Nine
“Use a goddamn coaster.”
Nine is a human currently working in the Contingency Division. As part of housekeeping staff, he may no longer be participating in regular expeditions or excursions, but he still takes his work very seriously.
Appearance
Nine is a human male on the shorter than average side, somewhat stocky with toned muscles from his years of doing more intensive physical work with the Outerworld Division. He is missing his left ring finger, which is the meaning behind his pseudonym. Due to Law corruption, Nine is blind in his right eye and part of his hair has lost its pigmentation. He has olive toned skin, brown eyes (although one is now hazy) and black hair that is beginning to turn gray in places besides the patch of white. Other important features include a widow’s peak, a hooked nose, and a scar through his left eyebrow. Nine is typically clean shaven unless he has overworked himself to the point of neglecting his facial hair.
In terms of dress, Nine is almost always seen in long sleeves in order to hide the various scars along his arms. While working, he often wears an apron tied around his waist, and depending on the job, may also wear gloves and a mask. He is very particular about stains and imperfections in one’s clothing, even having been known to excuse himself and others from many a situation in order to address a perceived flaw.
Personality
In his youth, Nine was considered to be brash, reckless, and impulsive, often finding himself involved in fights and other unscrupulous activities. After leaving the Outerworld Division, however, he considers himself to have given up most of his “bad habits.” Whether it is cooking, cleaning, or maintenance, Nine is studious and takes pride in his work — sometimes to the point of perfectionism — and does not handle criticism well. To the uninitiated, he appears harsh and aloof; should one find themselves in his good graces, they are likely to be treated to small kindnesses like an extra slice of bread with their meal or a pair of knitted socks on a special occasion. Still, he is not one to seek out companionship or readily share personal information, and will feign ignorance should any of these favors be addressed.
Biography
Trauma
Abilities
Nine specifically trained in the use of blades, growing attached to a particular hunting knife he keeps strapped to his thigh and calls “Ten.” It has been quite some time since this weapon was wielded in battle, however, and is now the bane of even the hardiest kitchen vegetable.
Born with a Light aspect yet no one throughout his youth to instruct him on properly harnessing the power, Nine is rather reluctant to use magic after one too many mishaps over the years. He prefers settling matters with physical strength.
Nine possesses many practical domestic skills, including but not limited to: sewing, knitting, cooking, gardening, weapon maintenance, and basic medical care. While he can technically also bake, his confections usually come out of the oven a different flavor or texture than intended.
If a task involves extensive reading or numbers, this is the only time Nine will most likely pass the work on to someone else. His penmanship is notorious for being nearly illegible.
Relationships
oof
Trivia
- No one in the guild knows his real name except upper level administration, and only then are they granted this knowledge for clerical reasons. To everyone else, he is merely known as Nine.
- His finger was lost when he was a teenager, after attempting to steal a ring from a particularly wealthy traveler who happened to have a vindictive side. Now, when asked for details concerning the incident, he vaguely responds, “Debt.” Missing the ring finger is also intended to allude to his poor luck in terms of romantic relationships.
- Since giving up smoking after his division transfer, Nine has adopted a new pastime: painting ceramic miniatures. He has a shelf of finely detailed animals in his room, practically the only personal possessions to signify his pristine quarters are even in use.
- The physical manifestation of Nine’s corruption is loosely based on Waardenburg syndrome. After sustaining corruption, not only did he lose sight in his right eye, but he also lost most of his sense of smell.