Cobalt Talu'shpya
Coyote in Hare's Clothing
❛
Where you come from is gone, where you thought you were going to never was there, and where you are is no good unless you can get away from it.
❜
[This carrd has Dawntrail MSQ spoilers up through 7.2.]
About

ㅤnameㅤ Cobalt "Talu'shpya" Shshuye
ㅤageㅤ Nearly 200
ㅤheightㅤ 5' 10" (179 cm)
ㅤoriginㅤㅤ Yyasulani, Xak Tural
current residence Hhusatahwi, Shaaloani, Xak Tural
profession Criminal defense attorney, former beast hunter in the Thunderyards of Heritage Found
gender Male
orientation Bisexual
relationship Partnered to Yolli De Tepoztli
family At least six children who live in the Outskirts in Yyasulani, Sheshenewezi Springs in Shaaloani, and Tuliyollal. So many grandchildren that he himself probably doesn't know an accurate number.
first impressions Cobalt has a rather unassuming, but confident, presence, standing at a modest height and having a lean build. Though it's clear he exercises and is quite capable of defending himself, the Shetona's dark-circled eyes, typically dour expression, and careful deliberation in the way he carries himself gives the impression that he's actually ill and poorly-rested, but is trying to ignore or conceal that fact. While those with aethersight may catch on more quickly, anyone familiar with aetheric imbalances may observe the signs that Cobalt's suffering from chronic overexposure to levin-aspected aether.Cobalt has greying light blue hair, and his sharp brown eyes are often framed with reading glasses. He's rarely, if ever, seen without his regulator, despite his obvious and vocal dislike of almost everything that has to do with Alexandria. He struggles to understand and utilize almost any but the most basic of electrope devices.Though infrequently seen, Cobalt's left arm and shoulder are almost completely covered in scarring that branches like a levinbolt. The rest of his torso, arms, legs, and even up to his neck, bear a multitude of scars. Some of these speak of gruesome injuries that would almost certainly cause death. But it's not as if many people know what a healed fatal wound looks like, anyways.Even when inside the Everkeep, Cobalt prefers to wear a dress shirt, vest, and a selection from his incredible collection of cravats. Often he'll travel with a duster coat to protect his finely tailored clothes, and he keeps a small pistol on his person at all times. When traveling through Yyasulani or any other wild, dangerous area, Cobalt will bring electrope twinblades with him. Though seldom used since his retirement from hunting, he's still as deadly with them as ever.ㅤpersonalityㅤ & traits Adaptable, workaholic, evasive, plain-spoken and guarded in equal measure, ambitious, protective, irritable. Often disastrously self-destructive, volatile, impulsive, and rude. Yet, somehow very polite when social graces are required. Almost always seen with a cigarette in his mouth, and if he's not working, he's probably drinking.Cobalt makes no attempt to conceal that he prefers his own company above the company of just about anyone else, but he's personable and professional when the need arises. However, those who knew Talu'shpya before the destruction of Yyasulani, which to them was only a few moons ago, remember him being a more vivacious and friendly man who was in excellent health.likes Rye whiskey, mystery novels, tending to his flower garden, beekeeping, a well-written contract, being left alone, plausible deniability, designer drugs, hunting, sharp blades.dislikes Law enforcement, people who talk to law enforcement, bright lights and loud noises, excessive technology, dogs, ignorance, losing control of a situation.

RP Hooks
Legal RepresentationSo you're in a situation you never thought you'd find yourself in, and you need an advocate at your side. Whether accused of a crime, in need of a contract or strongly-worded letter to be written up, an impartial professional to settle your civil dispute before it goes to court, or just a consultation to ask what you should do next, Cobalt's name is widely known throughout Tural and Alexandria as the man to call. As long you've got pel, soul cells, or something else of value to trade, Cobalt will defend you.Once a HunterThough Cobalt's health isn't what it used to be, he's got decades of hunting experience in Xak Tural, both before and after the dome appeared. For the right job (that is to say, lucrative, and either easy or interesting), he'd still be willing to join adventurers, mercenaries, and other travelers to track down beasts or guide them through the wilds of Heritage Found.
Sooner or LaterGrateful clients aren't the only ones aware of Cobalt's notorious practice -- the Landsguard and Dustwatch have both had an eye on the man nearly since they were first formed. Some gladly accept pel to look the other way, some don't even bother to try pinning him down, and some are determined to root out the corruption he enables and put him behind bars for good. In the last thirty years, he's ended up in the sights of Everkeep Ward law enforcement as well, and even within the Everkeep itself.I Prescribe You A FixAetheric illness demands treatment, and Cobalt is always seeking tinctures, potions, pills, whatever might work to ease the symptoms of his levinsickness. He's always eager to meet doctors, alchemists, and the like, especially those who aren't terribly concerned with proper channels for prescribing drugs -- he enjoys the more recreational pharmaceuticals as well.

Gallery
OOC & Guidelines
Crystal | Balmung — Pacific timezone (GMT -8)
About:
ㅤ001.ㅤ I’m a 30+ year old busy adult that works full time. RP is my fun hobby, let's keep it fun!ㅤ002.ㅤ I prefer in-game RP over Discord. I have a weird schedule sometimes so I prefer to set aside time for RP in advance (generally weekdays after 5pm PST and anytime on weekends).ㅤ003.ㅤ Writing partners must be 18+ years old IC and 21+ OOC. I prefer 25+ years old for both, due to the high potential for mature subjects in RP.004. What I find acceptable will vary by situation and by my faith in the intentions of my writing partner. If I find something uncomfortable, I will tell you. Please do the same for me.005. I reserve the right to remove my character from any interactions that don’t align with my RP values, and encourage any of my potential writing partners to do the same. You respect my time and energy, I respect yours, we’re cool. I want RP to be a mutually satisfying writing collaboration, and a vehicle to propel each others’ characters forward in fulfilling directions.
Looking For:
Travel & adventure. I love a good action scene, whether it includes combat or not.
Emotional nuance & a good sense of humor. I like to have both angst and comedy in my RP (even better when it's possible to artfully combine the two).
Lore flexibility and reasonable headcanons/homebrews that color in the vague outlines of existing FFXIV canon are great, but I prefer to avoid extreme fanon concepts.
Everyday average grounded OCs of the world. They likely have lived through extraordinary circumstances, and might even have exceptional feats and talents to boast about, but I'm not interested in RP with heads of state, immortal beings, deities, etc.
Close platonic friendships of all kinds. I especially enjoy RPing with characters that have a strong contrast or even a clash in personality/interests.
Any additional romantic relationships would have to develop naturally over time. I’m not into pre-planned ships, I prefer natural chemistry between characters and a slow-burn story.
Pre-existing character connections are very welcome with a bit of discussion.
Dark or violent themes and antagonistic dynamics are welcome, please ask first.

Memes
Connections
"Almost everywhere Talu'shpya goes these days, some tall Shetona fella who's made half outta electrope seems to be followin' him around like some kinda guard dog. Looks sorta like the vaquero kid who used to hang around here with a vigilante gang, but I reckon it couldn't be.""Talu'shpya and Kemakka have had it out for each other since Hhusatahwi was nothin' more than a one-rroneek town. Zotenine don't seem to have much problem with Talu'shpya, but he sure avoids him. Who doesn't?"
Sooner or LaterI Prescribe You A Fix
They've known each other for nearly fifty years, going from distant acquaintances in the same Yyasulani pueblo, to family friends, to looking out for each other from afar inside the dome, to a bizarrely adversarial situationship, and now, to something entirely new. Cobalt and Yolli would do anything for each other, much to the chagrin of everyone around them. Cobalt loves him.
Cayo'te Tlalli
While the brash gunslinger didn't impress Cobalt one bit when they met at the Hhusatahwi saloon, Cayo's persistent admiration despite every effort to chase him away somehow eventually worked. Cobalt still finds Cayo incredibly obnoxious, but as they spend more time together, it's becoming an oddly endearing trait.
Even though Krinwick is a dreaded salt-crosser, Cobalt couldn't help but respect the man when he bravely helped defend the Outskirts against rogue murderous sentries. Though their friendship has been incredibly tense thus far, Cobalt does actually admire him and count him as a friend.
g
The brilliant and obnoxious youth was a client asking for assistance with some unusual correspondence. When Ts'uyya's promised payment fell through, they embarked on a strange journey through the back alleyways of memory that somehow granted them both more and less respect towards each other. It's unclear whether he's actually Cobalt's great-grandson.
Whenever the kids' shenanigans get to be a bit much, and he could use a relaxing complaining session with a fellow grumpy old man, Cobalt knows he can rely on Isttowani as a solid center of reason and tradition in the midst of a chaotic, rapidly changing world. Isttowani is much better at poker than Cobalt.
g
It was nearly twenty (or fifty) years ago when Talu'shpya helped a much younger and different Len out of a life-ruining pinch. A decade later they met again on the same side of an infamous showdown in the early days of Hhusatahwi.
Born in Yyasulani but spending most of his life in Shaaloani, the Shetona man once known as Talu'shpya has long been an infamous figure in certain circles. In Xak Tural, he was both a devoted family man and a sharp-tongued sharpshooter who haunted the local saloons. In Tuliyollal, Talu'shpya was one of the first to study Turali law at the newly formed Wing of Reflection, with an earnest desire to defend those accused of crimes who didn't have the education or means to navigate the justice system of the young nation so recently united by the Dawnservant Gulool Ja Ja.Over the years, Talu'shpya's rough-and-tumble opportunism lead him towards exploring more of the criminal side of criminal defense, and soon his clients ranged from those arrested for pickpocketing to those charged with racketeering and murder, with some work in contracts and mediation on the side. While he still took on many public defense cases, his more dangerous private clients proved lucrative.He was visiting family in Tesh'pyani on the fateful day that Alexandria merged with Yyasulani, and though he survived, he soon discovered he was trapped in a doomed world, and so it went for years on end. Talu'shpya decided to live in the Outskirts of the Everkeep Ward and was assigned to work as a hunter in the Thunderyards. Though opposed to use of a regulator at first, the extreme risk of the job and a personal tragedy changed his view on the subjects of memory and functional immortality.He was given the nickname Cobalt by fellow hunters, and soon he was primarily using the moniker, as he still does today. About fifteen years before the barrier between worlds would be breached, illness and injury forced him into an early retirement from the Thunderyards. Cobalt Shshuye turned back to his legal studies and soon was practicing criminal defense law of an entirely novel sort, slipping comfortably back into the seedy underbelly of Solution Nine and the Everkeep Ward.Now that he's moved back to Shaaloani, Cobalt, or Talu'shpya as some still call him, is struggling to pick back up his previous work that for most others hardly had the chance to stop, and reckon with the weight of returning as a changed man to a home that's hardly changed since he was last there.
tropes
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BlissfullyHorrificBackstory
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/EvenEvilHasStandards
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AffablyEvil
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/LawfulEvil
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BewareTheNiceOnes
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GentlemanThief
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MagicalUnderpinningsOfReality
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheClan
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NatureVersusTechnology
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AbsurdityAscendant