily little red-haired thief. She is mostly a solitary creature, with a habit of being aloof and wary of people. Primarily nocturnal, she relies on her keen senses and her resourcefulness to survive. Her cleverness is not always enough, and if faced with danger, she prefers to flee or hide rather than to fight. Luckily, that is what suits her- she is quick and agile, with a particular gift for climbing. She is decidedly not a tame or domestic creature; perhaps not quite wild, but merely feral. Generally, Fox dislikes being around or being touched by people she does not know well, and it tends to take a long time for people to gain her trust. This is also made more difficult by her penchant for pushing people away with her pessimism, sarcasm, and innate distrust of others. 

Fox has a variety of odd habits; maladaptive animalistic tendencies that are holdovers from spending most of her childhood living with a criminal organization, isolated from socializing with other children. Most notably, she occasionally vocalizes in a dog-like manner (likely picked up from the criminal organization leader’s prized hunting dogs; it is possible that she at least partially imprinted on them). When around people she doesn’t like, Fox is prone to snarling and growling; when provoked or threatened, she has even been known to bite. Fox is terrified of being cornered or trapped, and when frightened or hurt, she may whine or whimper in a somewhat dog-like fashion

She possesses a ravenous appetite, and typically eats in an almost desperate way, as though the food might vanish or be taken from her. She can restrain herself and use good table manners when it’s expected of her, but it takes a great deal of willpower. She learned young that if she failed to eat rapidly, she might not get to eat much at all; similarly, subsisting off of pilfered scraps through most of her adolescence reinforced that- teaching her to eat anything she could get her hands on as quickly as possible. Conveniently, she learned, eating something you’ve stolen also gets rid of the evidence. 

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

He certainly looked like he could be well-off. He had a beard, but not an overgrown one; no, it was one that was meticulously groomed. She could guess he probably had money. Waiting for him to become distracted by his phone, the thief crept up behind him and carefully started picking the stranger's pocket. She was normally good at choosing targets; but she'd never tried to steal from a sorcerer before...

…..

(Another beautiful day….must see the world with positivity and-)

*GRABS*

Did you just try to steal my phone?

*clothes shift*

@the-thief-called-fox

[the-thief-called-fox]

(She tries to escape but finds herself quite immediately caught. This man has inhumanly fast reflexes) …No, believe it or not I was going for your wallet, you’re holding your- 

*turns to look at him, bewildered by his sudden change in appearance* …phone. … Wait, how-

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

….that doesn’t make things any better. How? I’m a sorcerer- and yes, magic is real, ghosts are real….

[the-thief-called-fox]

*rolls eyes* Great. A sorcerer. Just my luck …You’re probably just about as broke as I am.  *glances at his hand around her wrist and exhales a short breath, looking back up at him* -Tell you what, there’s no need for this to interrupt your day any more than it already has. I didn’t take anything from you- just let me go and I’ll be gone.

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

Broke? Wait, why are you assuming I’m broke? Do I loo- Wait…just how desperate are you to steal like that? Don’t tell me you’re starving. Are you…lost….by any chance? How old are you?

[the-thief-called-fox]

…You ask a lot of questions. *trails off, as if expecting him to yield, but quickly realizes he’s not in any hurry* *sighs* …If you must know. I’m not a child. I’m not lost. …but I am hungry.

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

He certainly looked like he could be well-off. He had a beard, but not an overgrown one; no, it was one that was meticulously groomed. She could guess he probably had money. Waiting for him to become distracted by his phone, the thief crept up behind him and carefully started picking the stranger's pocket. She was normally good at choosing targets; but she'd never tried to steal from a sorcerer before...

.....

(Another beautiful day....must see the world with positivity and-)

*GRABS*

Did you just try to steal my phone?

*clothes shift*

@the-thief-called-fox

[the-thief-called-fox]

(She tries to escape but finds herself quite immediately caught. This man has inhumanly fast reflexes) ...No, believe it or not I was going for your wallet, you’re holding your- 

*turns to look at him, bewildered by his sudden change in appearance* ...phone. ... Wait, how-

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

....that doesn't make things any better. How? I'm a sorcerer- and yes, magic is real, ghosts are real....

[the-thief-called-fox]

*rolls eyes* Great. A sorcerer. Just my luck ...You’re probably just about as broke as I am.  *glances at his hand around her wrist and exhales a short breath, looking back up at him* -Tell you what, there’s no need for this to interrupt your day any more than it already has. I didn’t take anything from you- just let me go and I’ll be gone.

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

He certainly looked like he could be well-off. He had a beard, but not an overgrown one; no, it was one that was meticulously groomed. She could guess he probably had money. Waiting for him to become distracted by his phone, the thief crept up behind him and carefully started picking the stranger's pocket. She was normally good at choosing targets; but she'd never tried to steal from a sorcerer before...

.....

(Another beautiful day....must see the world with positivity and-)

*GRABS*

Did you just try to steal my phone?

*clothes shift*

@the-thief-called-fox

[the-thief-called-fox]

(She tries to escape but finds herself quite immediately caught. This man has inhumanly fast reflexes) ...No, believe it or not I was going for your wallet, you’re holding your- 

*turns to look at him, bewildered by his sudden change in appearance* ...phone. ... Wait, how-

[the-thief-called-fox]

Aesthetic Collage Prompts

Day 15: Indoor Spaces

Prompt: Find images of indoor spaces you associate with your character.

Aside from time spent in her rather dreary makeshift attic-room, cluttered with neglected canvases and creaky old furniture, abandoned and derelict buildings played a fairly major role in Fox’s formative years. Frequently it would seem as though she was shuttled from one “safe house” location to another, often without seeing much of the outside world in the time spent between disused factories or long-forgotten warehouses. The emptiness and disrepair of these places (as well as their loss of identity) mirror Fox’s own internal struggles to move on from her past and to forge a stronger sense of self.

Seeing as her borrowed residence and the various empty places she’s occupied before aren’t exactly spacious or terribly comfortable, Fox spends a great deal of the time she spends indoors in public places such as coffee shops, art museums, and libraries.

Coffee shops, to Fox, are not just places to pick up a drink and a snack. No, to her it’s a simple transaction of paying a fee to be allowed to loiter in relative safety while enjoying free wifi and charging her devices. The food and drink are certainly a bonus though. Art museums are something of a guilty pleasure for Fox, since the highlights of her criminal career were stealing priceless works of art and irreplaceable items from museums. She likes to go through galleries, taking mental notes on which works are duplicates or fakes, while privately assessing the security systems present and imagining how she would get around them (hypothetically, of course). Libraries are another favorite place for Fox to go. They are reliably free of charge and quiet, which makes them an ideal place for her to nod off for a few hours without bothering anyone. No bed is more comfortable to Fox than a sofa or a chair in a cozy room filled with the smell of books.

[the-thief-called-fox]

Aesthetic Collage Prompts

Day 14: Outdoor Spaces

Prompt: Find images of human-modified outdoor spaces you associate with your character.

Fox spends a fair deal of time outside given that she doesn’t have a proper place of residence. She loves the freedom of escaping the crowds of a city by climbing on rooftops. Up there, very few people notice her, and no one tries to bother her. She can simply be and observe without the pressure of continuously trying to look inconspicuous while remaining watchful for her enemies.

Other typical haunts for her include railways and the overgrown, derelict sections of cemeteries. Railways attract Fox for a variety of reasons; primarily, because they are useful for getting from one place to another. She can easily hop on the back of one if she’s desperate to get somewhere quickly, or she can merely follow alongside the tracks on foot, listening carefully for the rumble of the tracks or the whistle of an approaching engine to indicate she should get out of the way. Cemeteries are a favorite hiding spot for Fox to evade unfriendly eyes, since they tend to be very low traffic areas (and besides, dead men tell no tales). While it’s not the most pleasant trick, Fox has successfully eluded would-be captors more than once by spending a night holed up inside of a crypt. 

[the-thief-called-fox]

Aesthetic Collage Prompts

Day 13: Natural Places

Prompt: Find images of places in nature you associate with your character.

Though she’s a city girl through and through, the landscape that would best fit Fox would probably be one with thickly forested mountains cloaked in fog, like those found in the Scottish Highlands. Or like the Black Forest in Germany, which I feel like Fox visited at least once when she was younger.

~   The Scottish Highlands are not a conventionally beautiful landscape with vibrant colors and a welcoming manner. Rather, it is a landscape that seems so hostile, unapproachable and unforgiving that many would be too scared to get very close, let alone to try to traverse it. It is by no means a tamed thing; its stubborn resilience and wildness are its very essence. But those who dare to endure its thorns and briars are certainly rewarded for their patience.

There’s something at once hauntingly beautiful, eerie, and lonely about how desolate this kind of landscape feels. Rough-hewn stone juts defiantly skyward, sometimes softened by a modest veil of moss, heather, or trees. It’s quiet, almost unnervingly so, save for the rustle of branches in the wind or the trickle of a mountain stream. The cool, humid air smells of rain and of the earth, and it seems to tell stories of the green life all around. The damp of the fog sticks to clothes, skin, and hair, condensing into tiny crystal-clear pearls.

The landscape’s vastness can make it seem endless and even empty, but the boughs weave together so tightly in the old forests you feel as though they could swallow you whole. Black tree roots tangle over moist mossy ground, branches overhead blotting out the sky save for a handful of cracks admitting slivers of light. The rocks are coarse and mossy, made slippery by the frequent rain.  ~